PHOTO BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
CONTRACTS … The board approved a series of contracts, including the superintendent, treasurer, and SRO.
By: Renea Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
renea@thevillagereporter.com
The Fayette Local Board of Education held its meeting on Monday, June 29. The meeting began at 7:30 p.m. with roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by approval of previous meeting minutes.
The board discussed staffing changes for the upcoming school year, including the resignation of elementary teacher Carissa Myers, effective June 28.
Superintendent Angela Belcher said the district had been in a strong position with staffing, but the resignation would affect how elementary classes are structured.
Belcher explained that third grade is expected to be self-contained for the coming school year, while fourth and fifth grade will continue under the planned structure. She said the district is otherwise fully staffed, pending any additional changes.
The board also discussed the district’s driver education program. Belcher said the district has applied to the state to operate its own driving school and believes the district has met the necessary checklist items.
She said the program has helped students, and if the district is unable to move forward as planned, officials may look at other options, such as offsetting costs with a local driving school.
Treasurer Kelly Bentley told the board that the month had been busy as the district works through year-end finances and prepares for the next financial forecast.
She said the forecast now needs to be completed by August, making July another busy month for the district office. Bentley also reviewed carryover numbers, stating that the general fund is expected to end around $1.9 million.
She said the district’s maximum carryover would be about $2.7 million based on expenditures, meaning the district does not expect to have money taken back under the state’s carryover rules.
The board approved the May 2026 financial report, modifications of appropriations for Fiscal Year 2026, final appropriations for Fiscal Year 2026, and temporary appropriations for Fiscal Year 2027 at 75% of the previous year’s actual expenditures.
Board members also approved a list of items to be disposed of, transfers that included $48,000 from the general fund to the cafeteria food service fund and $3,366 from the Class of 2026 to the high school principal account, along with donations as presented.
Food service finances were also discussed. Belcher said the district plans to talk further in August about cafeteria operations, rising food costs, and possible ways to reduce the amount transferred from the general fund. The district still needs to feed students, but officials want to review options and look for ways to control costs.
The board approved the 2026 Nora Nash Smith Scholarship recipient as Kayla Sliwinski, the income eligibility scale for free and reduced lunches for Fiscal Year 2027, and several handbooks for the 2026-2027 school year.
Those included elementary and high school student handbooks, the athletic handbook, coaches handbook, high school teacher handbook, student education curriculum guide, student activity handbook, and elementary teacher handbook.
Student fees were also approved for the 2026-2027 school year, with high school students set at $75 and elementary students set at $65.
Board members discussed online lunch account payments and convenience fees. It was noted that families may avoid those fees by paying with cash or check, while those using the online system may want to consider loading larger amounts at a time to reduce repeated fees.
The board approved several agreements and policies for the coming year, including a milk bid through the Southwestern Ohio Education Purchasing Council, school food purchasing agreements, virtual system support, juvenile detention agreements, technology services and an agreement with Defiance College to allow student teachers and field experience placements in district classrooms.
The board also approved an agreement with Grow Your Mind for school psychologist services from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027. Belcher said school psychologist services have been difficult to secure, and the agreement will allow the district to have a school psychologist available one to two days per week.
Additional approvals included a three-year administrative salary schedule for Fiscal Years 2026 through 2029, an addendum to Jane Myers’ elementary principal contract for additional duties as special education supervisor and gifted education coordinator, a contract for Belcher as superintendent from August 1, 2027, through July 31, 2032, and a contract for Bentley as treasurer for the same period.
The board also added approval of a one-year school resource officer agreement with the Village of Fayette for Fiscal Year 2027. Under the agreement, the district pays 65% of the SRO’s salary and benefits, with a minimum salary amount of $65,000 and a maximum of $78,000 discussed during the meeting.
Officials said the agreement is generally the same as the previous arrangement, with the DARE dog removed.
Personnel items approved included summer school staff for the Jurassic Journey Roar Into Reading program, summer school aides at $20 per hour as listed, a $740 salary increase for the EMIS coordinator position for Fiscal Year 2027, and extended time beyond contract for Jana Ballmer, Jamie Johnson, Kelly Schaefer, Maggie Ballard, and Chris Becker.
The board also discussed a proposed alternative-to-suspension policy for first-time tobacco policy violations.
A health department representative said the goal is to address tobacco and vaping use among young people by having a designated staff member meet with a first-time violator, discuss the health and safety concerns, and connect the student with a free cessation resource.
The discussion noted that repeat violations would still be handled under the district’s discipline policy.
Officials said the approach would formally put into policy a practice similar to what the district has already been doing.
With no further action expected, the board then entered executive session at 7:58 p.m. The next meeting will be held on July 20, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.