PHOTO BY AMY WENDT / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
OHSAA COMMENDATION … Dr. Selgo (center) was recently reelected to serve another six-year term on the OHSAA Northwest District Athletic Board. (Left to Right) Doug Utz, OHSAA Executive Director; Karen Beck, AAS Board Member; Skeat Hug, AAS Board Member; Superintendent Jayson Selgo; Jeremy Hurst, AAS Board Member; Gina Dominique, AAS Board Member; and Tyson Stuckey, AAS Board Member.
By: Amy Wendt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
amy@thevillagereporter.com
The Archbold Area Schools Board of Education convened on Monday, August 18, at 5:00 p.m. in the high school Media Center to discuss new school year preparations, personnel matters, and financial updates.
Board members Gina Benecke, Tyson Stuckey, Jeremy Hurst, Skeat Hug, and Karen Beck were present. Superintendent Jayson Selgo, Treasurer Joyce Kinsman, High School Principal Royal Short, Middle School Principal Matt Shields, and Curriculum Director Michele Bagrowski were also on hand to share school news.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the board addressed routine items by approving the evening’s agenda and also rescheduled the September board meeting to the 24th with a Financial Work Session to follow at 5:45 p.m.
SCHOOL REPORTS
Unable to attend the meeting due to the Elementary Open House, Principal Andrea Thiel was absent. In her written report presented to the board, Thiel welcomed new staff members and shared maintenance updates. According to enrollment numbers, the elementary school will welcome 451 students through its doors.
Upcoming events at the elementary school include Bus Safety Presentations scheduled for the mornings of August 25 through 29.
The school will be closed on September 1 for Labor Day and again on September 2 for Junior Fair Day. On September 16, third graders look forward to attending the Ag Fest in Wauseon.
With middle school updates, Principal Matt Shields reported that enrollment in his building is lower than in past years, with 338 students. Staffing and coaching updates were also shared with the board.
In addition to the first day of school on Wednesday, August 20, AMS students will see their first Cross Country meet of the school year (Defiance Early Bird) on August 23, the first Volleyball game on August 25, School Picture Day on August 26, and the first Football games against Liberty Center on September 4.
Moving on to high school happenings, Principal Royal Short shared the latest enrollment numbers for his building, which consist of 84 Freshmen, 89 Sophomores, 105 Juniors, and 82 Seniors.
Twenty-three juniors will be attending Four County Career Center in addition to the twenty-six seniors who will complete their vocational programs this year.
A new course, Freshman Seminar, will be offered this year to ease the transition from middle school to high school, focusing on note-taking, study habits, and time management skills.
Short also briefly shared staffing updates and expressed appreciation to the custodial staff for prepping the building for the new year.
The first day of school for AHS students was Friday, August 22. Other upcoming events include League Golf on September 17 and 19, the Homecoming Game and Alumni Band performance on September 26, and the Homecoming Dance on September 27.
In her report to the board, Curriculum Director Michele Bagrowski highlighted the Resident Educator Program, the English Learners Program, and the Science of Reading initiative.
Superintendent Selgo introduced Doug Ute, Executive Director of the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA), to the board, and then turned the floor over to him.
Ute shifted the focus back to Superintendent Selgo and commended him for his leadership as president of OHSAA’s Northwest District Athletic Board. Before presenting Dr. Selgo with a plaque, Ute offered some insight into his involvement with the organization.
“So Jay rotated on four years ago. And then two years ago, he became our vice president, and then last year was our president,” Ute explained, “and (Selgo) just led our association representative member schools in a professional way.”
Dr. Selgo was recently reelected by his peers to serve another six-year term on the board.
Moving on, Selgo shared with board members that he recently received a letter from the Ohio School Board Association recognizing Jeremy Hurst for beginning his 10th year of service as a school board member.
ROVER PIPELINE UPDATE & FINANCIAL OUTLOOK
Also in his report, Selgo shared some “good news” for area school districts that were counting on real estate tax income from the Rover Pipeline.
“…possibly some good news, although I’m not gonna hold my breath, is we did get a notice last week through – the I think OSBA, the Ohio School Board, or OASBO, indicated that the Ohio Supreme Court issued its unanimous opinion affirming the decision of the Board of Tax Appeals in the Rover valuation case.
“Which, as I understand it, that means – it has been – their (Rover’s) appeal has been denied at every level, and I believe this is the last point of denial.
“So, they have affirmed the decision all along the way that Rover does owe the remaining tax that they have.”
“So, it is slightly comparable to Nexus (the Nexus Pipeline case), but there was a settlement agreement in Nexus. There is no settlement agreement in Rover to revert back to,” Selgo continued.
“It will take some time for the local governments to get any money. The board of taxation and affected county auditors will need to sort out the difference between Rover’s tendered payments…we have been receiving money, but not the entire amount.
“They will calculate that and figure out what it (Rover) owes, plus interest on the underpayments,” clarified the superintendent.
Selgo added that he reached out to Fulton County Auditor Brett Kolb, who confirmed his office received the same information.
In the coming weeks, as the auditor obtains additional details regarding those calculations, they will be shared with local school districts.
In financial news, Treasurer Joyce Kinsman shared monthly financial reports for both June and July 2025.
She also noted that she will be attending a seminar where she will update the district’s five-year forecast, and she anticipates receiving more details on the Rover case at that time.
