PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
HOLIDAY HELPERS … Archbold Middle School students Audree Plassman and Brooklyn Moyer lend a helping hand by organizing donations for the annual Christmas Cheer event.
By: Amy Wendt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
amy@thevillagereporter.com
Archbold Board of Education met for its last regular meeting before going on Christmas break in the High School Media Center with Tyson Stuckey, Jeremy Hurst, Skeat Hug, Karen Beck, and Gina Benecke on hand.
After approving the agenda, the Board heard educational reports from each building principal who shared how their students contributed to the 2024 Christmas Cheer of Fulton County.
Christmas Cheer is a local program that provides food, household items, and toys to families in need during the holiday season.
Local schools, including Archbold Area Schools, often contribute through student involvement. This year’s event was held on December 11 and 12 at the Junior Fair building of the Fulton County Fairgrounds.
During the week of December 2 through 6, Archbold students participated in canned food drives to support Christmas Cheer.
At the elementary school, Principal Andrea Thiel reported that students donated 1,715 items, with Mrs. Shields’ class winning the competition for collecting the most donations.
In the middle school, Principal Matthew Shields highlighted that AMS students collected over 1,000 items and $400. On December 9, the AMS Student Council dedicated their time to organizing donations at the Fairgrounds.
In the high school report, Principal Royal Short shared that FFA members volunteered at the event on December 11 while the FCCLA students lent their helping hands on December 11 and 12.
“The FFA went out and volunteered. They are kind of the bag boys and bag ladies that fill up and help everybody to the car and put all their groceries in the trunk that day. And then this year, the FCCLA was asked to not just volunteer one day, but to volunteer two days. They go in and they are kind of the helper or the personal shopper,” Principal Short added.
Moving down the line in administrative reports, Curriculum Director Michele Bagrowski spoke about third grade Fall ELA testing results, High School Fall End-of-Course Retesting, and Gifted testing for second-grade students.
In his report, Superintendent Selgo highlighted the district’s savings through the Ohio School Council, a consortium purchasing group utilized by schools across the state.
The statement detailed savings, including $202,595.00 from the Power for Schools Electricity program for Fiscal Year 2023 and Fiscal Year 2024, a final refund of $1,535.57 from an electric audit, $1,000.00 from the American Fidelity Section 125 Plan, and $631.76 through LEEMC. Participation with the consortium resulted in a total savings of $205,762.33 for the district.
Treasurer Joyce Kinsman reported that while the district is approximately 42% through the school year, it has collected only 40% of anticipated revenue, a trend she will continue to keep an eye on.
She noted an increase in property tax revenue received thus far due to the new levy and higher real estate valuations.
The district will receive another round of property tax collections in January. Additionally, state funding is currently at 1.035%, reflecting a decrease due to the district not being on the funding formula. Expenses have risen by 6.2% compared to the same period last year.
“Some of that is timing,” Kinsman explained. “In prior years – the last couple years, the treasurer was paying the NWOCA membership over the year like in quarterly payments. I just paid that all up front…So that might show a little bit of a discrepancy there…But you can see for salary and benefits we’re about right on course for where we should be…Year-to-date through November we do have a positive cash flow. So, I think we’re on track because last year at this time we had a big negative.”
The Board addressed the Consensus Agenda by approving the meeting minutes from November 18 and November 2024 financial reports as presented by the treasurer.
Donations in the amount of $1,836.37 were accepted and $5,100 in appropriation modifications were approved. Two fund transfers were also given the green light.
The Board authorized $1,199.86 from the General Fund to be moved to the Turbine Maintenance Fund and $58,469.28 was approved to be transferred from the Bond Retirement Fund to the Permanent Improvement Fund.
The board approved NEOLA Policy #2265 and authorized the Superintendent to enter into an Alternative Energy Credit Purchase Agreement with Karbone, Inc.
Moving to personnel matters, the board appointed William Williams to serve as a classified substitute and substitute bus driver for the 2024-2025 school year.
Edward Reyes will be joining the district as custodian effective December 17, 2024, and Kara Rosene was approved to serve as a Grade Level High Dosage Tutor for the current school year.
The Board approved two personnel actions regarding Beth Grime: rescinding her retirement resignation effective January 1, 2025, and accepting her resignation effective November 25, 2024.
Approval was given to Ryan Sell for the 2024-2025 Fifth Quarter Grant Supplemental Contract for 5.05 days. The board also accepted the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center’s substitute teacher and paraprofessional substitute lists.
The Archbold Board of Education will meet for its organizational meeting on Monday, January 13 at 5:00 p.m. with Jeremy Hurst serving as President Pro Tem.