Thomas Clemens

Key discussions during the meeting included a public participation segment where attendees presented on the Holocaust Memorial. The Board addressed several consent agenda items, including the approval of February financial statements and tax rates as determined by the Budget Commission. Superintendent recommendations covered approving fundraiser requests from various classes, approving a list of volunteers, approving the non-renewal of all winter coaches, and adopting several new or updated policies related to board meetings, academic acceleration, and artificial intelligence. The Board approved an agreement with ACCESS for Application Services and a proposal with Four Season Environmental, Inc. for commissioning services related to the Pre-K Classrooms Addition. Personnel actions included approving a resignation and awarding several supplemental contracts for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, as well as awarding credit recovery contracts. The Board also considered and approved an executive session.

The meeting agenda included public participation featuring a recognition of a retiree, presentations from the Gridiron Club, a discussion regarding an unspecified issue, and presentations from the Student Initiative Club. The Board adopted updates or new policies concerning the Board of Education Meeting and Cash Balance Reserve. Key actions included adopting a resolution for a Cybersecurity Program, approving the 2026-2027 school calendar, and approving a resolution with Hammond Construction to proceed with Pre-K Revisions, Roof, and a three-story HVAC system. The Board also approved membership authorization for the Ohio High School Athletic Association and approved an out-of-state trip for academic challenge students. Personnel actions involved approving a contract for an Attendance/Guidance/Athletic Secretary, employing certified and classified substitutes, and awarding various supplemental and athletic worker contracts for the upcoming school year.

The Annual Organizational Meeting agenda included several key administrative actions for 2026. Discussions involved administering the Oath of Office to newly elected Board members, electing the President and Vice President of the Board of Education, and establishing the maximum compensation rate for Board Members. Further items addressed establishing the regular monthly meeting day and time, considering legal counsel retention with Pepple and Waggoner, Ltd., and approving membership in the Ohio School Boards Association. The agenda also covered establishing a Board Service Fund, participation in the OSBA Legal Assistance Fund (LAF), designating The Morning Journal as the official newspaper, discussing 2026 Committees, and setting standing appointments and authorizations. Additionally, the date for the 2027 Organizational Meeting was considered. A subsequent Regular Meeting addressed approving the 2026/2027 tax budget, approving numerous donations, reviewing cafeteria standards, approving volunteers, considering fundraiser requests, adopting policy updates, approving contracts/MOUs with OEPI, Kent State University, and Youngstown State University for CCP programs, approving Key Club Cords implementation, accepting the retirement of a secretary, approving employment/rehire contracts for staff, approving substitute employment, awarding supplemental contracts for the 2026-2027 school year, approving 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 Athletic Workers, approving a 2025-2026 Sports Volunteer Coach, and considering and approving an Executive Session.

The board meeting included presentations on job shadowing opportunities, a United Learning update with building and principal reports, and committee reports. The board discussed and approved various items under the consent agenda, including financial statements, donations, student activity budgets, minimum wage increase, amended agreements with the Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio, and the annual report of cardmember services credit card reward. Superintendent's recommendations included transportation and cafeteria reports, approval of volunteers and fundraiser requests, adoption of new and updated policies, agreements for internet access services, a memorandum of understanding with Columbiana County Mental Health Clinic, an out-of-state trip for the high school band, and employment of a custodian and substitutes. Additionally, the board discussed a presentation by the United Drama Department, Key Club graduation cords, a band trip to Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade, and nature trail improvements. Other topics included building updates, principal's updates, and a superintendent's report covering self-directed learning, a Bonnie Hoppel Grant, an invitation to MIT, and building and grounds updates.

The meeting included public participation with presentations on a transportation and financial plan, Key Club Cords, a band trip to Pearl Harbor, and a nature trail. The board discussed a learning update, building updates, and committee reports. Approvals were given for financial statements, donations, a resolution declaring the impracticality of transporting non-public school students, a pre-apprenticeship program, joining the Ohio Schools Council program, and playground equipment. The board also discussed transportation reports, cafeteria reports, chartered trips, volunteers, fundraiser requests, home education, special education model policies, an agreement for Ag Lab alterations, HVAC upgrades, athletic worker prices, FFA leadership conferences, an 8th-grade trip, resignations, retirements, employing an ASL interpreter, a bus driver, and certified/classified substitutes. Supplemental contracts and winter volunteer coaches were also approved. Additionally, the board considered an executive session and set the next meeting date.