(PHOTO BY SAMANTHA N. STRIPE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
NEW ELA TEACHER … The Fayette Board of Education had the opportunity to meet new English Language Arts (ELA) teacher Whitney Mulholland at their Thursday, May 15, 2025, meeting. Mulholland is currently finishing her student teaching assignment.
By: Samantha N. Stripe
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Fayette Board of Education held a meeting on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. After the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call was held; all were present, with Superintendent Angela R. Belcher unable to attend the meeting.
Under public participation, Suzette Boesger spoke to the board about the success of the Eagle Term program at the school. Boesger, Program Coordinator and Intervention Specialist at the school, discussed the soft skills students learn during the last two weeks of school.
The Eagle Term program is for grades seven to 12 and gives them the opportunity to choose what classes they want to take, ranging from self-defense, community service and cooking classes to CPR, first aid and field research.
“It’s a really successful second year,” said Boesger. “I think from last year to this year we made some improvements…we have some places to fine tune, but I think we’re definitely seeing progress each year.”
Minutes from the April 24, 2025, and Special Meeting on April 29, 2025, were then approved wholly by the board.
Under reports and updates, Fayette High School Principal Jon Molter introduced new English Language Arts teacher Whitney Mulholland, whose one-year contract for fiscal year 2026 was approved by the board that evening.
Mulholland shared that she is finishing her student teaching at Spencerville High School, where she also graduated high school, saying that “it’s a full circle moment.”
She graduated with her undergraduate degree in English with a minor in creative writing and is finishing her master’s degree in teaching, which will be finished at the end of the month.
“I’m really excited to be here, I’m really excited to be welcomed into the staff,” she said, explaining that she likes the “small school sort of vibe” that Fayette offers.
Also, under reports and updates, it was noted that the students received their lunches on frisbees to encourage them to get outside and stay active throughout the summer, through the Wellness Committee.
Under financials, the board then approved the April 2025 Financial Report and an updated five-year forecast with supporting notes for fiscal year 2025. Additionally, two donations – one from TruFast for FFA activities and another from the Adult Co-Ed Volleyball League were accepted as well.
The board also approved revisions to the 2025-2026 school calendar, as well as summer school for high school and elementary school students. The high school summer school will be held June 2 to 20, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., while the elementary summer school will be held June 10 to July 31, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
There were several staffing contracts and filled positions that were approved by the board, as well as the monthly substitute teacher and paraprofessional list from the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center (NwOESC) for fiscal year 2025. Some of the contracts were dependent upon proper licenses, certification, background and reference checks as well.
The board also reviewed agreements and policies, approved the updated Neola policies, rescinded motion 25-18 and 25-24 for the Department of Education and Workforces (DEW) Special Education Model Policies and Procedures, as well approved a resolution to rescind prior board action and adopt the Special Education Model Policies and Procedures version 1.0 2025.
Finally, the board reviewed the Normal Memorial Library current budget 2024 and the NwOESC Business Advisory Council on May 6, 2025, agenda and notes.
The next meeting is slated for Monday, June 30, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., and a motion to adjourn was made at 6:51 p.m.