The Bellefontaine City Schools Board of Education held its monthly meeting Monday night at the Sloan Distance Learning Center inside Bellefontaine High School.
Several parents were in attendance, with four speaking during the meeting to express their concerns over the district’s plan to transition preschool students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) from the Discovery Center to the Bellefontaine Elementary Preschool beginning in the 2025–2026 school year.
The parents shared that their children are currently thriving in the learning environment at Discovery Center and are concerned that a move would negatively impact their progress.
These students are part of special education programs and receive services as outlined in their IEPs.
Parents stressed that the existing classroom settings, staff, and support systems at Discovery Center are well-suited to their children’s individual needs, and they fear the disruption would be detrimental to development.
Superintendent Brad Hall explained that the decision stems from a new cost structure communicated by the Discovery Center, which currently receives its funding solely from the government and does not charge school districts for their student’s attendance.
Beginning next school year, Bellefontaine City Schools would be charged $1,000 per student, per year, for resident students with IEPs attending the Discovery Center.
That cost is scheduled to increase to $2,000 in the 2026–2027 school year, and $3,000 in 2027–2028.
In response, the district has decided to serve those students in its own preschool facility instead.
Students whose families self-pay for Discovery Center attendance will be allowed to continue at the center.
Hall said that the district must be fiscally responsible and that serving students in-house is the most cost-effective solution.
Hall noted, however, that there will be exceptions.
If a student’s IEP team determines that the “Least Restrictive Environment” for that student is the Discovery Center, then that placement will continue.
For example, a student with complex medical needs such as a feeding tube could remain at Discovery due to the staffing required, while a student needing services like speech therapy could be accommodated within the district.
Earlier in the meeting, Bellefontaine Elementary School Principal Jenny Salyer gave a presentation on the BES Preschool, which serves 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds.
She announced that the preschool received the Gold Award from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce through the Step Up To Quality program.
This is the highest rating available and is based on national standards proven to improve early childhood outcomes.
Since its opening in the 2022–2023 school year, BES Preschool enrollment has doubled.
Salyer noted that students who begin their education in the BES Preschool typically experience a smoother transition into kindergarten.
Hall comments on what the Gold Awards means for the district:
Executive Director of Administrative Services Roger Ely provided an update on energy performance across the district.
Ely reported that Bellefontaine City Schools ranks in the top 5 percent of schools in Ohio for energy efficiency.
He credited Maintenance Director Max Earick for overseeing the scheduling of heating and cooling across all 500,000 square feet of district facilities.
These energy management efforts have saved the district thousands of dollars each month.
The board heard a proposal for a student trip to the National SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta, Georgia, scheduled for June 24–28.
Students Hayden Maus and Lorenz Henry qualified for the national competition after winning the state title in Robotics and Automation last month.
The board will vote on the trip at its May meeting.
Longtime robotics teacher Shawn Miller leads the program.
The board also approved the Bellefontaine High School Band trip to Nashville, set for April 1–4, 2026.
Band members will perform at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Studio B and will visit other local music venues.
The trip cost is expected to be $525 per student.
The board accepted the resignations and retirement of several staff members, including:
Alex Burton (Intervention Specialist), Kimberly Cayot (Intervention Specialist, retirement), Jennifer Cyr (5th Grade English Language Arts), Elaine Keller (Intervention Specialist), Rick Reed (Physical Education), Dana Campbell (Food Service Worker), Heather Evans (Educational Aide), and Cameron Francis (2nd Shift Custodian).
New hires approved by the board included Olivia Sharp (Intervention Specialist), Truman Howell (Substitute Teacher), Chyenne Routt (Substitute Teacher), Joseph McCall (2nd Shift Custodian), and Stephen Funderburgh (Summer Maintenance).
The board approved over two dozen teachers and paraprofessionals to staff the 2025 summer school session.
Garrett Jenkins was approved as a volunteer high school track coach.
The board also voted to increase the hourly wage for the summer tech aide position to $15 per hour.
April Seniors of the Month were recognized as Paula Paredes Reinoso and Braylon Newcomb.
Each student received an achievement pin and a $15 gift card to Ron’s Pizza.
The next Bellefontaine City Schools Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 12, at 6:30 p.m. in the Sloan Distance Learning Center.
