PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
PREPPING FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR … Stryker Local School Treasurer Nate French (left) and Superintendent Nate Johnson (right) go over the agenda during the regular meeting of the Stryker Local Board of Education on Monday, April 20.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
The Stryker Board of Education got a head start in preparation for the upcoming 2026-27 school year, approving employment contracts, reassignments and adjustments for classified and certified personnel at its regular meeting on Monday, April 20.
Board members in attendance were Sharon vonSeggern, Bruce Rosebrock, Chase Stuckey, Lincoln Calvin and Brent Froelich.
TEACHING CONTRACTS
Three-year contract: Blake Ruffer, Megan Barber, Angie Behnfeldt, Amanda Fritch, Renee Hahn, Joseph Keween, Sara Taylor and Kylie Rufenacht.
Two-year contract: Kevin Pool and Brianna Gerken.
One-year contract: Sara Burkholder, Kennedy Kania, Polly Krause, Darian Schnitkey, Tyecyn Towns, Maverick Widener, Hannah Atkinson and Braden Bumb.
MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS
Continuing contract: Israel Aguilar.
Two-year contract: Micah Bunke.
TRANSPORTATION CONTRACTS
One-year contract: Albert Babcock.
Two-year contract: Brian Cheeseman.
TUTORING CONTRACTS
Based on as needed basis: Megan DeGroff, Hannah Arnos, Christina Bowers, Gabby Bowers, Amy Oberlin (tutor/transportation) and Kristina Herren.
SUPPLEMENTAL CONTRACTS
The board also approved supplemental contracts for the 2026-27 school year, contingent upon viable season starts and school related openings/closings, and participation levels as presented.
Varsity Boys Basketball: Tyler Woolace. Varsity Volleyball: Alexa Meade. Varsity Girls Basketball: Conner Ruffer. Varsity Golf: John Ruffer. Varsity Cross Country: Megan DeGroff. Head Football Coach: Jamie Grime. Football assistants: Alex Grice, Austin Nickells, Jeffrie Pace, Jon Mignin (75 percent). High School Basketball and Football Cheerleading: Brianna Gerken. Volleyball Assistant: Mallori Weigel. 7th Grade Volleyball: Kendra Beck. 8th Grade Volleyball: Taylor Heath. 7th Girls Basketball: Barb Figgins. 8th Girls Basketball: Joe Beck. Freshman Boys Basketball: Mike Donovan. Freshman Girls Basketball: Riley Benson. Weight Room Monitor: Kevin Beck. Panthian Advisor: Jade Eberle. Student Council Advisor: Joe Keween. Audio Visual Advisor and Panther Tech Club: Larry Freshour. Junior Class Advisor: Paula Short. Junior Class Assistant: Stacey Short. Mentor Coordinator: Blake Burkholder. Mentors (as needed): Mel Baldwin and Megan Barber. National Honor Society Advisor and Mentor: Sara Taylor. Art Club (as needed): Laura Moser. FFA Club Advisor: Matt Arnos.
Superintendent Nate Johnson told board members the spring sports coaching contracts will be approved later with evaluations to be completed following the end of their respective seasons.
OTHER PERSONNEL ACTION
The board also approved Mandy Oberlin, Pat Leupp, Chad Carroll, Larry Davis and Olivia Breininger as department substitutes and/or summer workers. JoAnne Bell was also approved on separate board action.
Andria Shipman was reassigned as a school nurse. She was approved for a three-year contract.
Extended contracts were issued to Polly Krause (band), Mike Donovan (guidance) and Matt Arnos (VoAg). Keegan Schoen was approved as a student behavior specialist.
The board accepted the resignation of Lindsi Rufenacht as teacher effective at the end of the 2025-26 school year. She has been with the district for the last 17 years.
The board approved Ricardo Avila (tutor), Nikki DeGroff, Larry Freshour, Keegan Schoen, Tad Shindledecker, Susan Shindledecker, Laura Moser, Janet Myers and Maverick Widener (event workers) for the 2025-26 school year. Jackie Holsopple was approved as a substitute custodian and event worker for the 2025-26 school year.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer Nate French recommended the board approve “Then & Now” certificates for the following items greater than $3,000.
-Northeastern Local Schools for $44,193.30 for excess costs for open enrolled special education students.
-Border Fire Protection, Inc., for $3,063.22 for a five-year sprinkler inspection.
The board accepted the following donations: $460 from Anonymous and $1,000 from Stryker Brethren Church to the Food Service fund for student accounts; $599.20 for new cheerleading banners and $2,710 to the cheerleader fund from the Stryker Athletic Boosters.
French made a recommendation to the board approving a $50 monthly cell phone stipend to the maintenance/transportation supervisor in place of a district provided cell phone once service is transferred over as presented.
The board approved the revised Student Activity Handbook. French said there have been some items in the handbook that hadn’t been updated in a while.
He is going to add some updated revised forms that will be given out next school year, basically tending to fundraisers, budgets and such.
Also, the district is going to make some formal procedures where outside organizations who are doing fundraisers on behalf of the school need to notify the district, so they know what is going on.
French reminded the board of the upcoming OSBA Northwest Region Open House to be held on April 29 at the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center in Archbold.
ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL REPORT
Elementary Principal Kallie Gensler reported on the recent activities highlighted by the recent Grandparents Day program, which was held before a standing room only crowd in the cafeteria.
She also reported on several upcoming field trips including the fifth and sixth graders to Camp Palmer (May 5-6), kindergarten and first graders to Sauder Village (May 12), fourth graders to Henry Ford Museum (May 14) and second and third graders to Canal Boat/Ludwig Mills in Grand Rapids (May 13).
Also, the annual elementary field day will be on May 8 and Safety Day on May 13. The preschool graduation will be held on May 18 at 6:30 p.m. and elementary awards in the classrooms on May 19.
HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL REPORT
High School Principal Jamie Grime reported on the upcoming activities highlighted by the prom on Saturday, May 2. It will be held at the ESC Building in Archbold with the post-prom activities to follow in Fort Wayne.
Grime commented on the high school awards program, which will be held during the school day on Monday, May 4 at 1 p.m.
Other activities planned include Grades 9-12 Fun Day on Wednesday, May 6 at Kalahari in Sandusky, Arts Night (May 12) and FFA Ag Safety Day (May 13). The last day of school for students is Thursday, May 21.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Superintendent Nate Johnson reported on the recent Ag Tech addition and Courtyard open house. He said it was very well attended with roughly over 300 in attendance.
OTHER BOARD ACTION
-Approved the Class of 2026 for graduation on Sunday, May 17 at 2 p.m. This is contingent on meeting all current and modified state and local requirements. There are 31 seniors who will be graduating.
-Approved the amended school calendars for the 2026-27, 2027-28, 2028-29 and 2029-30 school years.
-Approved the extended/overnight trip for the FFA to attend the state convention April 30-May 1 in Columbus, Ohio.
The board entered into an executive session for the preparation of negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment. No action was taken.
The next board meeting is Monday, May 18 at 5:30 p.m.