
Board reviews challenging five-year forecast
Bellefontaine City Schools Board of Education members honored the district’s Classified Employee of the Year at their Monday evening, May 13, meeting — a kindergarten paraprofessional who makes learning memorable and fun for her young students at Bellefontaine Elementary School.
Cassidy Miller received the annual award after being nominated by fellow staff members.
BES Principal Jenny Salyer said the award winner, “goes above and beyond in every aspect of her work.
“She creates engaging activities for classes, designs materials tailored to individual students, and even makes resources on her own time —without ever being asked.
“Whether supporting her own classroom or jumping in wherever help is needed, Cassidy takes initiative, needs no prompting, and consistently creates a positive, student-centered environment.
Salyer noted that Miller also holds a substitute teaching license and has stepped in multiple times, sometimes as a long-term sub, “always doing an incredible job.
“Cassidy is positive, passionate, and truly a go-getter. A team player through and through, she exemplifies what it means to be a Chieftain Leader.”
Also during the meeting, Treasurer Josh Wasson presented the district’s five-year forecast to the board. These financial forecasts are presented each May and November.
Wasson said it’s very difficult to forecast revenue right now because of multiple outside variables, including next year’s property valuation in the county and the pending two-year state budget. He also expressed deep concern regarding several provisions in the Ohio House’s proposed version of the fiscal years 2026–2027 state budget.
“While we appreciate the ongoing efforts of the legislature to address Ohio’s broader fiscal challenges, certain proposed changes — particularly those related to property tax reform and school district cash reserve limits — pose significant risks to the long-term financial stability of public schools like ours.
“The proposed elimination of replacement levies and the potential cap on district cash reserves may unintentionally undermine the financial tools local school districts rely on to provide consistent, high-quality educational services. These measures could restrict our ability to adapt to future economic shifts, respond to emergencies, and make responsible long-term investments in student learning and staff support.
“We urge lawmakers to fully fund the Fair School Funding Plan (FSFP) as originally designed. Proper funding is essential to ensure the formula works as intended — providing public school districts across Ohio with adequate, equitable, and predictable resources to meet the needs of all students.
“Bellefontaine City Schools has always prioritized transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility. We maintain prudent reserve levels to ensure stability during economic downturns and to avoid reactive, short-term decision-making that could harm students and programs. Imposing artificial constraints on local budgeting or limiting voter-approved funding options may weaken — not strengthen — our public schools.
“We encourage lawmakers to continue working collaboratively with school leaders across Ohio to develop a final budget that preserves local flexibility, promotes long-term planning, and supports sustainable public education funding for every community.”
The current BCS budget is about $165,000 in the black. The forecast is projecting a deficit of $493,000 in fiscal year 2026.
The board heard a presentation from longtime BHS business teacher Henry Stolly regarding a trip to a national competition next month.
Thirty-two Bellefontaine High School business students participated in the Mad River Region Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge competition in Urbana May 1.
Students were placed on teams, set up stock portfolios, reviewed stock lists, analyzed economic market conditions, monitored the exchange board and initiated stock trades on a simulated stock market floor.
At the close of the stock market simulation, the three teams with the highest portfolio value placed in the competition with the top team qualifying for the JA Future Bound Summit in Atlanta during June.
BHS teams earned the top three spots at the Stock Market Challenge.
The first-place team of C.J. Butler, Cayleb Overmann and Jack Wilson qualified for the JA Future Bound Summit in Atlanta on June 9-11 to compete against teams from across the country.
The board approved the trip. Junior Achievement covers the students’ cost at the competition. Each school is responsible for the transportation cost.
Members also approved the National SkillsUSA competition trip to Atlanta from June 24-28. Hayden Maus and Lorenz Henry qualified for the trip after winning the SkillsUSA state competition in robotics & automation in March.
The board also discussed a potential change in the start time for the 2025-26 school year. The board talked about pushing back the start time at BHS. Currently, high school classes are from 7:20 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.
No action was taken on this matter.
