The 2025-26 school year is off to a smooth and promising start, according to Carrollton Exempted Village Schools Board of Education and school officials at the Sept. 9 school board meeting.
Superintendent Dave Davis reported that traffic and bus routes at the new campus are running more smoothly than expected, thanks to cooperation from parents, staff and drivers. Davis also addressed recent concerns raised by some in the community about bus routes and the number of students per bus. He said the worries stemmed from a misunderstanding of Ohio code. “This is just not true,” Davis said, adding that he has documentation to show the district’s transportation plan fully complies with state regulations. To support this, Davis provided detailed bus route information, including times and student counts per bus.
To further improve safety, Southeast Security will soon install emergency strobe lights at entrances, and demolition on Second and Third streets remains on track for completion by Oct. 31. Plans for a new bus garage are also underway. Community events are on the calendar, including Reading Under the Lights Sept. 30 and CMS Grandparents Day Sept. 18.
Assistant Superintendent Andy Reeves outlined improvements to learning resources and facilities. The high school English department faced a shortage of consumable books, but an additional $48,837.45 investment has restored supplies. A three-year price lock will save about $9,000 annually, and teachers are already training on updated materials. Other projects include new middle school furniture, an elementary cabinet and podium, and stadium fencing materials expected this week. Reeves said new stop signs are being added near the stadium.
The Student Achievement Report, presented by Jamie Matoszkia, celebrated progress across all schools. At CES, students are settling into the new building and preparing for benchmark testing.
At CMS, Kathryn Bennett and Lennox Mallarnee were named Students of the Month, while golf and volleyball teams are excelling in EBC play. At CHS, seniors Lily Marteney and Hunter Allison earned Senior of the Month honors. The Academic Hall of Fame will recognize 57% of the high school’s students this year, including 52 three-year members. Juniors have started ACT practice, and 58 gifted freshmen and sophomores will also take part.
Interim Treasurer Jon Pusateri presented updates on the five-year forecast, noting that recent state legislation and delays in guidance from the Ohio Department of Education have created uncertainty. He said that while the forecast is due in November, accurate state foundation payment numbers will not be available until late October, leaving projections somewhat speculative.
Pusateri then reviewed the district’s August financial report. He said total board bills across all funds were $2,571,511.67, and total payroll across all funds was $1,280,287.39. The general fund beginning balance was $10,214,663.61, which increased to $14,406,926.62 by the end of the month, largely due to real estate payments received from Carroll County. The ending balance across all funds was $37,758,214.30. Pusateri expressed appreciation for the fiscal team’s diligence in managing these matters under tight timelines.
—ACCEPTED the following resignations: Darin Abel, assistant principal, retirement effective Aug. 29, 2025; and Martha Smith, teacher, effective Aug. 17, 2025.
—APPROVED the following request for unpaid leave of absence: Denise Davala, cook, Oct. 10-31, 2025.
—APPROVED the following substitutes for the 2025-26 fiscal year, pending proper documentation has been verified and is on file: Kelly Decker, classified, effective Sept. 10, 2025; Sandra Ebner, classified, effective Sept. 10, 2025; Ella Kendrick, classified, effective Aug. 25, 2025; Ronald Colaprete, certificated, effective Aug. 4, 2025; Olivia Teeter, certificated, effective Aug. 4, 2025; and Lindsay Zehentbauer, certificated, effective Aug. 20, 2025.
—APPROVED the following overnight field trip requests: CHS boys golf, destination Zanesville, departing Sept. 23, 2025, and returning Sept. 24, 2025; FFA, destination Carrollton, departing Sept. 26, 2025, and returning Sept. 28, 2025; and Nature’s Classroom, destination Bergholz, departing Oct. 1, 2025, and returning Oct. 3, 2025.
—APPROVED the following substitute for the 2025-26 fiscal year, pending proper documentation has been verified and is on file: Erin Knipp, certificated, effective Sept. 10, 2025.
—APPROVED Addendum No. 2 to the Master Service Agreement with Forerunner Technologies Inc., extending the term of the agreement through Sept. 11, 2028, with an annual service fee of $9,206.89, as presented.
—AUTHORIZED payment to CivicPlus for Invoice No. 336179, as presented.
—APPROVED the resolution to sell public property at auction. The properties at 60 Third St. NE, Lot 4 in Atkinson’s Extension, 100 Third St. NE and a parking lot on the west side of the alley between Second St. NE and Third St. NE in Carrollton, Ohio, are no longer needed by the district. Passage of the resolution allows the district to proceed with the auction.
—APPROVED an increase the Superintendent’s salary by 3% for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 contract years. Davis' current salary for the 2025-2026 school year is $151,496.80.
—ADOPTED adopted ORC 3313.12 to set the pay rate for Board of Education meetings for all new terms commencing after the date of this action. This is not an immediate action. The pay will increase from $80 to $125 only after being re-elected.
—ADOPTED the following NEOLA board policy update: Personal Communication Devices, Policy No. PO5136.
