Like most area schools, Ohio Hi-Point Career Center (OHP) has a month of activities ahead until it all comes to a culmination with the convocation ceremony on Wednesday, May 21.
Until then, they have competitions to prepare for, tests to take and seniors to honor.
These topics were a main focus of OHP’s board of education meeting on Wednesday, April 23. But the first order of business was attending the annual recognition of the seniors of the month for the 2024/2025 school year.
Once again, Tonya Ramey, high school director, served as emcee for the event. Each recognized student will be spotlighted throughout the school buildings, attend a Kiwanis luncheon in town and get a premier parking spot on campus.
This year’s recipients (and the board member who presented the student’s certificate) are:
- Bellefontaine High School (Anne Reames, board president): Elias Abrego, engineering (absent); Marialaura Machado Araujo, Health Careers Academy (HCA); Emma Campbell, HCA; Ayden Clary, exercise science (absent); Katelynn Wireman, Graphic Media Arts Academy (GMAA)
- Benjamin Logan High School (John Stanford): Hayley Deitsch, HCA
- Graham High School (David Uhl): Weston Helman, GMAA
- Indian Lake High School (Matt McConnell, board vice president): Latasha Alig, HCA; Jazmyn Doty, cosmetology (absent); Gabrielle Koon, Education Academy (EA); Laila Lynch, GMAA; Mallory Pummell, EA; Andrew Stroud, HCA
- Riverside High School (Mark Zumberger): Sarah Russell, EA
- Urbana High School (Alyssa Knisley): Lilliana Diaz, animal science; Zack Maser, heavy equipment
- Waynesfield-Goshen High School (Tom Brookhart): Jordyn Green, HCA
- West Liberty-Salem High School (Fran Meister): Alyssa Mueller, HCA
The board also discussed plans for the 2025 convocation, which is set for 6:30 p.m. May 21. This year, 322 students will graduate from OHP programs.
Weather permitting, the ceremony will take place on campus, though the location of the stage and options for parking are yet to be determined. If it rains, however, they’ll move the event to the Bellefontaine High School gym.
Next, Brad Richardson, assistant superintendent, gave the career tech update, saying, “There’s a lot going on at the end of the year. It’s a busy time.”
That includes national competitions. Most of those have been determined by now. As of Wednesday, they were only waiting to learn the results of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) competition, which took place April 24 and 25.
Additionally, 51 students qualified for nationals with Business Professionals of America (BPA). In addition, Kara Klinger, a Riverside student in the OHP business program, was elected as the Ohio BPA president.
A group of 37 DECA students plus OHP staff left Friday morning for the national competition in Florida.
Four students qualified for the nationals with HOSA, the future health professionals organization.
Finally, the Future Farmers of America state convention is next week, with competitions taking place in the fall.
In other action, the board approved or extended:
• Treasurer Caleb Lang to increase appropriations to the principal’s fund in the amount of $6,000;
• the purchase of student/staff school insurance for the 2024/2025 school year through the Student Protective Agency in Mt. Vernon;
• a workers’ compensation pool resolution, creating a rating plan allowing employers to group together, which could potentially lead to a lower premium rate than they might have as an individual payer. Lang was directed to pay the enrollment fee to Sheakley UniService Inc.
• internship agreements with Quality Paving, Belle Center; The Styling Company, Urbana; Tradewinds Day Spa, Bellefontaine;
• certified staff employment: Shelby Clem, EMT instructor; Melissa Gonglik, school counselor; Richard Whitehead, cybersecurity instructor; Brandi DeLong, allied health instructor; Chelsea Smith, work-based learning coordinator;
• employment extended days: Clem, Whitehead, DeLong and Smith—5 days; Gonglik—25 days; plus, up to 10 extended days paid approved via timesheet to Smith;
• supplemental limited contracts for the 2025/2026 school year for DeLong, Smith, Clem, Gonglik and Whitehead as well as one to Skylar Jones for the 2024/2025 school year;
• approved an administrative certified staff contract for Wesley Hunsucker, Career Tech supervisor.
• Scott Noeth employment contract, full-time aide for the 2025/2026 school year;
• a consultation rate with Robert Walker of $125 per hour, billable in half-hour increments from April 20, 2025, through April 30, 2026;
• out-of-state professional development of Ashley Thompson, Marysville satellite AG instructor, to attend CASE Institute Training in Questa, New Mexico, July 9-11, 2025, at a cost of approximately $1,850 from the general fund;
• adult education staff employed prior to July 1, 2016, will transition to an hourly pay rate based on their current step and column while maintaining their current certified salary schedule benefit package;
• a CRA school compensation agreement between the city of Urbana, International Motors USA LLC, Phoenix BTS LLC, Shippers Automotive Group LLC, the Urbana City School District and OHP to establish a community reinvestment area; and
• amended the shared service agreement for Dr. Rick Smith between OHP and the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center, replacing the original agreement approved on Feb. 26, 2025.
The next Ohio Hi-Point board of education meeting is Wednesday, May 21, after the convocation ceremony.
