The Bellefontaine Board of Education has approved a fiscal plan outlining steps the district will take to address its budget deficit and meet state financial oversight requirements.
The action came during the board’s monthly meeting Monday night in the Sloan Distance Learning Center at Bellefontaine High School.
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce previously issued Bellefontaine City Schools a Deficit Notification Letter, placing the district under state fiscal oversight requirements.
As part of the process, the district is required to prepare and submit a Written Plan Workbook and Narrative documenting the financial actions it plans to take.
Superintendent Brad Hall and Treasurer Josh Wasson prepared the written plan, and the board authorized Wasson to submit the workbook and narrative to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce by November 30.
Once the plan has been approved by the state, it will be released to the public.
The district is expected to make significant budget reductions before the start of the next school year.
Superintendent Hall explains more about what this means, and whether voters will see a levy on the spring ballot:
The board also approved the monthly financial reports.
In other business, Bellefontaine varsity baseball coach Daulton Mosbarger and assistant coach Mark Brunswick spoke to the board about a proposed team trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, scheduled for March 28 through April 1, 2027.
Approximately 30 players are expected to participate in the trip, which will coincide with Bellefontaine City Schools’ spring break.
No students will miss school because of the trip.
All player expenses will be paid through baseball fundraisers, and there will be no player participation fee.
Parents will be responsible for lodging expenses.
Mosbarger described the trip as an opportunity for players to improve their skills while building team chemistry.
Bellefontaine is scheduled to play three varsity games and two junior varsity games during the trip.
The board will consider formally approving the trip at a future meeting.
The board accepted several personnel resignations, including Sandi Chervenak from STEM for the purpose of retirement, Tyler Shamblin as an intervention specialist, Trevor Woods from media production, Valerie Chamberlain as a bus driver, Lauren Henry as an educational aide, and Sharon Smith as a food service worker.
Supplemental resignations were also accepted from Brandon Rutherford as middle school/high school girls wrestling assistant coach and Brian Timpe as high school musical production assistant.
The board approved the hiring of Mendie Lankford as a food service worker, Blake Ransbottom as a maintenance worker, Brittanee Thomas as an educational aide, and Valerie Chamberlain as a substitute bus driver.
Arrisa Carver, Susan Gleason, Kamryn Rudolph, and Gwen Ruth were hired as substitute teachers, while Sandra Meyer was hired as a home instruction/tutor.
The following supplemental positions were also approved: Brian Hogan as high school musical production assistant, James Howell as middle school yearbook advisor, Jordan Reser as middle school robotics advisor, Stephan Shurelds as high school boys basketball assistant coach, Jacob Wagner as high school softball assistant coach, and Makayla Young as middle school/high school girls wrestling assistant coach.
Jeremy Clifton was approved as an athletic worker. Brian Hogan was approved as a volunteer middle school girls basketball coach, and Barb Hunt was approved as a classroom support volunteer.
The board approved parent mileage reimbursement for Kerry Pierce, who transports her child to an alternative learning location.
The board also approved the indoor track program, which will be coached by Ben Davis, along with an attendance incentive for district employees for the 2026-2027 school year.
Under the incentive, employees who use no more than a half-day of sick leave or personal leave per semester will receive a $450 bonus for each semester.
Employees who use no more than one day of sick leave or personal leave per semester will receive a $250 bonus for each semester.
At the end of the school year, the Bellefontaine Education Association and BCS administration will meet to discuss the incentive’s effectiveness.
Finally, the board recognized November Seniors of the Month CJ Butler and Olivia Dearwester.
Both students received an achievement pin and a $15 gift card to Ron’s Pizza.
The next Bellefontaine Board of Education meeting is scheduled for December 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the Sloan Distance Learning Center at Bellefontaine High School.
