East Holmes board addresses wide range of district business

The East Holmes Local Schools Board of Education held a regular meeting April 17 at the central office.

Cory Anderson spoke during the public speaking portion of the meeting.

Under the superintendent’s report, the board recognized Hiland-WKLM Students of the Week Allie Labody for March 30-April 3 and Jeremy Raber for April 6-10. Hiland High School graduation is scheduled for 2 p.m. May 17. The board also received updates on the phased district facilities master plan and capital projects, along with building and supervisor reports.

The board approved the payment of bills and accepted the March 2026 financial and reconciliation report. A “then and now” certificate was approved for North Central District in the amount of $4,250 from the PI Fund. The board also approved the estimated revenues and Certificate of Estimated Resources as amended; the permanent appropriations for 2026 as amended; a renewal contract with Sedgwick for the 2027 workers’ compensation group rating program; and a renewal contract with Frontline Education for comparative analytics services from Sept. 1, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2027, and for budget management analytics and financial planning analytics from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The board also accepted the FY25 Ohio Auditor of State Award for excellence in financial reporting.

In new business, the board approved the annual renewal of service with the Ohio High School Athletic Association for 2026-27 programs in athletic tournaments, eligibility and supervision for interscholastic competition in grades 7-12; the renewal of the voluntary student accident program for the 2026-27 school year provided by Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company through the Student Protective Agency at no cost to the board; and state test translation services by Ganna (Anya) Schlegel in the amount of $500 for work completed during the 2025-26 school year. The board also approved a resolution to rank an architectural and engineering firm for district master planning professional design services, with GPD Group receiving a score of 96 out of 100 based on experience and qualifications.

The board approved a resolution authorizing settlement of the Brian M. Ames litigation matter, directing the superintendent to execute the agreement and mutual release and authorizing necessary actions to resolve the lawsuit.

The board also approved changes to the district calendar, including changing the staff in-service day on May 14 to a student in-session day and moving the last day for students at Berlin and Chestnut Ridge to Friday, May 22.

Personnel actions included acceptance of resignations from Grace (Diab) Cardani, grade 4 at Chestnut Ridge; Kyle Pettit, science at Hiland; and Kade Coblentz, grades 4-6 science and social studies at Winesburg, all effective at the end of the 2025-26 school year. The board approved placement of Megan Kinsey to BA150 on the certified salary schedule and approved substitute personnel through East Holmes Local Schools and the Tri-County Educational Service Center for the 2025-26 school year.

Supplemental positions approved for the 2025-26 school year included Patrick Miller as Washington, D.C., trip chaperone. For the 2026-27 school year, the board approved multiple coaching and activity positions, including Jackie Kaufman and Dylan J. Kaufman as varsity boys and girls cross country coaches; Jackie Kaufman and Dylan J. Kaufman as junior high cross country coaches; Austin Kaufman as varsity boys golf coach; Carter Mishler as assistant boys golf coach; Donald Blanchard as junior high boys golf coach; Scott Bodiker as varsity boys soccer coach; Shawn Troyer as assistant boys soccer coach; Aidan JoDon as junior high boys soccer coach; Lindsey Yoder as assistant girls soccer coach; Kennedy Estridge as JV girls soccer coach; Chris Gertz as junior high girls soccer coach; Megan Amos as junior high soccer coach and volunteer assistant; Kelly Miller as varsity volleyball coach; Madalyn Miller as varsity assistant volleyball coach; Amanda Troyer as JV volleyball coach; Emily Yoder as freshman volleyball coach; Megan Warkall and Carrie Jones as junior high volleyball coaches and volunteer assistants; and Julie Baird as seventh-grade volleyball coach.

The board also approved a request from Anna Tschiegg, grades 7-8 language arts and social studies at Wise, for an unpaid extended leave of absence for the 2026-27 school year.