STUDENTS OF THE MONTH … This month’s Montpelier students of the month are pictured as follows, right to left, front to back: Hope Wells (kindergarten), Holden Whitaker (1st grade), Tucker Harrington (2nd grade), Alexianna Hernandez (3rd grade), Alee Klender (4th grade), Novella Hunt (5th grade), Maci Thomas (5th grade) Ellamae Vaavazos (6th grade), Rowan Brown (8th grade) and high school student Colton Nofzinger. Not pictured was 7th grade Rowan Saneholtz.
By: Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
anna@thevillagereporter.com
The Montpelier Board of Education met on Tuesday, May 14th at 5:30 p.m. After a moment of silence and the pledge of allegiance, board members Troy Roth, Patti Rockey, Jennifer Schlosser, Nate Rose, and Dunne Gambler recognized the students of the month alongside Superintendent Grime and Treasurer / CFO Carla Rice.
This month’s star students were Hope Wells (kindergarten), Holden Whitaker (1st grade), Tucker Harrington (2nd grade), Alexianna Hernandez (3rd grade), Alee Klender (4th grade), Novella Hunt (5th grade), Maci Thomas (5th grade) Ellamae Vaavazos (6th grade), Rowan Saneholtz (7th grade), Rowan Brown (8th grade) and high school student Colton Nofzinger.
Principal Susan Thorp then began her report, with it being shared that state testing has now finished. Prom was great this year, with a shout-out being given to everyone who made it possible.
It was shared that this year’s Senior Scholarship Day sees $82,000 in scholarships ready to be awarded to the class of 2024, and the most recent blood drive was successful.
The students have been having lots of hands-on learning interactions, and Andy Brigle from Williams County United Way was thanked for putting on the Chris Herren speaking event at Bryan High School.
The board was then officially invited to graduation before Lance Thorp began the elementary school report. He shared that testing is wrapped up, as is the roster verification process.
Roy Rozell, the now 96-year-old resident known for his volunteer efforts and love for his community, planted a tree for the 1st graders, with it being announced that this will be the last year he will be able to participate, as he announced he is officially retiring.
May 2nd saw a very successful Grandparents Day, with Mrs. Zumbaugh thanked for her work in putting together the May 3rd dance that saw 250 RSVP.
The 1st grade will be going to the Toledo Zoo, and preschool graduation was set for the 15th. Final grades will be sent home on Wednesday, May 22nd, and May 23rd, the last day of school, will see a field day.
May 28th and 29th will see 2024-2025 kindergarten screening, and there is a Literacy Vendor Fair on June 11th. Mrs. Rice then began the financial forecast indicators and analysis report, where she detailed that the loss this year is estimated to be $726,664.
It was shared that a real-estate evaluation should see a 25-30% increase in value for collection year 2025, with tax-adjustments having been made due to less collected delinquencies -which were notably increased throughout COVID.
The budget consists of 77% personnel costs, 17% purchased services, and 7% other expenditures. The details of the costs for personnel were detailed, for certified salaries, with a $37,298 increase in those salaries this year.
A large projected cost for special education services was explained, showing why there would be a difference in total carrying costs. Annual estimates were given for the years leading up to 2028.
Enrollment is projected to slowly decline, which will show a reduction in state funding. It was then shared that the district debt service saw the final payment on the Recreation Center, which was a 7-year note.
The bond issue for the K-12 Building will be paid off on December 1, 2025, with 2.5 mills being levied for the project.
Along with a Bond Retirement Levy, the district also collects a .5 mill Maintenance levy, which sees $45,000 annually collected for maintenance on the K12 Building.
The presentation given may be found for the public attached to the agenda for the meeting on the district’s website.
The minutes from the April 9, 2024 meeting were approved as presented, as were the financial reports for the month of April as presented.
Then, donations were accepted from the following sources: Church Women United; Martin Sprocket; GOJO Industries; Montpelier Fire Fighters; Taylor Made Landscaping, and the Athletic Boosters.
The five-year forecast was officially approved as presented, as were all of Superintendent Grime’s personnel recommendations.
Also approved were the new and revised policies and guidelines, with changes made to benefits for administrators, student assessment and academic intervention services, third grade reading guarantee, employment of substitutes, termination and resignation, employment contract, health services, transportation, bus driver certification, transportation for non-routine trips, transportation by vehicles other than school buses, and incidental transportation of students by private vehicle.
The updates to these policies can be found on the district website attached to the meeting agenda. All purchase and service contracts were approved as presented by Superintendent Grime, which included a purchase agreement for cyber insurance.
Participation in the federal Title I, Title II-A, Title IV-A, Title I Part B IDEA, Title III LEP, and the National School Lunch Program for the 2024 – 2025 school year was approved.
Course participation fees were approved as presented, and this year’s graduates were approved pending the completion of all requirements.
Ticket prices and athletic worker rates were approved, as was the sports pass information. Presented to the board was the 2025 proposed library budget and the milk bid summary for 2025 before the administrative salary schedule for FY24-FY26 was approved.
The Montpelier Board of Education will meet next on June 25th at 5:30 p.m. in the choir room.