The Bellefontaine Board of Education heard about the 1 percent earned income tax levy during its monthly meeting Monday night in the Sloan Distance Learning Center.
Levy co-chairs Brenda Sanford and Keyne Strickland expressed the importance of passing the levy on November 3rd. If the levy is approved, taxes will be collected beginning January 1st, 2027, for a continuing period of time. State funding to public schools has significantly decreased over the last 5-10 years. Sanford noted that BCS has been proactive. The district has cut $3.5 million in spending since 2019.
Strickland said, “The levy is fair share funding for all in the community. I want to be able to give my kids the same opportunities in school, whether academically or athletically, as I had growing up and future generations as well. Without this levy, those opportunities won’t be there.”
The voter registration deadline is October 5th. Early voting starts on October 6th.
The board also approved a resolution to join the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding. The state funds EdChoice vouchers. These payments to private schools decrease the amount of funding to public schools across Ohio. Bellefontaine Superintendent Brad Hall explained how the voucher system has impacted state funding for BCS.
“In 2022, BCS received 62 percent of its funding from the state. In 2027, the district will receive 49 percent of its funding from the state. By 2031, that will be reduced to 36 percent. Those dollars that would have come to us are being diverted to the EdChoice Voucher program. In total, the state has diverted $2.75 billion away from public schools. The voucher program has been very damaging to public education.”
BCS is the first school in Logan County to join the coalition. The coalition includes 334 public schools (out of 607).
You can see more at https://ohiocoalition.org/
Logan County Veterans Services Director Shelley Kneece detailed the Remembering Our Fallen National Memorial, which will stop at BHS next month. The memorial is a traveling photographic tribute honoring American service members who died in the War on Terror (from September 11th, 2001, through August 30th, 2021). The exhibit features 35 Tribute Towers with military and personal photos. The exhibit will be in the Bellefontaine High School auxiliary gym from October 8th-10th. The exhibit will be open from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on October 8th and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on October 9th-10th.
The board then approved several items on the agenda, including the monthly financial reports. Salary adjustments were approved for the following teachers:
- Tricia Baker MA+18 to MA+45
- Rachael Brunson BA+30 to MA
- Kenna Davis BA+18 to BA+30
- Jenny Jervis BA+18 to MA
- Hanna Kean BA to BA+18
- Garrett Reinhard BA+9 to MA+9
- Isaiah Reinhard BA to MA
- Brooke Zuch BA+18 to MA
The following were approved as Mentor Teachers:
Christi Colvin, Cheryl Daniels, Katie Davis, Ben Gillig, Lisette Hiatt, Lindsay Hogan, Mara Ledley, and Kristy McKirahan.
Sara Core was approved as a Resident Educator Coordinator/Mentor.
The following were hired as Cross-Functional Team members: Matt Gallaway, Natalie Grandstaff, Bri Hughes, Kylie Hrytzik, Megan Miller, Garrett Reinhard, Bryant Runyon, and Karen Scott
The following were approved as Internal Monitoring Team members: Lori Arbogast, Jennifer Brown, Jill Carey, Angela Lowe, Kristy McKirahan, Skylar Mifsud, Hayley Nease, and Melissa Wical
These staff members were approved as Instructional Team Leaders: Christi Colvin, Cheryl Daniels, Katie Davis, Lisette Hiatt, Lindsay Hogan, Ami Horvath, Sharon Lewis, Shawn Miller, Justine Oliver, Mara Ledley, Brooke Pulfer, Michelle Rohrer, Kate Smith, Bess Standley, and Brooke Zuch
The following were approved to serve on the Local Professional Development Committee: Abby Boop, Jill Carey, Cliff Core (Coordinator), Lori Horn, Andrea Shumaker, and Erin Gillig (Administrator)
The following were approved to serve on the Building Leadership Teams: Katina Elwood, Eric Fatzinger, Sarah Gossard, Bri Hughes, Kylie Hrytzik, Kristy McKirahan, Megan Miller, Joliece Reed, Bryant Runyon, Karen Scott, Kate Smith, and Jeanie Tipple
The following were approved to serve on the Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) Building Teams: Christy Ash, Kim Brown, Cheryl Daniels, Katie Davis, Alicia Dinovo, Deena Fenske, Katie Gallaway, Jacqueline Godsey, Natalie Grandstaff, Beth Hogue, Kylie Hrytzik, Julie Kurtz, Jeanie Tipple, and Heather Usserman
The following were hired as substitute teachers: Mark Brunswick, Lillie Belle Elliot, Dusty Prall, and Allyson Wisse
The following were hired as home instruction/tutors: Chandler Martell, Aaron Garver, Kim Brown, Julie Kurtz, Lori Arbogast, Courtney Salyer, Catherine Eastman, Kayce Horn, Tammy Fowler, Natalie Grandstaff, Marilyn Smith, Andrea Shumaker, Kenna Davis, Sandi Chervenak, Wendy Rutan, Amy Treon, James Howell, Sarah Gossard, Jon Reminder, Ryan Sawmiller, Diann Jordan, Desnee Wolters, Jacqueline Godsey, Kylie Hrytzik, Karen Rader, Lori Horn, Ashley Reser, and Rachael Brunson
The following hires were approved:
- Karen Bartley – Food Service Worker
- Jessica Gerwels – Bus Driver
- Richard McDaniel – Educational Aide
- The following were hired as substitutes:
- Cristina Alvares – Custodian
- Chizuru Bello – Custodian
- Krista Belser – Secretary
- Susan Gleason – Educational Aide
- Cheryl Harman – Custodian
- Debi Henry – Secretary
- Audrey Hess – Secretary
- Tracy Janco – Educational Aide/Secretary
- Beth Kieffer – Custodian
- Karen Linkinhoker – Educational Aide
- Cheryl Schroeder – Educational Aide/Secretary
- Hannah Stidham – Educational Aide
- Barb Triplett – Educational Aide/Secretary
- Teresa Vogel – Educational Aide
The board approved a $5,000 stipend for supplemental services to Technology Assistant Shawn Miller, a $400 stipend to MathCounts Coach Lawrence Miller.
The following supplemental contracts were approved:
- Meagan Antram-Hoyt – High School Musical Production Assistant
- Tricia Baker – High School OSU-MUN
- Andy Crabill – Middle School Fall & Winter Site Supervisor
- Jere Daniels – High School Musical Production Assistant
- Keri Fergus – High School Musical Production Assistant
- Trinity Floyd – High School Musical Production Assistant
- Craig Fultz – High School Musical Production Assistant
- Brian Timpe – High School Musical Production Assistant
The board approved Waltraud Ryman as a volunteer food service worker and Kendall Plikerd as a volunteer high school wrestling coach.
Natalie Collins was hired as program consultant and evaluator for the 21st Century Grant.
The board accepted the resignation of food service worker Julia Pulfer.
Pat Martz was appointed as a Logan County Education Foundation trustee.
The board approved the non-resident monthly tuition rate for the 26-27 school year. The monthly rate is $679.19 for K-12 students.
Finally, the board recognized September Seniors of the Month, Grace Brown and Spencer Stolly. They each received an achievement pin and a $15 gift card to Ron’s Pizza.
The next monthly board meeting will be October 12th at 6:30 p.m. in the Sloan Distance Learning Center at BHS.
