For a middle–of–summer meeting, the Ohio Hi–Point Career Center Board of Education had a full agenda on Wednesday, July 23. And part of that centered around the state of Ohio’s operating budget, which Governor Mike DeWine signed into law earlier this month.
Though DeWine vetoed 67 line–items, Brad Richardson—who will transition into his new role as OHP superintendent on Aug. 1—said the current bill contains two areas that will impact the center: funding for student wellness and career awareness. Cut down to a third of what they were, the school will receive closer to $70,000 this year instead of over $200,000.
Still, since the funding was already written into the 2025–2026 budget, Richardson said “We plan to continue what we’ve been doing, then we’ll reevaluate where we’ll go with that.”
The specific language of the bill gives the school a “very narrow” range of what they can do when it comes to student wellness and Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid (DPIA). As a result, the money can no longer be used for things like the free lunch program, but it can go to pay mental health and school counselors, as well as the school nurse.
Richardson suggested they could switch—pay the salaries of these staff members with the state funding and cover things like the free lunch program using money from the general fund. The state money could also go toward the school–based health center they discussed at the June board meeting.
Another topic of discussion Wednesday related to the volume of resignations and new hires at the career center this summer. Outgoing superintendent Dr. Rick Smith described their efforts to straighten all that out like playing “Whac–a–Mole.” This led to several last–minute
changes in the agenda. In fact, one of the job offers presented was accepted at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
With that in mind, Smith recommended the following personnel action items for board approval:
• The resignations of Nicholas Blake, advanced manufacturing; Jason Cobb,
culinary arts; George Scott Noeth, education aide; and Zoe Parrott, agriculture.
• Certified staff employment (instructors), supplemental contracts and 5 extended days each to April Easton, science; G. Scott Noeth, financial literacy; Matthew Yoder, supply chain management; Christopher Grant, media arts; Jeffrey Peak, culinary arts; Angela Warye, English.
• Certified substitute employment to Frank Giannola and Amanda Kurtz (teachers) and David Marsteller (bus driver).
• Out–of–state study trips:
o Seven agriculture instructors were approved to chaperone students from their schools to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind., Oct. 29 – Nov. 1: Skylar Jones, Graham (20 students); Dan Young, Indian Lake (12 students); Matt Roth, Kenton (20 students); Mary Gist, Marysville (9 students); Molly Miller, Triad (14 students); Jon Smith, Triad, and Justin Rigsby, career tech supervisor (14 students); and Aaron Thompson, Upper Scioto Valley (10 students). Costs will be paid by the general fund with the rest coming from the CTSO/students.
• Out–of–state professional development for Ashley Thompson, Marysville satellite agriculture education instructor, to attend the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind., Oct. 29 – Nov. 1, at the cost of $1,500 from the general fund.
• FY26 bus contract with Benjamin Logan Local Schools.
• Uncompensated unpaid leave of absence for Jenna Alig, assistant treasurer, for long–term family medical conditions, from approximately Sept. 16 – Dec. 31.
• Professional services agreement with Community Health and Wellness Partners of Bellefontaine.
• Tuition reimbursement of $123.75 to Douglas Hughes for 3 semester graduate hours.
• Shared service agreement with Performance Columbus, LLC.
• Memorandum of understanding with Triad Local Schools.
• The 2025/2026 student handbook.
• Classified staff employment of Josh Grant, van driver, and Kristine Stevens, educational aide.
• Student Wellness funds and DPIA funding plan as presented.
Treasurer Action Items
On the recommendation of Caleb Lang, treasurer, the board approved the June 2025 financial statement. Lang informed the board they will no longer do five–year forecasts but ones that include the current year plus the next three. The first draft will be due in August with revisions the following February.
He asked the board to approve these interest and investments:
▪ HNB Gen Op Investments: $55,863.40
▪ HNB Bldg Fund Investments: $484.43
▪ HNB Bond Trust: $114.47
▪ Star Ohio interest: $26,635.21
▪ Middlefield Bank interest: $113.05
▪ Richwood Bank interest: $1.83
Total: $83,212.39
Other OHP News
The board received an update on the Department of Teaching & Learning from Brianna McCray, director. She shared their year one accomplishment highlights and their goals for year two.
No longer the only person in the department, McCray said it now includes a curriculum supervisor, an instructional coach, and an assessment and data coordinator.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us this year,” McCray concluded, “and I’m really excited.”
Smith added, “I can’t say this enough—Bri has been phenomenal.”
Finally, the board approved the selection of Grand Lake Building Co. as the construction manager at risk (CMR) for the public safety building project. They also authorized the contract for preconstruction services.
While preparing for the project, an issue arose when they discovered the school has
three bad fire hydrants. According to Matt Heaston, business operations director, the hydrants were set up on domestic water lines rather than fire pump lines, which means they don’t have enough volume to meet the minimum standard.
At this time, the plan is to add the hydrant line repair to the building project rather than go through the process of making it a separate action.
Before adjourning, the board went into executive session to consider compensation for a public employee.
The next OHP board of education meeting will be Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m.
