PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
YEARS OF SERVICE … Ivy Kunkle and Fayette School Board President Merissa Kessler celebrate Kunkle’s 28 years of service to the school.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Fayette Local Board of Education held its regular meeting on September 22, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at Fayette School.
The session opened with a roll call of members, with President Merissa Kessler, Katie Link, Mat Johnson, and Jennifer Wagner in attendance.
Ivy Kunkle was recognized for her 28 years of service to Fayette Schools as she entered into retirement.
The board moved to go into an executive session at 6:33 p.m. for personnel discussion. They returned to open session at 7:39 p.m. Following the executive session, the board approved the minutes from the August 11, 2025, regular session.
Superintendent Angela Belcher gave a brief report on the upcoming “Hall of Fame” Board coming together. She stated that a meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.
Treasurer Kelly Bentley updated the board on the progress of her permanent appropriations and five-year forecast. She included a 6% estimated increase to insurance as a “catch-all, safety net,” but predicts the numbers will fall anywhere from 2% to 4%.
Bentley reminded the board that 2027 marks the final year of collection for the ongoing levy. The five-year forecast was introduced, although with a name change, and is now referred to as the financial forecast. Instead of being held every five years, the forecast will be run every four years annually.
In financial matters, the board approved the August 2025 financial report and adopted Bentley’s permanent appropriations for fiscal year 2026. Supporting notes and the financial forecast for fiscal years 2026 through 2029 were also accepted. Further approved donations included as follows:
-$500 for various school supplies from Andy Lichtenwald and family.
-$100 for FFA activities from Truland.
The 2025-2026 tuition rate from the Ohio Department of Education was passed, totaling $8,390.64 for in-state students and $9,780.85 additional for out-of-state students.
Student activity budgets for fiscal year 2026 were approved, along with the Learning Friends afterschool program – set to begin October 7, 2025.
Additionally, an out-of-state student trip to Washington D.C., through World Strides Educational Travel and Experiences, was authorized for May 6-9, 2027, covering the classes of 2029, 2030, and 2031.
Under agreements and policies, the board approved an agreement with the Fulton County Health Center for the Sports Medicine Outreach Program for 2026, at a consultant rate of $25 per week.
Staffing approvals included the substitute teachers and para-list appointments through the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center for 2026. FMLA was approved for Jon Molter from August 29 through November 21, 2025.
A series of supplemental contracts were approved, including instructors and coaches for the Learning Friends program, cross country, golf, and wellness committee appointments.
Volunteer sports administrator positions were also filled, and volunteer youth soccer and volleyball coaches were approved pending background checks.
With no further business, the Fayette School Board adjourned at 7:52 p.m.