PHOTO BY BRIANNA BALOGH / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
KEY PERSONNEL … Superintendent Mark Rairigh presents personnel recommendations for board approval, alongside CFO Kevin Schafer and board member Ben Camarillo.
By: Brianna Balogh
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
Called to order at 6:00 p.m., the Bryan City Schools Board of Education held its August 18 meeting at the Central Office Field House Conference Room. The meeting started with the Pledge of Allegiance and then moved quickly into roll call.
All members were in attendance: Caleb Turnbull, Ben Camarillo, Debra Opdycke, Dustin Schlachter, and Lynn Wieland, as well as Superintendent Mark Rairigh and CFO-Treasurer Kevin Schafer.
Jumping straight into the agenda, Opdycke made a motion to approve the meeting minutes from July 8, seconded by Wieland. The motion passed unanimously.
With no public participation, the business moved on to communications featuring a report from the Four County Career Center.
Camarillo presented a brief update on the start of the year at Four County. Junior class students started on August 14, and seniors on August 15. He gave the board enrollment numbers of 995 students, with 115 being Bryan students. Schlachter asked how the future addition would increase enrollment numbers.
Camarillo reported the enrollment could potentially go up to 1,000 with additions to the electrical and welding departments. Upcoming events at FCCC include picture day on August 25 and preschool students’ first day on September 2.
The treasurer’s report and recommendations followed, presented by Schafer. First were the amended permanent appropriations for fiscal year 2026.
The federal grant allocations, totaling over $1 million, were down slightly from expected, but Schafer explained that this is a common occurrence with allocations potentially rising mid-year.
Two recommendations for services were included. The first was a contract with GCL Education Services LLC, which is to serve a Bryan student placed within a facility utilizing the service.
The second was a shared school speech service with Stryker Local Schools, also for fiscal year 2026. The speech contract has been in place for over six years and provides speech services three days a week at Stryker and two days in Bryan.
The final two recommendations were a change order and donation approvals. The change order was an increase of $4,400 to the Middle School and High School Expansion to add branding to the gymnasium wall pads.
Even with this increase, the project is still $5,000 below the original contract price. Change Order number five is in process to be presented next month.
Donations, both coming from the Athletic Boosters, of $299 were provided to the Athletic Department, and $262.84 for Cross Country.
Wieland made the motion to approve all the treasurer’s financial recommendations, which was seconded by Schlachter, and approved by all.
In new business, Superintendent Rairigh provided several updates on the start of the school year. “It’s refreshing to see smiling faces,” Rairigh told the board, noting that school had been in session for four days. He thanked the many people who worked hard to get the school year off to a good start.
Rairigh was happy to inform the board that the CEP program would continue through this year, providing free Type A lunch and breakfast to all students.
He assured there were no plans to discontinue the program, and they hoped to be able to offer it as long as possible.
Construction updates followed, with Rairigh commending the masonry progress. The expansion is broken up into two sections: west and east.
The west side will contain the career tech classroom, computer lab, and lobby. The east side will house the gymnasium and weight room. The goal is to complete the masonry on the west side so that roofing can begin within the next few weeks.
Last were the upcoming clean-out dates for the Arts and Education Center to prepare for demolition and renovations. Clean-out will take place from September 2 through December 30 to allow for the south half demolition to begin in January 2026.
Trailers and trash bins will be provided. Rairigh was confident the clean-out would go smoothly and informed the board that plans were already in place for some precious instruments that needed climate-controlled storage. He thanked people in advance for gathering help to get the clean-out completed in the next five months.
Rairigh continued with a substantial list of administrative and personnel recommendations. Starting with the administrative side, the first was a three-year renewal for the athletic trainer agreement with Parkview Sports Medicine. Rairigh stated they were very grateful to be able to continue this relationship.
The second item was a spring break trip for 2026, which would allow the softball team to visit the Ripken Experience in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. This would be a repeat of the trip taken the previous spring.
The last administrative recommendation was for school-based behavioral health and mental health prevention and support services.
This agreement is with Shalom Counseling and provides school-based therapists for students. Camarillo made the motion to approve all administrative recommendations, with Opdycke seconding. The motion was passed by all members.
Personnel recommendations followed. Three employees—Brian Cummins, Julie Cummins, and Danielle McQuillen—received a Master’s +20, prompting a change to their salary placement schedule.
Several new staff members were on the personnel recommendations list including: Heather Miller-Klinger, Grade 5 Intervention Specialist with a Bachelor’s degree and one year experience, effective August 11; Shalina Lewis, food service, effective August 11; Nancy Michael, Educational Aide at 5.5 hours with nine years experience, effective August 11; and Ashley Skiles, Educational Aide at 5.75 hours with nine years experience, effective August 18.
Two staff resignations were also included: Ruthie Brenneman, effective July 31, who served as a 6-12 educational aide; and Jaren Lloyd, effective July 30, who served as a 6-12 custodian.
Alaina Miller, Interventional Specialist, had her salary placement updated as her four years of experience were confirmed.
A voluntary transfer of Dazi Psurny followed, who will be transitioning into an elementary educational aide at 7.5 hours per day, effective August 12.
The personnel list of recommendations continued with two changes in hours for nurses’ aides Lisa Dulle and Amanda Shy, both at 7.5 hours, who were previously approved to move to full-time.
Three teachers were recommended to be hired as mentor teachers for the 2025-2026 school year, which would include the completion of the resident educator program. The teachers were Nikki Malanga, fourth-grade mentor; Lindsey Bever, fifth-grade mentor; and Lindsey Stack, fifth-grade mentor.
Several volunteers followed: Fall Play Tech Assistant Eric Herman, Football Athletic Volunteer Eli Tressler, and Band Volunteers Greg Schott, Nancy Gallehue, and Frank D’Ambrosia.
Rairigh then directed the board to an addendum page, which had information received after the original agenda was posted. The addendum included four more personnel recommendations, starting with another athletic volunteer for High School football, Korbin Shepard.
Two athletic workers who would assist with running scoreboards and game management followed: Jeremiah Frank and Bennett Schafer.
New hire Alan Andres followed, returning as a bus driver with eight years of experience. Andres previously drove for the school in the 90s.
The last was another bus driver, Elizabeth (Shannon) Wallace, a current aide who recently received her CDL. Wallace would drive for 3.5 hours per day as well as 5.75 aide hours.
Rairigh closed, stating an additional aide would hopefully be passing their testing this week. This update warranted a cheer from the board for finally having a fully staffed bus driver department.
Camarillo moved to approve all personnel recommendations, with Wieland seconding. All board members approved.
The final item on the agenda was the next meeting to be held on September 16, a diversion from the normal schedule due to the Williams County Fair.
Rairigh asked the board if there were any objections to continuing trialing the meeting at the field house. The board was in agreement that even with guests, they felt the field house could be accommodating.
Schlachter suggested the tables could be removed, and Opdycke added that the hallway could be utilized if needed. With the agreement, the meeting is set to take place at 6:00 p.m. at the Central Office Field House.
Schafer then requested a motion to move into executive session to discuss personnel, which Camarillo made.
Opdycke seconded, and with all members approving, the board moved into executive session at 6:17 p.m. with no action expected to follow.