SCHOOL BOARD MEETING … Montpelier Village Exempted School District CFO/Treasurer Eric Smeltzer (far left) discusses the financial report with Superintendent Travis Lichty (first left) and board members Dunne Gambler (first right) and Nate Rose (far right) at Tuesday’s board meeting.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
With the 2025-26 school year set to begin on August 18, the Montpelier Exempted Village Board of Education approved a number of certified and classified staff employees at its meeting on Tuesday.
In attendance were board members, Dunne Gambler, Nate Rose, Jennifer Schlosser, Patti Rockey, and Troy Roth, along with CFO/treasurer Eric Smeltzer and Superintendent Travis Lichty.
Following a moment of silence and the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, the board made the recommendation to approve both certified and classified staff.
In certified employment actions, the board approved the following agreements beginning with the 2025-26 school year.
-David Bauer, Kayla Hinkle, and Lester Orndorff to Master’s plus 12 on the salary schedule.
– Dawn Smith to Master’s plus-24 on the salary schedule.
-Supplemental contract for entry year teacher Wyatt Lang.
-Katie Thiel as tutor at a rate of $21 per hour with a time sheet to be submitted.
-Mentor supplemental contracts awarded to Tammy Lee for Sara Luke (year 2); Alysha Sloan for Jacob Nobis (year 2); Brock Thorp for Wyatt Lang (year 1); and Laura Zumbaugh for Kaitlin Widner (year 1).
-Joseph Brigle as concession stand manager at a stipend of $3,000. He will also secure workers for high school and junior high school athletic events for the 2025-26 school year, to be paid per the approved rate schedule.
-Kaitlin Widner as public relations coordinator at a stipend of $2,155.71.
-Khrysta Coleman, Megan Hill, Alysha Sloan, Kaitlin Brancheau, Dawn Smith, Andrew Robinson, Kaley Thorp, Brock Thorp, Brandon Shoup, and Megan Lamberson as PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention Support) team members at $250 each.
-Brock Thorp as entry year district mentor.
-Khrysta Coleman as a freshman volleyball assistant coach.
-Summer Spurgeon as a kindergarten teacher at Bachelor’s Degree and Step 9 on the salary schedule, pending all requirements have been met.
The board approved the following classified staff employees for the 2025-26 school year.
-Rescinded McKayla Ayers’ contract as a district substitute.
-Chandler Byers as a district substitute at Step 1 on the classified salary schedule.
-Mary Weirich was added to the substitute aide list.
-Rescinded Jade Scott as assistant volleyball coach and was then approved as junior high volleyball coach.
-Briana Winkler as substitute bus driver.
-Collette Sweitzer as a volleyball volunteer.
-Darrin Repp and Jose Salazar as junior high football coaches.
-Kiel Miller as assistant football coach.
-Rosalyn Reid as a freshman volleyball assistant coach.
In other action, the board approved the following:
-The DPIA and Student Wellness and Success funding plan for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. This will be posted on the school website.
-A resolution seeking a waiver from the Ohio Department of Education requirements to implement a Career-Technical Expansion (CTE) program for students enrolled in seventh and eighth grades for the 2025-26 school year.
-The Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center substitute teacher list for 2025-26.
-Classified substitute list and bus routes for the upcoming school year.
-Changes to the junior high/high school student handbook regarding cell phones.
Donations were also accepted from the Montpelier Rotary Club to the Archery Club ($500), the Montpelier Women of the Moose to the junior high student council ($500), and the Montpelier Athletic Boosters ($2,400) to the athletic department.
Superintendent Travis Lichty reported that 79 students are enrolled in both Kindergarten Club and Kindergarten for the upcoming school year. He added that there will also be three sections of pre-school this year. He will have an updated enrollment count at the September meeting.
With the opening of school, Lichty told board members the summer maintenance crew has the buildings ready to go, and the paving project has been finished.
Board member Nate Rose was selected to represent the school district as a delegate at the 2025 Ohio School Board Association’s Capital Conference to be held November 16-18, in Columbus.
An executive session was held for discussion of a public employee, with no action taken.