BCS Board reviews challenging five-year forecast; Miller honored

Bellefontaine City Schools held its monthly meeting Monday night in the High School Sloan Distance Learning Center.

Treasurer Josh Wasson presented the district’s five-year forecast to the board. These forecasts are presented each May and November. Wasson said it’s very difficult to forecast revenue right now because of multiple outside variables, including next year’s property valuation in the county and the pending two-year state budget. Wasson added, “As Treasurer/CFO of Bellefontaine City Schools, I want to express our deep concern regarding several provisions in the Ohio House’s proposed version of the FY2026–2027 state budget. While we appreciate the ongoing efforts of the legislature to address Ohio’s broader fiscal challenges, certain proposed changes—particularly those related to property tax reform and school district cash reserve limits—pose significant risks to the long-term financial stability of public schools like ours. The proposed elimination of replacement levies and the potential cap on district cash reserves may unintentionally undermine the financial tools local school districts rely on to provide consistent, high-quality educational services. These measures could restrict our ability to adapt to future economic shifts, respond to emergencies, and make responsible long-term investments in student learning and staff support. We urge lawmakers to fully fund the Fair School Funding Plan (FSFP) as originally designed. Proper funding is essential to ensure the formula works as intended—providing public school districts across Ohio with adequate, equitable, and predictable resources to meet the needs of all students. Bellefontaine City Schools has always prioritized transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility. We maintain prudent reserve levels to ensure stability during economic downturns and to avoid reactive, short-term decision-making that could harm students and programs. Imposing artificial constraints on local budgeting or limiting voter-approved funding options may weaken—not strengthen—our public schools. We encourage lawmakers to continue working collaboratively with school leaders across Ohio to develop a final budget that preserves local flexibility, promotes long-term planning, and supports sustainable public education funding for every community.” The current BCS budget is about $165,000 in the black. The forecast is projecting a deficit of $493,000 in Fiscal Year ’26.

See the entire forecast below:

FY25_Annual_Report_Writer_MAY_FINAL APPROVED (1)

Left to right: Bellefontaine Elementary School Principal Jenny Salyer, Classified Employee of the Year Cassidy Miller, and Board President Colin Yoder

The board honored an outstanding employee. Kindergarten paraprofessional Cassidy Miller is the Classified Employee of the Year. Bellefontaine Elementary Principal Jenny Salyer said, “Cassidy goes above and beyond in every aspect of her work. She creates engaging activities for classes, designs materials tailored to individual students, and even makes resources on her own time – without ever being asked. Whether supporting her own classroom or jumping in wherever help is needed, Cassidy takes initiative, needs no prompting, and consistently creates a positive, student-centered environment. She holds a substitute teaching license and has stepped in multiple times – sometimes as a long-term sub – always doing an incredible job. Cassidy is positive, passionate, and truly a go-getter. A team player through and through, she exemplifies what it means to be a Chieftain Leader.”

The board heard a presentation from longtime BHS business teacher Henry Stolly regarding a trip to a national competition next month. 32 Bellefontaine High School business students participated in the Mad River Region Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge competition in Urbana on May 1st. Students were placed on teams, set up stock portfolios, reviewed stock lists, analyzed economic market conditions, monitored the exchange board, and initiated stock trades on a simulated stock market floor. At the close of the stock market simulation, the three teams with the highest portfolio value placed in the competition with the top team qualifying for the JA Future Bound Summit in Atlanta, Georgia in June. BHS teams earned the top three spots at the Stock Market Challenge. The 1st-place team of CJ Butler, Cayleb Overmann, and Jack Wilson qualified for the JA Future Bound Summit in Atlanta on June 9th-11th to compete against teams from across the country. The BCS board approved the trip. Junior Achievement covers the students’ cost at the competition. Each school is responsible for the transportation cost.

The board also discussed a potential change in the start time for the ’25-’26 school year. The board talked about pushing back the start time at BHS. Currently, high school classes are from 7:20 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. No action was taken.

In personnel, the board accepted the following resignations:

Katelyne Ackley – Intervention Specialist
Kellie Lemly – Intervention Specialist
Andrew Madley – High School Spanish
Shelby Mifsud – 3rd Grade English Language Arts
Joanna Arthur – Food Service Worker
Miriam Rodriguez Tamayo – 2nd Shift Custodian

The following hires were approved:

Morgan Calton – 4th Grade
Katy Curnutte – High School Spanish
Melinda Haberman – Intervention Specialist
Mara Ledley – Behavior Coach
Erica Oakley – Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
April Logan – High School Attendance Secretary
Karen Deer – Summer Technology Maintenance

The following one-year administrative contracts were approved:

Krista Adelsberger – Communications Coordinator – 60 percent salary
Martha Earick – Food Service Supervisor & Superintendent’s Secretary
Erin Gillig – Bellefontaine Elementary School Assistant Principal

The following two-year administrative contracts were approved:

Katie Buffkin – District Nurse
Max Earick – Supervisor of Grounds/Building Maintenance
Brad Carnes – Bus Maintenance Coordinator
Tammie Garman – Supervisor of Transportation
Hayden Green – Electrical Operations Coordinator
Andrea Scott – EMIS Coordinator

