ACTION ITEMS … Board of Education members Ashley Reed and Jamie Schaffter (from left) review the extensive action items list while CFO-Treasurer Deb Nester records the vote.
By: Brianna Balogh
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
With the new school year just two days away, the Edon Board of Education finalized critical plans on Tuesday, August 12, addressing everything from student cell phone use to key personnel changes. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by President Cody Best and began with the Pledge of Allegiance.
CFO-Treasurer Deb Nester then conducted a roll call. Members present were Jamie Schaffter, Ashley Reed, and Patty Eicher; David Wehrle was absent. Also attending were Superintendent Anthony Stevens, High School Principal Kayla Lapham, Elementary Principal Jennifer Ripke, and incoming teacher Jordan Runyan.
With no visitors present, the meeting moved swiftly to the consent agenda presented by Superintendent Stevens. The first item was the approval of the meeting minutes from July 14, which were provided to the board for review.
Next was approval of the financial reports for July, followed by the amended certificate from the county auditor, also provided to the board for review. A then-and-now certificate, which verifies that funds were available both when the purchase order was issued and when payment was made, was prepared for a payment to Northwest Electric.
Wrapping up the consent agenda was approval for donations totaling $14,736.92, with $12,500 coming from the athletic boosters and the Edon Parents Club making up the rest.
The final consent approved was the July 2025 NWOESC substitute teacher and paraprofessional list. Stevens explained the list review was prompted by the switch from Front Line to Red Rover for absence management, which Stevens stated had been a success.
Reed motioned to approve all items on the consent agenda, with Shaffter seconding. The consent agenda was approved by all members.
The school board then heard reports, starting with the Treasurer’s report. Nester noted that revenue was up $22,639, and expenditures were also up $42,442. Revenue is still up over expenditures by $49,000.
The days of operational cash are at 212 days. There has been a delay in the real estate settlement, but Nester reported receiving an email from the auditor on the issue. School District Income tax was received at $229,030, with Nester commenting that it was slightly up over last year.
Principal Lapham was next, starting her report with seventh-grade orientation taking place later that evening at 7:15 p.m. She introduced a new character curriculum that would be taught in both seventh and eighth grade from Growing Leaders.
The curriculum has 11 different units focusing on choices, courage, commitment, growth, character, self-worth, influence, relationships, attitudes, initiative, and a reflective unit. Additionally, freshman parent meetings will be held during open house on Thursday.
Also new for high school seniors is the program ‘Senior Experiences,’ which requires two experiences per quarter. The class aims to expose students to various experiences, like job shadowing or college visits. Lapham hopes the class can help some undecided seniors explore different career paths and options.
To improve communication with students and simplify tasks for educators, Lapham highlighted MINGA, a new program that replaces traditional behavior logs and integrates with the SmartPaths system.
Sharing the elementary report was Principal Ripke, starting with her extreme happiness at having a recently filled staff roster. She reported that there are 15 new students in grades one through six.
Continuing on, Ripke presented some disappointing news that postcards had not gone well, with some students still not receiving them. Regrouping, Ripke assured there would be a different approach next year.
On a positive note, Ripke shared insights from a recent Zoom meeting about a peer mediation program from Michigan. This program empowers students by making peer mediation the first line of defense in conflict resolution, offering them practical experience in communication and de-escalation.
The initiative includes on-site training for four adults and 12 students, specifically four from each of grades five, six, and seven. In subsequent years, these trained individuals will then “train the trainers,” ensuring the program’s continued growth within the school.
Continuing with good news, 16 spots have been awarded through AMPLIFY tutoring. The program will be free until November 30, with the school paying for the second half of the year.
Tutoring will take place three times a week for 30 minutes, with 12 spots going to grades four through six students based on state test scores, and the four remaining spots potentially going to grade three. Ripke stated that, as an early participant in the program, there may be a future opportunity for more spots to be awarded.
The Superintendent’s report followed. Beginning with a personnel update, Stevens announced the retirement of Joyce Whitney, the assistant to the treasurer, on August 1, 2026.
Grateful for her 38 years of hard work, Stevens added the advanced notice would allow plenty of time for training. The intent is to post the position immediately and have a hire date near September.
He then followed with news that the phone system update is on track for next year, with the recent completion of the electrical project in July moving network closets to the backup generator. He stated, “It is a pretty significant need at this time.”
With school starting in two days, Stevens clarified the school opening time at 7:40 a.m. Stevens elaborated that an earlier school opening would lead to unsupervised students, with staff arriving at 7:40 a.m.
Stevens informed of an upcoming change with the expansion of Lifewise to third and fourth grade; last year, it was open to grades one and two. The days, Monday and Tuesday, would remain the same, but the school period for third grade would need to be changed.
Instead of going during PE, students would attend during lunch. He clarified it was the parents’ choice on whether their children participate or not.
At the close of his report, Stevens was detailing a recent discussion with the attorney regarding a post-volleyball game incident.
The conversation was interrupted by a loud bang; a golf ball had hit the wall from the nearby simulator room, startling everyone. “Fore!” Best exclaimed. Stevens, back on track, anticipates a complete legal update at the September meeting.
Best then directed the meeting to new business. Stevens presented one item for new business, an update regarding the state cell phone law passed with the biennium budget. The state law prohibits students from having cell phones during any part of the instructional day, including bus rides, field trips, in between classes, and lunch.
Stevens informed the board that there is already a policy in place prohibiting phone use during the day, and that this has not been an issue. When asked, Lapham reported 21 students with one offense, seven with two, and only two students reaching a third offense.
Stevens explained that discrepancies between state and NEOLA policies, combined with the law’s January 1 effective date and a recent flurry of policy adjustments, prevented him from changing the school’s policy at this time.
He recommended delaying the update, believing that proactively communicating the impending changes would help everyone prepare. Reed and Schaffter both voiced their agreement.
The final section on the agenda contained a lengthy list of action items. Best led the board through several items:
-Approve all bus drivers and bus routes, as presented. Motion by Eicher, seconded by Reed.
-Approve a memorandum of understanding with the Edon Northwest Teachers Association to create a new supplemental position, facility manager for athletics, for the 2025-2026 school year. Motioned by Schaffter, seconded by Eicher.
-Recommendation to approve supplemental contracts for the 2025-2026 school year, pending successful completion of licensure requirements. Motioned by Reed, seconded by Schaffter.
-Recommendation to accept the resignations of Kailee Benner, effective July 15, 2025. Motioned by Eicher, seconded by Schaffter.
-Recommendation to accept the resignation of Joyce Whitney, assistant to the treasurer, effective August 1, 2026. Motioned by Schaffter, seconded by Eicher.
-Recommendation to approve an internal transfer for Kristen Hall from 1st grade to 6th grade teacher. Motioned by Eicher, seconded by Reed.
-Recommendation to approve a one-year contract for Jordan Runyan, teacher, for the 2025-2026 school year. Motioned by Schaffter, seconded by Reed.
-Recommendation to approve a one-year contract for Michael Kipfer, cook/custodian for three hours per day, for the 2025-2026 school year. Motioned by Schaffter, seconded by Reed.
-Recommendation to approve non-teaching contracts for the 2025-2026 school year. Motioned by Eicher, seconded by Reed.
-Approve the appointment of Cody Chrisman to the Edon Park Board. Motioned by Schaffter, seconded by Eicher.
The final item on the agenda was to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel. Schaffter motioned, and Eicher seconded to adjourn to executive session at 5:58 p.m. with no action expected to follow.