PHOTO BY SIENNA GILL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING … Pettisville School Board President Brent Hoylman discusses the agenda during the board’s organizational meeting.
By: Sienna Gill
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Pettisville Board of Education met for its annual organizational meeting, immediately followed by its regular monthly meeting.
The meeting began with a brief prayer before the organizational meeting was officially called to order. Roll call was taken and all board members were present.
The treasurer opened the organizational meeting by administering the oath of office to re-elected board members Mr. Brent Hoylman, Mr. Barry Hoylman, and Mrs. Pam Skates.
Following the swearing-in, the board proceeded to the election of officers. Mr. Brent Hoylman was re-elected president of the board, while Mr. Justin Rufenacht was elected vice president. The motion was carried without opposition.
The board then discussed a comprehensive consent agenda that established several governance and operational items for the coming year.
Board member compensation was set at $50 per meeting, with a maximum of 24 meetings per year.
In addition, board members may receive a stipend of $60 per day for attendance at sessions lasting three hours or less and $125 per day for sessions lasting longer than three hours when such sessions are sponsored by recognized educational support organizations.
These organizations include, but are not limited to, the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA), Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA), Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO), Ohio Department of Education (ODE), Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC), Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center (NwOESC), the State Auditor, and PLS, provided that the sessions relate to education and public schools.
Meeting dates and times for 2026 were also approved as part of the consent agenda. The board will meet at 7:00 p.m. on February 9, March 9, April 13, May 11, September 14, October 12, and November 9, 2026. Meetings scheduled for June 15, July 9, and August 10, 2026, will begin at 8:00 p.m.
The board service fund was set at $4,500, which will support board members’ attendance at conferences, seminars, and other professional development meetings throughout the year.
The board authorized participation in all appropriate federal Title programs and any other federal programs for which the district may qualify.
Additional duties were assigned to the superintendent beyond those that are outlined in the traditional job description, including serving as the district’s Purchasing Agent and Asbestos Designated Person.
The board also authorized the superintendent to employ individuals on a temporary basis, subject to board approval at the next meeting; approve staff travel within the limits of appropriations; accept resignations submitted by employees when the board is not in session, pending later ratification by the board; and enter into collective and individual agreements with Ohio colleges and universities on behalf of the district in relation to the College Credit Plus program.
Further financial and administrative authorizations were granted to the treasurer, including the authority to invest available interim funds and to pay bills within the limits of appropriations once goods or services have been satisfactorily received.
The treasurer was also authorized to request advances to draw on collected taxes. In the event the superintendent becomes incapacitated and unable to fulfill his duties, the board designated the elementary principal to serve as superintendent pro tempore.
The board also approved the allocation of interest earned from district depository accounts, with monthly interest to be distributed based on the percentage of each fund’s balance relative to the total balance of all funds.
The funds receiving interest allocations include the General Fund, Turbine Fund, Food Service Fund, Meister Fund, SIG Fund, and the Spanish Club Fund.
The entire consent agenda for the organizational meeting was approved by each board member, and the organizational meeting was adjourned.
The board members then began the regular monthly meeting, again noting that all members were present for roll call.
The consent agenda for the regular meeting included approval of the minutes from the December 2025 meeting, acceptance of the financial reports as presented by the treasurer, and approval of the payment of bills submitted for board reconsideration.
Several personnel actions were approved during the meeting. The board accepted the resignation of Beth Holsopple for the purpose of retirement, effective May 31, 2026. Amy Murrey was approved to move to the master’s step on the salary schedule.
The board approved Shalyn Findling as a cafeteria substitute and approved John Horning as varsity softball coach for the 2026-2027 school year, along with Joe Davis as assistant softball coach.
The resignation of Donna Meller for the purpose of retirement, effective May 31, 2026, was accepted, as was the resignation of Karel Wagner, who is leaving the district for a new opportunity.
All personnel items were approved unanimously as part of the consent agenda.
Administrative reports followed, beginning with the elementary report, which was shared despite Elementary Principal Jason Waldvogel not being present.
The district received a $13.30 check from General Mills through the Box Tops for Education program.
District officials thanked everyone who participated in the program, as well as Christi Miller for coordinating Box Tops efforts and Jenae Lammers for maintaining Box Tops program information on the district website. Since joining the program, Pettisville Schools have earned a total of $19,593.00.
Kindergarten pre-registration and testing for the upcoming school year is underway. The elementary school is also conducting mid-year testing as part of its progress monitoring efforts.
Staff are administering mid-year OG+ benchmark assessments, which provide an opportunity to compare fall and winter data, evaluate student movement toward or above benchmarks, and determine whether instructional adjustments or different intervention strategies are needed when students are not showing expected progress.
Secondary updates were provided by Adam Wagner, JH/HS Principal, who outlined plans for Homecoming Week. Spirit days will include America Monday, Twin Tuesday, Pajama Wednesday, School Spirit Thursday, and Glow Friday.
A special schedule will be implemented on Friday, culminating in the annual Homecoming Pep Rally. The Student Council is also planning a “Glow” assembly, which will be held in the JH gym, due to lighting limitations in the high school gym.
A special thank-you was extended to Mr. Liechty for his efforts in preparing the gym for the event. The week will conclude with the Homecoming basketball game against Wayne Trace, followed by a dance scheduled to run until midnight.
Mr. Wagner also reviewed proposed course offerings for the 2026-2027 school year. These include Career Explorations taught by Ms. Enderle, Honors English Language Arts (ELA) 10, Math Lab offering credit through Ms. Enderle’s licensure, Instrumental Explorations to replace the current Guitars course taught by Mrs. Reidling, and Fictional Seminar to replace Mythology taught by Mrs. Planson.
Junior students will again participate in job shadowing on February 18, providing them with the opportunity to explore careers of interest.
Additionally, Fulton County Principals are collaborating to plan a mock crash event for juniors and seniors during the week of prom (the week of April 13) at the Fulton County Fairgrounds, in coordination with area first responders.
The treasurer’s report included a discussion of increasing the athletic change fund from $1,500 to $2,000, as well as an overview of the district’s upcoming audit.
The superintendent then addressed the board, thanking members for their service and presenting them with tumblers and certificates of appreciation. He also reported that the district’s turbine had been making an unusual sound and that the appropriate contact had been notified to address the issue, and the turbine is now back up and running again.
The superintendent announced the employment of Zach Herman in a newly established position. Herman, originally from Paulding, previously served as head of maintenance, overseeing three nursing home facilities and sought a position closer to his new home.
He was scheduled to begin work the following day, Tuesday, January 13. On a motion by Mr. Barry Hoylman, seconded by Mr. Scott Rupp, the board entered executive session
With no further action items scheduled following the executive sessions, visitors were asked to leave, and the meeting concluded at 7:35 p.m.