By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The Fayette Local Board of Education held its annual organizational meeting followed by its regular monthly meeting on Monday, January 12, 2026, setting leadership roles for the coming year while also approving a series of financial, staffing, and student-related actions.
During the organizational meeting, board member Mat Johnson was sworn in following his reelection, and Tiffany Johnston was appointed and sworn in to fill a vacant board seat through December 31, 2027.
The board selected Merissa Kessler to serve as president for 2026, with Mat Johnson named vice president.
The board also adopted its regular meeting schedule for 2026, with the July meeting yet to be determined. In addition, members approved a $2,500 service fund for board operations and granted standard annual authorizations to the treasurer and superintendent to manage routine financial, purchasing, emergency staffing, and administrative duties as required.
Committee assignments for the year were also finalized, covering legislative, facilities, financial, student achievement, policy, scholarship, and community representation roles.
The organizational meeting concluded with approval to retain the legal firm Ennis Britton for negotiations and general representation, along with authorization for various staff and community appreciation amenities, including professional development refreshments, staff appreciation meals, retirement gifts, and community senior citizen and veterans’ meals. The meeting adjourned at 7:17 p.m.
Immediately following the organizational session, the board convened its regular January meeting. Board members received school board appreciation certificates before moving into district business.
Financial actions included approval of the December 2025 financial report and authorization to file the district’s November 2025 five-year forecast and debt schedule with the Fulton County Auditor in place of a traditional tax budget, at the auditor’s request.
The board also accepted several donations supporting student programs, including contributions for FFA activities, Language Club activities, and archery team shirts from multiple local businesses and organizations.
On the staffing side, the board approved an updated substitute teacher and paraprofessional list from NwOESC for fiscal year 2026, named Amanda Oehlers as an instructor for the Learning Friends program at a per diem rate, and approved DeeAnn Simmons as a substitute secretary pending completion of certification, reference, and background requirements.
Student-related approvals included the adoption of a revised 2026–2027 school calendar and authorization for the 2026 senior class trip to Tennessee, scheduled for March 29 through April 1, 2026.
The board also appointed Treasurer Kelly Bentley as the designee to complete Ohio Sunshine Law training on behalf of newly elected and appointed board members for the year.
The regular meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m., concluding the board’s first session of 2026. The next meeting will be held on Monday, February 16 at 6:30 p.m.
Update: Read coverage of a later Fayette Board of Education meeting, where the board approved tax rates and accepted the first payment from the Arche Solar Field.