Carrollton school board opens year with new member

The Carrollton Exempted Village Board of Education held its reorganizational meeting and regular meeting Jan. 13.

Before beginning the regular January meeting, the board held its annual organizational session, which included the swearing-in of newcomer Savannah Harris along with returning members.

Dan Ries was again selected to serve as board president, while Steven Pridemore retained the role of vice president. Jonathan Naylor was reappointed as legislative liaison, and Jamie Matoszkia will continue providing the student achievement report. For Ohio School Boards Association representation, Naylor was named the district’s delegate, with Matoszkia appointed as alternate delegate. Ries will continue serving as the district’s representative on the Buckeye Career Center Board.

Committee appointments were also approved: Athletics (Naylor, Matoszkia), Transportation (Harris, Naylor), Policies (Harris, Ries), Curriculum and Technology (Matoszkia, Naylor), Buildings and Grounds (Ries, Pridemore), Finances (Ries, Pridemore) and Safety (Harris, Matoszkia). Pridemore was also designated as the board’s expulsion hearing designee.

During public participation, parent Kellyn Bango addressed the board to express concerns about the district’s current approach to inclusion in extracurricular activities, specifically high school sideline cheerleading.

She referenced a previous instance several years ago in which a student with a physical disability was successfully included on the cheer squad with accommodations determined after the student made the team. In contrast, she said her own child, with a documented motor disability and updated medical evaluations, was denied a meaningful pathway to participate despite providing documentation and discussing needs during the IEP process.

Bango questioned why the district now requires accommodation information before tryouts when that was reportedly not the practice in the past and why her child’s disability-related motor challenges appeared to be evaluated without modification or alternative options. She raised concerns about consistency, transparency and fairness in the tryout process and asked whether inclusion decisions are guided by policy or individual discretion.

“I’m not asking the district to change the sport, I’m asking for equal opportunity and a clear pathway to inclusion,” said Bango. “Past practices show it can be done, so I need to understand why those same approaches aren’t being applied today.”

After presenting her questions, the board said it could not provide answers or discuss specifics in public due to privacy laws but offered to schedule an executive session at the next meeting for a more comprehensive discussion.

In an unrelated matter, Superintendent Dave Davis provided several updates across district operations and ongoing projects. He said final drawings for the new bus garage were expected to be completed within days, with the goal of holding a groundbreaking ceremony in March. The project plans will be shared publicly once finalized.

Davis also addressed two major pipeline-related revenue issues. He said the district should not expect any payments from the Rover pipeline for several years, noting that Rover lost unanimously at the Ohio Supreme Court and now faces a new lawsuit unlikely to be heard until late 2026, with additional appeals expected.

Regarding the Chestnut Run/Advanced Energy project, he said district representatives met with the company and county officials Dec. 16. The company is expected to present separate compensation offers to the school, county and township, though the district had not yet received its offer as of the meeting.

In other business, the board of education:

—APPROVED the following request for unpaid leave of absence: David McKarns, bus driver, Dec. 8–19 and Jan. 12–16, 2026. 

—ACCEPTED the following resignation: Renee Leslie, teacher, retirement effective Aug. 3, 2026. 

—APPROVED the following substitutes for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. Proper documentation has been verified and is on file: Brandee Becker, certificated, effective Jan. 14, 2026; and Grayson A. Moore, certificated, effective Jan. 14, 2026. 

—APPROVED the following fee schedule for the use of spaces within district school buildings: use of a space utilizing district staff already on duty, $50 per event; use of a space requiring the district to schedule a custodian, $50 per hour; use of a space requiring the district to schedule a cook, $40 per hour; and use of a space requiring the district to schedule both a custodian and a cook, $90 per hour.

 —HEARD members acknowledge the recent passing of Dan Wells, a longtime Carrollton teacher and coach. Wells taught social studies for more than three decades, including eighth-grade history, and was remembered for inspiring many students with his passion for the subject. Despite living with physical limitations caused by childhood polio, he was known for his dedication, climbing the stairs of the old Bell-Herron building daily and remaining deeply involved in school life. He also spent more than 30 years coaching cross country and track and was part of the district’s first state championship. Board members shared personal reflections on his impact and expressed appreciation for his service to generations of Carrollton students.