East Holmes Board of Education names officers, approves wide range of actions

The East Holmes Local Schools Board of Education held its annual organizational meeting and regular January meeting Jan. 9.

During the organizational meeting, the board elected Bryan Coblentz as president for 2026. Steve Miller was elected vice president.

The board conducted its annual tax budget hearing before approving its organizational and business resolutions for 2026. Regular board meetings were scheduled for the third Friday of each month at 7:30 a.m. at the Central Office. Approved meeting dates include Feb. 20; March 20; April 17; May 15; June 12 and Aug. 14, both scheduled for the second Friday; July 17; Sept. 18; Oct. 16; Nov. 20; and Dec. 18.

The board waived the reading of minutes for 2026 and approved payroll warrants and authorization for the treasurer to sign warrants. A service fund of up to $7,500 was established under Ohio Revised Code 3315.15 to pay expenses incurred by board members in the performance of their duties.

The treasurer was authorized to request advance draws on tax settlements, invest interim funds as they become available at the most productive interest rate, and report investment results at regular intervals to the board and superintendent. The board also approved authorization for the treasurer to make modifications to appropriations and to make fund transfers or advances when necessary, with a list of such changes to be provided at the next regular monthly meeting immediately following the transfers or advances.

The board set the blanket purchase order maximum at $75,000 and approved the current Ohio minimum wage range for all impacted positions, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The treasurer was authorized to attend Sunshine Laws training and obtain appropriate certification on behalf of the board.

The superintendent was authorized to employ temporary personnel and accept resignations as needed, with such employment to be reported to the board at the next regular meeting. The board also approved a resolution authorizing the law firms of Peters Kalail & Markakis Co. and Critchfield Law Firm to provide legal counsel as needed.

Membership in the Ohio Schools Council was approved to support operational efficiencies and cost savings across various areas.

Personnel were appointed to designated responsibilities including Daniel Reiman as prevailing wage coordinator and public records designee; Micki Krantz as civil rights coordinator, Title IX coordinator and anti-harassment compliance officer; Bonnie Brown as Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator, Title VI Education of Handicapped Act coordinator and district Section 504 compliance officer; and Jon Wilson as Title I elementary and secondary act coordinator and Title II block grant coordinator.

Bryce Troyer was appointed as the board’s OSBA legislative liaison for 2026, and The Bargain Hunter was designated as the district’s official newspaper. The board adopted the complete board policy book for 2026 and approved authorization to make technical corrections to board policies and guidelines.

Board member compensation was approved at $125 per meeting, with a maximum of 12 meetings paid in two installments. James Gertz was appointed to serve a three-year term on the Buckeye Career Center Board, with Miller noting Gertz is willing to continue serving in that role.

The regular meeting followed.

Roxanne Anderson and Cory Anderson (no relation) spoke during the public comment periods.

Quincy Schneider was named Hiland-WKLM Student of the Week for Jan. 5-9.

Holley Johnson of the Holmes County Education Foundation was present during the superintendent’s report, which included proclaiming January as School Board Recognition Month and building and supervisor reports.

During the treasurer’s report, the board approved the payment of bills and the December 2025 financial and reconciliation reports and the adoption of the tax budget for July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

During new business, the board approved the purchase of two 2027 Bluebird 72-passenger school buses through Cardinal at a cost of $143,680.64 each, with bids received through META Solutions, as part of an effort to renew the fleet by replacing two spare buses annually. The board also approved eighth-grade class field trips for Mt. Hope, Chestnut Ridge and Wise elementary schools to Washington, D.C., May 6-8.

Personnel actions included approval of all substitute personnel hired by East Holmes Local Schools and the Tri-County Educational Service Center for the 2025-26 school year, placement of Jason Weigman to Masters+35 on the certified salary schedule effective Feb. 1, and acceptance of the resignations of Casey Travis, principal at Flat Ridge and Wise Elementary, retiring effective Aug. 1, and Kathy Shoup, parent coordinator, retiring at the end of the 2025-26 contractual year. The board also approved up to 15 extended workdays for Travis between July 1 and July 31 at his 2025-26 daily rate, approved a one-year classified contract for Travis as a full-time substitute bus driver and transportation assistant effective Oct. 5 through June 30, 2027, and approved supplemental positions for the 2025-2026 school year, including James Luneborg, Travis, Julie Baer and Kristen Fluharty as chaperones for the eighth-grade Washington, D.C., trip.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct an error. Information from the December meeting was incorrectly reported as occurring during the January meeting and has been replaced with the correct January meeting information.