NEW FACE AT SCHOOL BOARD … Swanton Local School District Board of Education Treasurer Sheila Horseman (right) swears in new board member Dr. Olivia Leverich (left) at the first board meeting of the year.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
The Swanton Local School District Board of Education set its business in order at its most recent meeting in preparation for the coming year.
The board held both its annual organizational meeting as well as its first regular meeting of the year, covering a wide range of topics, but started with housekeeping.
The board appointed and swore in new board member Dr. Olivia Leverich, a licensed clinical psychologist. The board previously interviewed its candidates for the seat during a special meeting on January 5.
The board approved 17 annual authorizations to allow Superintendent Chris Lake and Treasurer Sheila Horseman to complete the day-to-day business of the district.
Included in the authorizations are permissions to apply for and receive grants, accept donations, sign checks, pay bills, buy goods and services, and employ temporary personnel in emergency situations.
Board member Dave Smith was assigned to the audit committee.
Board member Ben Remer was named as the board’s delegate to the Ohio School Boards Association with Leverich as his alternate. Remer will attend the association’s capital conference in Columbus on November 15, and Leverich will attend if Remer is unable.
JAZZ BAND
Swanton High School sophomore Lorna Petruney spoke to the board about her concerns for the jazz studies class and jazz band.
Petruney said she is running the band this year and there is no adequate substitute teacher, that it has been student led for the last week, and that there are three weeks of prepared lessons and work but nothing for the remainder of the semester.
“We can only do so much,” Petruney said. She added that they have a one-hour rehearsal scheduled for every Tuesday after school and have only had three. She said she has reached out to musicians she knows for input.
“I just want to make this band as good as it could be,” Petruney said.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI HALL OF FAME
Lake reported the 2027 inductees into the SHS Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame had been selected and that both would be in attendance at the January 30 luncheon.
2002 SHS graduate Abby Kolodziejczyk Wolfrum earned a bachelors of science in biology and chemistry and a master of arts in education at Defiance College. She currently serves as executive director of United Way of Defiance County.
1994 SHS graduate Benjamin Lang earned a bachelors of science in civil engineering from the University of Cincinnati and his juris doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School.
He has practiced law in New York City and Tokyo, Japan, and is currently a corporate partner at Jones Day – one of the largest law firms in the world – in Tokyo, where he lives with his family.
OTHER BUSINESS
The board approved changes to transportation policy as recommended by NEOLA due to changes in state law.
The board approved increases in pay for employees affected by Ohio’s recent minimum wage increase to $11.00 an hour.
The board approved increases to school meal pricing bringing lunch to $3.50 for the elementary school and $3.75 for the middle and high schools, with breakfast at all buildings set at $1.50.
The board approved a memorandum of understanding with the School Support Staff Association, authorizing the offer of a $10,000 retirement incentive in line with some other positions.
The board approved a slate of personnel changes, including new Head Football Coach Matt Horen and Kori Miller, a high school family consumer science teacher.
Lake said teachers with consumer science endorsements were in high demand, and also pointed out the high school previously received a $50,000 grant to build a consumer science lab, which he expected to be complete by the end of the school year.
The board approved the 2026-2027 school year calendar, including a first day of August 16 (August 21 for kindergarten), Thanksgiving break from November 23 through 27, Christmas break from December 21 through Jan. 1, 2027, spring break from March 22 through 26, 2027, and the last day of school on May 27, 2027. It also includes five professional development days for all staff.
The board approved the term renewal of Swanton Public Library Board of Trustees member Mona Dyke, beginning at the start of 2026 and lasting until Dec. 31, 2030.
The board approved a variety of changes to appropriations and estimated resource changes.
The board approved an annual resolution approving tax rates and amounts determined by the Fulton County Budget Commission.
Lake thanked the board for their service to the district in honor of School Board Recognition Month.
The board accepted donations including a popcorn machine for the elementary school and funds totaling $551.56 from Kroger Rewards, $3,000 for bowling, $332.02 for prom, $350 for boys basketball, $250 for digital order fundraiser, $300 for track, $500 for softball, and $10,500 for the baseball/softball complex.
The board ended regular business by going into executive session to discuss “the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official.” No action was expected as a result of the session.
The next regular meeting of the Swanton Local School District Board of Education is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 18, at 108 N. Main Street.