Kinsman explained that the district closed FY 24 with a positive balance of $1.1 million, which is above the forecasted $350,000, bringing the cash balance to $4.3 million.
Revenues rose 8.3% while expenses increased 3.9%, supported by higher interest income, Medicaid reimbursements, and receipt of the second half of the emergency levy in July–August 2025.
State funding dropped by $209,000 due to lower enrollment and a reduced state share percentage, but the district still finished the year with stronger cash flow than expected.
“It definitely ended up being a better year than what we had anticipated,” noted Kinsman, “and we’ll see how – I’m not anticipating this year to be quite as positive.”
Selgo inquired about the district’s cash on hand, and Kinsman replied that it amounts to 101 days. Last year, the district was operating at 77 days cash on hand, and it was noted that around 90 days is standard.
CONSENSUS AGENDA & PERSONNEL
On a motion by Karen Beck, seconded by Tyson Stuckey, the Board unanimously approved all items of the Consensus Agenda, which included:
-June 16, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes, July 14, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes, and August 6, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes.
-Financial Reports for June and July 2025.
-Donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations in the amount of $3,026.
-Temporary appropriations and funds transfers.
-Payment of Student Teacher Stipends from the University of Toledo for Jennifer Burkholder ($135.55) and Shannon Schmucker ($135.55), and from Western Governors University for Bailey Gerken ($338.89).
-Bus routes for the 2025-2026 school year.
-2025-2026 Wood County Juvenile Detention Center Juvenile Residential Center of Northwest Ohio agreement. (Exhibit)
-Taygen Hobbs for early graduation effective August 18, 2025, pending completion of all state and local requirements as presented.
-Transportation agreement for the 2025-2026 school year for Joshua Grime.
Upon a motion by Gina Benecke, which was seconded by Jeremy Hurst, the board unanimously approved the following Personnel Recommendations:
-Paraprofessional substitute list provided by the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center for the 2025-2026 school year as presented.
-List of certified bus/van drivers for the 2025-2026 school year.
-Acceptance of the retirement resignation of Jeff Brunswick, effective October 14, 2025.
-Mason Miller as a Classified Substitute for the 2025-2026 school year, effective August 1, 2025.
-Increase in the pay rate for a substitute teacher from $100.00 per day to $115.00 per day, effective August 18, 2025.
-One-year contract for Sue Crawford as an elementary playground aide for the 2025-2026 school year.
-Amy Sauder as a Classified Substitute for the 2025-2026 school year, effective August 1, 2025.
-Ken Muntz as an authorized bus driver trainer using Archbold Buses, effective August 4, 2025.
-One-year supplemental contract for Michael Short as the 7-8th Grade Cross Country coach for the 2025-2026 school year, effective August 1, 2025.
-Volunteer coaches for the 2025-2026 school year: Football Volunteer, Josiah Gomez; Cross Country Assistant Volunteer, Kylie Rupp; Cross Country Assistant Volunteer, Maddie Rufenacht; Cross Country Assistant Volunteer, Brad Hurst; Cross Country Assistant Volunteer, Michael Short; Cross Country Assistant Volunteer, Steve Walker; Girls Tennis Volunteer, Michael Miller; Girls Tennis Volunteer, Sara Lovejoy; Jr. High Football Volunteer, Lucas Dominique; Jr. High Cross Country Volunteer, Steve Walker; Jr. High Cross Country Volunteer, Nick Hudson; Jr. High Cross Country Volunteer, Brad Hurst; Jr. High Cross Country Volunteer, Kylie Rupp; Jr. High Cross Country Volunteer, Maddie Rufenacht; Jr. High Cross Country Volunteer, Rachel Kinsman; Jr. High Cross Country Volunteer, LaRoy Martinez.
-One-year contracts for Resident Educator/Mentor for the 2025-2026 school year: Educator, Kayla Horning/Mentor, Kim Walker; Educator, Claire Conrad/Mentor, Jessica Miller; Educator, Riley Bloir/Mentor, Dustie Vocke; Educator, Camryn Hagans/Mentor, Jessica Miller; Educator, Jennifer King/Mentor, Danielle Vandock; Educator, Leslie Beemer/Mentor, Jessica Miller; Educator, Madison Phillips/Mentor, Dustie Vocke; Educator, Madelyn Rufenacht/Mentor, Allison Bentley.
Stuckey made the motion, Skeat Hug seconded, and the Board approved the substitute teacher list provided by the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center for the 2025-2026 school year, and a one-year contract for Susan Dominique as a teacher for the 2025-2026 school year. Gina Benecke abstained from the vote.
On Gina Benecke’s motion, which was seconded by Karen Beck, the board approved a one-year contract for Resident Educator/Mentor for the 2025-2026 school year: Resident Educator Mentor, Morgan Vickery/ Mentor, Jen Hurst. Jeremy Hurst abstained from the vote.
Skeat Hug was appointed as delegate and Gina Benecke as alternate for the 2025 OSBA Annual Business Meeting. Stuckey made a motion to approve, Hurst seconded, and all members voted in favor.
At 5:40 p.m., the board entered into executive session for the purpose(s) of considering the employment of a public official of the school district and, upon return at 5:50 p.m., immediately adjourned with no action.
The Archbold School Board will reconvene on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. and will move into the Financial Work Session at 5:45 p.m. thereafter.
Both meetings will be held in the high school Media Center and are open to the public.