The following three-year administrative contracts were approved:

Meagan Antram – School Psychologist
Kyle Daring – Bellefontaine Middle School Principal
Lucas Pozenel – School Psychologist
Jenny Salyer – Bellefontaine Elementary School Principal
Whitney Stolly – Bellefontaine Intermediate School Assistant Principal

The following one-year teaching contracts were approved:

Nichole Burkhamer
Jacqueline Godsey
Ashleigh Hodosko
Kenneth Hoffman
Brittany Johnson
Angela Lowe
Mikael Neeley
Riley Penhorwood
Cheryl Poppel (retire/rehire)
Hailee Price
Andrew Reinhard
Brooke Reinhard
Garrett Reinhard
Mataya Reinhard
Courtney Salyer
Jason Scott
Karen Scott (retire/rehire)
Amy Treon
Trevor Woods

The following two-year teaching contracts were approved:

Michaela Baughman
Ashton Childs
Tasidee Dillion
Heidi Heacock
Mikaela Moore
Zach Showalter
Dawn Spangler
Rachael Stacklin
Taylor Wayman

The following three-year teaching contracts were approved:

Jennifer Brown
Cheryl Daniels
Morgan Ebbeskotte
Patricia Elson
Brice Henry
DJ Howell
Heather Rivon
Skylar Mifsud
Hayley Nease
Paula Shaw

The following were approved to work the ABC Kindergarten Camp in August:

Michaela Baker
Bri Hughes
Hannah Stidham

The following were approved to teach summer school:

Phil Forsythe
Lori Wilson

April Logan was hired as the high school attendance secretary.

The following one-year classified contracts were renewed:

Trinity Floyd
Nicole Fulkerson
Azalia Hawkey
Terry Headings
Chandler Martell
Joesph McCall
Morgan Powers

The following two-year classified contracts were renewed:

Ashlyn Gonterman
Emily Housholder
Lyric Lawrence
Michelle Meyer
Rhonda Scheffel
Dreema Snyder
Hannah Stidham

The following continuing classified contracts were approved:

Jodi England
Tamara Frazier
Kristen Friedrich
Elizabeth Kieffer
Ashley McBeth
Jill Nevers
Connie Rose
Megan Sechrest
Kimberly Taylor
Kristen Wagner

The following substitute appointments were approved:

April Logan – Secretary
Jessica Pender – Food Service Worker

A long list of supplementals were approved. They include:

Nathan Arbogast – High School TEAMS
Brooke Bahr – High School Football Sideline Cheer Assistant Coach
Jason Brown – High School Football Head Coach
Art Caudill – High School Football Assistant Coach
Isaac Chiles – High School Boys Golf Head Coach
Jeremy Clifton – High School Football Assistant Coach
Cliff Core – High School Quiz Bowl
Sean Egler – High School Football Assistant Coach
Matt Gallaway – High School DARE
Matthew Garrett – High School Creative Writing
Matthew Garrett – High School D&D Club
Steve Henry – High School Boys Soccer Head Coach
Brady Hiatt – High School Girls Golf Assistant Coach
Angie Horvath – High School OSU-MUN
Angie Horvath – High School Chieftain Leaders Coordinator
James Howell – High School Girls Tennis Head Coach
April Jameson – High School FCCLA Advisor
Jordan Kesler – Middle School Cross Country Head Coach
Melanie Lehman – High School Interact
Lindsey Maus – Middle School Cross Country Assistant Coach
Skylar Mifsud – High School Football Assistant Coach
Skylar Mifsud – High School Chieftain Backers
Chris Miller – High School GSA
Chris Miller – High School Yearbook Advisor
Galen Miller – High School Boys Cross Country Head Coach
Stacy Millice – High School FCA
Daulton Mosbarger – High School Chieftain Backers
Garrett Reinhard – High School Chieftain Leaders Advisor
Hannah Rodenhausen – High School GSA
Michelle Rohrer – High School National Honor Society
Cody Sigrist – High School Envirothon
Bess Standley – High School Educators Rising
Heather Storm – High School Football Sideline Cheer Head Coach
Jeanie Tipple – High School Spanish Club
Jeremiah Vigansky – High School Football Assistant Coach
Richard McDaniel was approved as a volunteer high school football coach.

The following athletic workers were approved:

Kim Brown
Matt Gallaway
Ben Gillig
Stacey Holycross
Lori Horn
James Howell
Erin Hoyng
Melanie Lehman
Sharon Lewis
Jennifer Lynch
Lindsey Maus
Nate Miranda
Cheryl Poppel
Christina Prine
Jordan Reser
Jim Robinson
Wendy Rutan
Debbie Sheehan
Eva Skaggs
Sharon Traul
Amy Treon
Barb Triplett
Jason Warner

The National SkillsUSA competition trip in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 24th-28th. Hayden Maus and Lorenz Henry qualified for the trip after winning the SkillsUSA state competition in robotics & automation in March.

Finally, the board recognized May Seniors of the Month Laila Butler and Conor Evans. They each received an achievement pin and a $15 gift card to Ron’s Pizza.

The board went into executive session to discuss personnel and collective bargaining. No action was taken.

The next board meeting will be June 9th at 6:30 p.m. in the Distance Learning Center.