PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
PRESENTING REPORT … Montpelier Board of Education member Dunne Gambler (above) presents the legislative report at the school board meeting on Tuesday, March 10.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
The Montpelier Board of Education met in regular session on Tuesday, March 10, as members received a school safety grant from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
Board members in attendance were Dunne Gambler, Nate Rose, Jennifer Schlosser, Michael Wortkoetter, and Troy Roth, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Superintendent Travis Lichty told board members the district had received a grant of $3,448 from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office through its School Safety Grant program.
The grant will be used toward the purchase of night locks, which are devices that would be used to further secure the district’s classroom doors.
Read more: Northwest Township Trustees: Township Eyes Safety Camera Program, Bridge Upgrades
The remainder of the total cost will be paid out of the district maintenance fund. “Hopefully, we can get those locks installed this summer,” said Lichty.
“In the event that a classroom needs to be evacuated, those locks will be in place, and they can’t get into the classroom.”
Lichty referenced a shooting that took place a few years ago at a Michigan high school where the night locks were credited with saving lives.
Read more: Fayette Board of Education also pursued Ohio AG school safety funding at its March 9 meeting
The board also accepted the following donations:
-$1,370 to the school nurse fund from First United Methodist Church.
-$100 to the school cafeteria from John and Teresa Vanover.
-$90 to the media center from B. Beach Memorial.
-$9,000 to cheerleaders ($500), football ($3,500) and track ($5,000) from the Montpelier Athletic Boosters.
In other action, the board approved the following items:
-The resignations of Kristyl Fleurkens (paraprofessional) and Chandler Byers (district substitute).
-The retirement of Judy Hendricks (cafeteria worker).
-Unpaid parental leave of Kendra Ramirez (teacher) from April 6, 2026, to May 29, 2026.
-Added Samantha Benner to the substitute aide list for the 2025-26 school year.
-The Satellite Program Standards and Maintenance Agreement with Four County Career Center.
-Appointed Lichty as the district representative to the Tax Incentive Review Council with treasurer Eric Smeltzer as the alternate in the event Lichty cannot attend the meeting.
-An agreement with the Northwest Ohio Education Service Center to provide special education services for fiscal year 2027 at an estimated cost of $959,038.33.
-Membership with the Ohio High School Athletic Association for the 2026-27 school year.
The next board meeting is Tuesday, April 14, at 5 p.m.