In other action, the board approved, accepted or extended:
• the following resignations: Katelyne Ackley, Kellie Lemly – Intervention Specialists; Andrew Madley – High School Spanish; Shelby Mifsud – Third-Grade English Language Arts; Joanna Arthur – Food Service; and Miriam Rodriguez Tamayo – 2nd Shift Custodian;
• the following hires: Morgan Calton – Fourth-Grade; Katy Curnutte – High School Spanish; Melinda Haberman – Intervention Specialist; Mara Ledley – Behavior Coach
Erica Oakley – Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant; April Logan – High School Attendance Secretary; Karen Deer – Summer Technology Maintenance;
• one-year administrative contracts for: Krista Adelsberger – Communications Coordinator – 60 percent salary; Martha Earick – Food Service Supervisor & Superintendent’s Secretary; Erin Gillig – Bellefontaine Elementary School Assistant Principal;
• two-year administrative contracts for: Katie Buffkin – District Nurse; Max Earick – Supervisor of Grounds/Building Maintenance; Brad Carnes – Bus Maintenance Coordinator; Tammie Garman – Supervisor of Transportation; Hayden Green – Electrical Operations Coordinator; and Andrea Scott – EMIS Coordinator;
• three-year administrative contracts for: Meagan Antram, Lucas Pozenel – School Psychologists; Kyle Daring – Bellefontaine Middle School Principal; Jenny Salyer – Bellefontaine Elementary School Principal; Whitney Stolly – Bellefontaine Intermediate School Assistant Principal;
• one-year teaching contracts for: Nichole Burkhamer, Jacqueline Godsey, Ashleigh Hodosko, Kenneth Hoffman, Brittany Johnson, Angela Lowe, Mikael Neeley, Riley Penhorwood, Cheryl Poppel (retire/rehire), Hailee Price, Andrew Reinhard, Brooke Reinhard, Garrett Reinhard, Mataya Reinhard, Courtney Salyer, Jason Scott
Karen Scott (retire/rehire), Amy Treon, Trevor Woods
• the following two-year teaching contracts: Michaela Baughman, Ashton Childs. Tasidee Dillion, Heidi Heacock, Mikaela Moore, Zach Showalter, Dawn Spangler, Rachael Stacklin, Taylor Wayman;
• the following three-year teaching contracts: Jennifer Brown, Cheryl Daniels, Morgan Ebbeskotte, Patricia Elson, Brice Henry, D.J. Howell, Heather Rivon, Skylar Mifsud, Hayley Nease, Paula Shaw;
• the following staff members to work the ABC Kindergarten Camp in August: Michaela Baker, Bri Hughes, Hannah Stidham;
• the following staff to teach summer school: Phil Forsythe and Lori Wilson;
• April Logan as the high school attendance secretary;
• one-year classified contracts were renewed: Trinity Floyd, Nicole Fulkerson, Azalia Hawkey, Terry Headings, Chandler Martell, Joesph McCall, Morgan Powers;
• two-year classified contracts were renewed: Ashlyn Gonterman, Emily Housholder, Lyric Lawrence, Michelle Meyer, Rhonda Scheffel, Dreema Snyder, Hannah Stidham;
• continuing classified contracts for: Jodi England, Tamara Frazier, Kristen Friedrich, Elizabeth Kieffer, Ashley McBeth, Jill Nevers, Connie Rose, Megan Sechrest, Kimberly Taylor, Kristen Wagner
• the following supplemental contracts: Nathan Arbogast – High School TEAMS; Brooke Bahr – High School Football Sideline Cheer Assistant Coach; Jason Brown – High School Football Head Coach; Art Caudill, Jeremy Clifton, Sean Egler, Skylar Mifsud, Jeremiah Vigansky – High School Football Assistant Coaches; Isaac Chiles – High School Boys Golf Head Coach; Cliff Core – High School Quiz Bowl; Matt Gallaway – High School DARE; Matthew Garrett – High School Creative Writing, High School D&D Club; Steve Henry – High School Boys Soccer Head Coach; Brady Hiatt – High School Girls Golf Assistant Coach; Angie Horvath – High School OSU-MUN, High School Chieftain Leaders Coordinator; James Howell – High School Girls Tennis Head Coach; April Jameson – High School FCCLA Adviser; Jordan Kesler – Middle School Cross Country Head Coach; Melanie Lehman – High School Interact; Lindsey Maus – Middle School Cross Country Assistant Coach; Skylar Mifsud – High School Chieftain Backers; Daulton Mosbarger – High School Chieftain Backers; Chris Miller – High School GSA, High School Yearbook Adviser; Galen Miller – High School Boys Cross Country Head Coach; Stacy Millice – High School FCA; Garrett Reinhard – High School Chieftain Leaders Adviser; Hannah Rodenhausen – High School GSA; Michelle Rohrer – High School National Honor Society; Cody Sigrist – High School Envirothon; Bess Standley – High School Educators Rising; Heather Storm – High School Football Sideline Cheer Head Coach;
Jeanie Tipple – High School Spanish Club; Richard McDaniel was approved as a volunteer high school football coach; and
• the monthly financial reports, middle school athletic code and high school athletic code.
Finally, the board recognized May Seniors of the Month Laila Butler and Conor Evans. They each received an achievement pin and a $15 gift card to Ron’s Pizza.
The board went into executive session to discuss personnel and collective bargaining. No action was taken.
The next board meeting is 6:30 p.m. June 9 in the Distance Learning Center.