(PHOTO BY AMY WENDT / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
DOWN TO BUSINESS … Pettisville School Board takes care of organizational matters during its first meetings of 2025.
By: Amy Wendt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
amy@thevillagereporter.com
On Monday, January 13, 2025, the Pettisville School Board held both its 2025 Organizational Meeting and its first regular meeting of the year with board members Brent Hoylman, Scott Rupp, Barry Hoylman, Justin Rufenacht, and Pam Skates at the table.
Beginning with organizational matters, the board elected Brent Hoylman to serve as president for 2025 while Scott Rupp was chosen as vice president and liaison to the OSBA.
A stipend for board members was set at $50 per meeting up to a maximum of 24 meetings a year. When attending sessions sponsored by organizations supporting education or public schools, members may receive $60 per day for sessions lasting three hours or less, and $125 for sessions exceeding three hours.
The Board Service Fund, which supports members’ attendance at conferences, other meetings, and seminars, was established at $4,500.
The 2025 Pettisville School Board will convene at 7:00 p.m. on the second Monday of each month unless otherwise noted. Summer sessions in June and July will begin at 8:00 p.m. The November meeting will be held on the third Monday.
The board granted standard authorizations to Superintendent Josh Clark which allow him to serve as the purchasing agent and the Asbestos Designated Person for the district. He may also enter into agreements with Ohio colleges and universities regarding the College Credit Plus program.
Clark will have the authority to employ persons on a temporary basis, approve travel within limits of appropriations, and accept resignations received from employees on behalf of the board.
Standard authorizations were then granted to Treasurer Chris Lee, allowing him to invest available interim funds, pay invoices within the limits of appropriations, and request advances on collected taxes.
Elementary Principal Jason Waldvogel was appointed to serve as superintendent pro tempore in the event the superintendent cannot fulfill his duties.
The board also approved that interest from depository accounts be allocated based on the percentage of each fund’s balance relative to the total balance of all funds.
Participation in all applicable federal programs for which the district may qualify was also approved by the board.
Moving on to the Regular Agenda, the board accepted financial reports as submitted by the treasurer and approved the December 2024 meeting minutes and payment of bills.
The board gave the green light to the Spanish Club’s request for six students to travel to Puerto Rico from March 9, 2025, to March 17, 2025.
In personnel matters, AD Mendoza was appointed as Summer Recreation Coordinator and Delaney Nofziger will serve as Assistant Summer Recreation Coordinator.
Superintendent Clark added that “they’re chomping at the bit to get going,” and registration for the program begins on January 14.
In elementary news, Principal Waldvogel congratulated the following Spelling Bee winners: Fourth Grade – Evritt Bird, Johnny Bratton, Saige Storeholder; Fifth Grade – Jadyn Wyse, Gage Short, Lydia Clark; Sixth Grade – Alaina Bishop, Emma Bashor, Lucas Maldonado.
The Overall Pettisville Champion, Landon Clark, qualifies for the Regional Spelling Bee in March.
Principal Waldvogel also shared that Kindergarten pre-registration begins on January 15 for students who will turn five by August 15. Following pre-registration, an appointment will be scheduled for Kindergarten Screening slated to take place on April 4th.
Junior High/High School Principal Adam Wagner, shared with the board that the after-school program developed by Donna Meller has officially been named Blackbird Academic Success Center.
The voluntary program is designed to offer assistance to students who are falling behind or wish to have extra academic help. The Pettisville School Foundation will be pitching in by donating funds to provide snacks for participants.
High school and junior high students are looking forward to Homecoming Week, beginning on Monday, January 27, and culminating with the game against Ayersville on Saturday, February 1, followed by the Homecoming dance. Eighth-grade students will take part in a tour of Four County Career Center on Tuesday, January 28.
Students will soon begin to schedule classes for next year and will have the opportunity to choose from a few new class offerings, including Psychology I and II, Ceramics, Literary Socratic Seminar, and a Math Lab. Wagner also shared brief updates regarding Career Fair Day and the Amazing Shake program.
In his report, Treasurer Chris Lee reviewed an Amended Certificate of Estimated Resources and Amended Appropriations Resolution totaling $9,569,270.00. Upon the treasurer’s request, the board adopted the amended certificate and resolution.
Superintendent Clark began his report by offering a note of thanks to Principal Wagner and Principal Waldvogel. “I just want to speak about the work they’re doing down there,” Clark began.
“I think this year I’ve seen more community members and business leaders inside our school, and that is because of those guys getting our kids in front of our community and our community interacting with our kids.”
“Jason obviously has Bird Pirch and some of the other initiatives in the elementary. And Adam has the Amazing Shake (program).”
“It’s just great to see our community inside our school, and that’s these guys down here. So, thank you to both of you for that.”
Clark also provided a brief update on the arrival of the new school bus and noted that the repair crew is still waiting for parts to get the wind turbine back to operational order.
Following the superintendent’s report, the board approved a resolution to enter into a business contract between the General Health District of Fulton County, Ohio, and the Board of Education of Pettisville Schools for services provided by school nurse Karen King.
The board then entered into executive session “for the purpose of the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of an employee or official,” with no action to be taken.
The next Pettisville School Board meeting is set for Monday, February 10 at 7:00 p.m. in the school’s conference room.
