(PHOTO BY AMY WENDT / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
YEAR-END WRAP-UP … Archbold Schools will close out the 2024–2025 academic year with Commencement for the senior class on May 25, followed by the last day of classes for all other students on May 30.
By: Amy Wendt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
amy@thevillagereporter.com
The Archbold School Board met on Monday, May 19 for its regular meeting with board members Jeremy Hurst, Tyson Stuckey, Gina Benecke, and Karen Beck in attendance while Skeat Hug was absent. District administrators were also on hand to provide student updates.
Principal Royal Short shared exciting news about an anonymous donation from a local business that will fund a scholarship for a graduating senior entering trade school.
The donor, who chose not to be named, wanted to support students pursuing careers in the trades. Senior Scholarship Night, also held on the 19th, celebrated 41 students who were recognized with a wide range of scholarship awards.
At an upcoming Awards Assembly, 62 “Triple Threat” high school students who participated in three or more sports during the school year will be honored.
Those students include: Rupiika Dua, Hadley Hudson, Aubree Hurst, Klaire Kern, Kaelyn Kinsman, Khloe Kruse, Vivi Legato, Maci Martz, Emma Meyer, Emersyn Selgo, Meg Ames, Ariah Bagrowski, Makenna Bickel, Madison Bowers, Blaney Huffman, Emma Kurtz, Adelynn Nafziger, Anna Shields, Courtney Stuckey, Reagan Wendt, Charlee Forward, Adison Kinsman, Savannah Rangel, Evy Roth, Makena Thiel, Alanna Pedraza, Grace Meyer, Carson Andres, Anderson Bentley, Ethan Bowman, Hunter Brennan, Wyatt Cline, Wyatt Gericke, Brexton Grime, Tripp Langenderfer, Trevor Osterland, Tate Peterson, Maddox Pinter, Kadyn Pollock, Collin Short, Brayden Garcia, Isaiahs Garcia, Kaenen Helberg, Morgan Harris, Carter King, Aranjer Krieger, Brooks Miller, Garrett Stamm, Moses Zimmerman, CJ Arroyo-Thompson, Ethan Pacholski, Rudy Rodger, Joseph Williams, Mason Bickel, Kurt Krueger, Landynn Krugh, Broden Piercefield, Sonny Phillips, and Madden Valentine.
Short also briefly spoke about the 7th-grade STEM Day hosted by the high school science department, the AHS Peer-to-Peer Wellness Day, and the prom.
Also presented to the board was the Class of 2025 list of graduating seniors which was approved by the board later in the evening.
Closing out the school year, the high school students look forward to the Spring Art Show on May 18 and the Senior Picnic, Senior Parade, and Talent Show all to be held on May 23. Commencement will be held on May 25.
In elementary school news, Principal Andrea Thiel shared how the staff utilized funds raised through their “Pay Day Jeans” donation drive.
This year, the contributions supported AES families in need, the Way to Battle organization, the Festival of Trees, a special Santa visit, and the AES Book Fair.
She also provided highlights on the third-grade performance of “On The Radio!” and gave a rundown of final upcoming events that elementary students are looking forward to before school lets out for the summer.
The Elementary Students of the Month for April are as follows:
Kindergarten honorees are Nixon Hudson, Reignah Sutton, Gannon Morton, Willa Meyer, Harper Fowler, and Jack Smitley. From 1st grade, Alexa Glore, Maria Guzman, Claira Layton, and Rylynn Allan were recognized.
2nd-grade students honored include Ty Ruffer, Evynn Stuckey, Henry Lauber, Noah Stasa, and Barrett Meyer. In 3rd grade, Eisele Stuckey, Wesley Allan, Walker Merillat, and Isabella Gomez were selected.
4th-grade honorees are Erie Curry, Audrey Britsch, Adrianna Osborn, and Emma Nash. From Specials, the students recognized are Kinsley Smith, Nixon Salas, Macoy Miller, Redmond Wyse, and Lillith Peace.
Middle School Principal Matthew Shields reported that the AMS Bands and Choirs recently wrapped up their performance season with spring concerts featuring students in grades 5 through 12. The bands performed under the direction of Dr. Yoder, while the choirs were led by Donna Wipfli.
During the school concerts, students were recognized for their musical achievements. Matthew Barnhart and Naomi Francis received the Excellence in Music Award for their accomplishments in the band, while Ginger Ruffer and Levi Ward were honored with the Fred Waring Director’s Award for their contributions to the choir.
Shields also briefly spoke about the 7th-grade STEM Day, the Washington D.C. trip, and the Ten Talents assembly.
Curriculum Director Mrs. Bagrowski reported that the new ELA materials were recently delivered and will be distributed to staff prior to the end of this school year so teachers have time to review the materials and prepare their new plans before the next school year.
Three first-year teachers at the district, Kayla Horning, Claire Conrad, and Morgan Vickery, participated in the Residential Educator Program this year. Each will move into the second year of the program, which includes completing a required assessment.
Bagrowski also introduced the testing schedule for the 2025-2026 school year. She added that the district is required per Ohio state law, to notify parents of their child’s state testing scores by June 30.
This information will be available through the PowerSchool app and parents will receive an email when the 2024-2025 test results become available.
Superintendent Jayson Selgo’s written report offered an update on the school’s wind turbine, which has been in disrepair for some time.
“After months of frustration, the Archbold turbine is now successfully operating, thanks in large part to the support of the Archbold Buckeye.”
“About a year ago, the newspaper published an article highlighting concerns about the turbine’s maintenance, which led to a pivotal phone call from a man in Port Clinton whose company, Power Grid Partners, offered help.
Now working with both Archbold and Pettisville, the company is handling the servicing and repair of the turbines. This marks a significant achievement after six years of efforts to find effective support and fulfills a long-standing promise to deliver cost savings to the community.”
Selgo also recognized retiring staff members Jan Lindsay, Russ Lambert, and Joyce Miller for their years of dedicated service to the district and announced the addition of new staff members Madeline Skidmore and Kayla Reynolds.
In financial matters, Treasurer Joyce Kinsman spoke briefly about the district’s latest five-year forecast which shows expenses gradually increasing while revenue decreases or remains flat.
For fiscal year 2025, the treasurer anticipates a revenue surplus of $350,000 which is less than what was projected in the November 2024 forecast.
“The main reasons are because of our revenues. Overall they’ve gone up about – we’re anticipating them going up only $47,000, but our state aid has decreased quite a bit over the year.”
Later in the meeting, the board approved the district’s five-year forecast for submission to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce by May 31, 2025.
After approving the April meeting minutes and financial reports, the board addressed the remaining Consensus Agenda items.
Donations received in the total amount of $165, multiple appropriation modifications, and various estimated resource changes and fund transfers were accepted.
The board also approved a range of policy updates, including new, revised, replaced, or deleted policies; rescinded previous board actions; and adopted model policies and procedures for special education.
The district will be seeing two new faces among teaching staff starting next school year with contracts extended to Madeline Skidmore and Kayla Reynolds.
Contracts were also approved for Stacy Guelde, Tracy Dohm, Emersyn Selgo, and Irelyn Selgo for various positions within the school district.
The board approved the Classified Substitute List for the 2025-2026 school year, as well as the substitute paraprofessional and teacher lists for the 2024-2025 school year as provided by the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center.
For the purpose of retirement, Jan Lindsay, Russ Lambert and Joyce Miller submitted notices of resignation which the board accepted.
The Archbold Board of Education will hold its next regular meeting on June 16, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. A Financial work session is scheduled for August 6, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. Both meetings will be held in the high school Media Center and are open to the public.