PHOTO BY BRIANNA BALOGH / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
GOLDEN BEAR HARD HATS … Board of Education members Ben Camarillo, Caleb Turnbull, Deb Opdycke, Lynn Weiland, and Dustin Schlachter show off their hard hats.
By: Brianna Balogh
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
Bryan School board met on Monday December 9th at the Bryan Field House Conference room. President Deb Opdycke called the meeting to order at 6pm.The pledge of allegiance was recited followed by roll call.
All members were in attendance, Ben Camarillo, Dustin Schlachter, Caleb Turnbull and Lynn Weiland. Also attending were Superintendent Mark Rairigh and CFO Kevin Schafer. The meeting minutes were approved from the previous meeting by all.
Ben Camarillo delivered the Four County report followed by CFO Schafer with the financial report and recommendations. First were the normal monthly financial reports, which had been distributed to the board for review, and amended appropriations for consideration on some increases and donations.
Schafer explained the first resolution, accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor.
Passed in the spring, the auditor made the necessary adjustments to keep in accordance with House Bill 920 which aims to keep property taxes stable as values fluctuate.
Schlachter brought up confusion around the monetary value staying similar but the tax rates changing.
As explained by Schafer, as property values have increased, the tax amount collected from them increases as well. To keep the account at the prescribed amount, taxes would need to be decreased.
The second resolution was to authorize Beilharz Architects to conduct bidding on the construction of the high school expansion project. Superintendent Rairigh discussed the progress on this project later in the meeting.
The final item in the financial report was the donation of a 1921 Bryan High School Zeta Cordia Yearbook and 1921 commencement program in memory of Gertrude (Brown) Geesey and Connie (Geesey) Hensal. Both resolutions were passed with Camarillo motioning.
New business contained the approval of the next meeting date, time and location. The January organizational and regular meeting will entail election of board officers for 2025, Oath of Office being administered to elected board members, establishment of the board service fund, appointment of board committees, establishing 2025 meeting schedules, and consideration for the Ohio School Board Association membership.
All members approved the meeting date of January 6th 6:00 pm. The organizational and regular meeting will be held at the Moose Isaac Field House Board Room.
Also prior to January’s meeting, a President pro-temp must be appointed to serve until the new board president is elected.
After Opdycke accepted the motion to elect a president pro-temp, Turnbull nominated Opdycke to serve as a pro-temp and was approved by all members.
Old business was covered by Superintendent Rairigh who was happy to report on the progress of the high school expansion.
He explained that the board’s Christmas present, an almost golden hard hat adorned with Bryan Golden Bears logos, was in celebration of progress and hopefully groundbreaking on the project in the spring.
The previous resolution allows for the final step to be completed before groundbreaking. Groundbreaking for the new career tech center, gymnasium and weight room is anticipated for spring 2025.
Rairigh also updated the board on the progress of the art and education building project. Named the Arts Connect Us Campaign, in coordination with the Bryan Area foundation.
The application for a demolition grant has been pushed back by the state, so it is still moving forward just delayed at this point.
Rairigh informed that due to high interest, a resolution to allow bids to go out to architects will be prepared for the next meeting.
Rairigh also thanked the generous donations from George and Julie Brown as well as offering Weiland and Schlachter the opportunity to speak about the project as they served on the committee.
Rairigh presented a request to establish a fund in accordance with Bryan Area Foundation for donations. Motioned by Schlachter and approved by all members.
Rairigh then presented the personnel recommendations. Two retirement dates have been set, both in 2025, for Hayley Brown and Kathy Franks.
Following was a classified dismissal, classified transfer, and a classified new hire. Also included was a new food service hire due to increased demand.
Volunteers for the recently approved indoor track club are Garret Glecker, Josh Montgomery, Scott Green, and Owen Potvin.
Final personnel recommendations were volunteers Allie Redhead and Marlee Yoder for girls wrestling. Included in the personnel recommendations was the approval of concession workers rate of $50 per event. All recommendations were passed.
The final item on the agenda was the second reading of the bylaws and policy updates. A long list of updates was provided, with no questions or comments from the board.
Rairigh did segregate a new policy update as a first reading and would be presented at the next meeting for second reading. All other policy updates were approved.
With a final note of the next meeting date and time, Opdycke adjourned the meeting to executive session at 6:26pm.