Sandy Valley school board approves contract amendments and personnel changes

Numerous personnel items were handled by the Sandy Valley Board of Education at its Sept. 29 meeting, including amending the final year of the negotiated agreements for both unions.

Deputy School Superintendent Matt Whitted said the one-year contract provides a 2.2% lump-sum increase for members of the Ohio Association of Public Employees Local 450 and the Sandy Valley Education Association. OAPSE members will also receive 25 cents more per hour, while certified staff will receive a 2% raise on base pay.

“Both unions will have the option to have vision insurance,” Whitted said.

The contracts are effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

In other business, the board:

— Approved the following supplemental contracts for the 2025–26 school year: Nicole McGervey, middle school volleyball coach; Rylee Wallace, middle school football coach; Madison Lakota, middle school volleyball coach; Christie Kuykendall, Gregory Howard, Vena Gamble, Suzanne Kail, Stephanie Irwin, Cory Scott, Allison Morris, and Tammy Leyda, all resident educator mentors; Maddox Walter, volunteer assistant football coach; Barbara Donaldson, Melodie Donaldson, Randy Donaldson, Matthew Garrabrant, Lisa Wigfield, Ryan Wilson, Kristen Woods, and Daniel Woods, all Good News Club volunteers; Kaele Offenberger and Danielle Elson, both varsity assistant soccer coaches; and Bryan Inscoe, middle school football coach.

— Approved one-year classified contracts for Stephen Beckett, two-hour preschool bus aide; Brian Flanagan, eight-hour, 260-day custodian, SVE PS–fourth grade pods; and Rachel Swinehart, four-and-one-half-hour, 188-day bus driver.

— Approved voluntary transfers of classified employees Robert Dunbar and Kenneth Hanley.

— Approved the retirement of Carla Grossman, paraprofessional, effective Oct. 31, 2025, with 25 years of service.

— Approved the retirement of Michelle Crowe, teacher, effective at the end of the 2025–26 school year, with 32 years of service.

— Approved Charlei Stenger and Lucas Daugherty as game workers.

— Hired John Staley as an exempt substitute at the Maintenance Tech II level, as needed.

— Approved fundraisers for first grade, high school volleyball, middle school student council, and FFA.

— Approved out-of-state field trips for the FFA National Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana

— Approved the fall 2025 five-year financial forecast and assumptions showing a projected deficit of $25 million in fiscal year 2030.

— Approved permanent appropriations for fiscal year 2026 totaling $29,075,648.

— Accepted the resolution to join the Ohio Schools Council at a cost of $400 per year.

— Adopted a new board policy regarding acceptance of payment by credit card.

— Approved 20 revised board policies.

— Rescinded seven board policies.

— Approved continuation with the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Department to provide a school resource officer for the 2025–26 school year at the district’s share of approximately $75,000.

— Set the next meeting for Oct. 20 at 6 p.m.