By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
With the high school baseball and softball season just around the corner, the Millcreek-West Unity Local Board of Education was updated on the baseball/softball press box building project at its board meeting on Monday, March 9.
Board members in attendance were Brian Wieland, David Dempsey, Dawn Layman, Elishah Siegel, and Heather Jones. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Superintendent Steven Riley updated the board on the baseball/softball press box project and commented that some finishing work needed to be completed.
He added that the press box has been approved for occupancy and believes it should be ready for the upcoming season which begins later this month.
Riley also thanked Bruce VanArsdalen, the Dewey VanArsdalen Trust, Troy Lehman of Lehman Construction and Nathan Brown of Brown Electric, for all their generous contributions to the project.
The superintendent presented the first reading of the NEOLA policy, Volume 44-2 New/Revisions/Updates and Transportation Supplement, October 2025.
The board approved a service agreement with the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center for $523,189.44 for fiscal year 2027. Of that total, $448,189.44 — approximately 75 percent — will be deducted from foundation funding over 24 payments under Ohio Revised Code 3313.845, with the remainder billed directly at the end of the year.
An agreement to participate in the OHI Charter Workers’ Compensation Group Rating Program for the 2027 policy year was approved.
The board then approved the following personnel items:
-Rescinded the following supplemental contracts approved at the October 13, 2025 board meeting of Maddie Schaper (junior varsity softball coach) and Larry Robarge (assistant coach).
-Approved Maddie Schaper (assistant coach) and Larry Robarge (junior varsity softball coach) for the 2025-26 year.
-Approved Amanda Nofziger as varsity volleyball coach and Johnnie Tule as assistant athletic director for the 2026-27 school year.
-Approved Tanner Gerken for three semester hours of graduate study.
-Approved the non-renewal of all 2025-26 supplemental contracts at the end of the school year.
-Approved an overnight stay for the State FFA Dairy Cattle Evaluation CDE, March 31-April 1, 2026, at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus.
-Approved Linda Hornung to the substitute bus driver list.
-Approved the payment of additional costs to independent contractor Lindsay Moore, to provide basic services, including first aid and health counseling, to student athletes as allowed under the scope of practice of a registered nurse, at a rate of $26.52 per hour for services as needed February through May 2026.
The board approved a parent transportation agreement for the remainder of the 2025-26 school year, at the IRS mileage rate/mile for Rebecca Altman to provide transportation for Lucas Altman.
In other actions, the board also approved the purchase of Science Curriculum from Savvas Learning at $21,483.30, and the 2026-27 school curriculum.
Donations were accepted by the following organizations and individuals towards the 2026 Hilltop Science Fair:
-$75 from Three Arts Club.
-$50 from Nancy Cooley.
-$100 from West Unity Lions Club.
-$105 from West Unity Omnibus Club.
-$100 from Lynn and Donna Wyse in memory of Blake Wyse.
-$200 from Don Leu.
The board also accepted a grant from the Margaret Ann Reynolds Raizik Scholarship Fund (a fund of the Collaboratory) in the amount of $16,375.90.
An executive session was held for the purpose of conducting or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees. No action was taken.
The next board meeting is Monday, April 13, at 6 p.m. in the library.