The Ohio Hi-Point (OHP) Career Center board of education enjoyed a field trip, of sorts, during their regular meeting on Wednesday, March 19. Without leaving the building, they explored an Academic Showcase of four of the school’s programs.
Introduced by TJ Bales, academic supervisor, the showcase featured lessons in math, environmental science, social studies and English. The board divided into four groups, then spent five minutes at each station.
“It gives you a little picture of what we do in the classrooms on a daily basis,” Bales said. “Our teachers do a good job with hands-on learning.”
The showcase included:
- Math—teacher Melissa Sizemore and students Gabby Koon, Mallory Pummell and Xander Diaz discussed the numeracy challenge, completing math problems based on CT programs.
- Science—teacher Summer Priest and students Ayden Adams, Kaylee Robinson, Chasetan Daniels, Connor Croker and Brayden Albaugh explained the significance of studying environmental science, with a little help from Hungry Hippos.
- Social Studies—teacher Hannah McKinney shared a project students completed that demonstrates their knowledge of the principles of the constitution.
- English—teacher Daniel Dye showcased his students’ reading and writing achievements, along with the discoveries they’ve made along the way.
In the district update, Dr. Rick Smith, superintendent, told the board they have a lot of job postings out, including for a receptionist, an on-campus nurse and special education teachers.
Smith and Brad Richardson, assistant superintendent, recently gave the Graham Board of Education a presentation about what the career center does.
Richardson will run the April OHP board meeting because Smith plans to accompany Riverside High School business students to the 2025 National LifeSmarts Championship in Chicago from April 24-27.
Treasurer Action Items
Treasurer Caleb Lang updated the board regarding the approximately $3.1 million in state funding they received specifically for career education. The district is required to devote 75 percent of the money toward non-personnel expenses like supplies, materials and travel.
According to Lang, they have already spent about 75 percent of that 75 percent, and he anticipates not having any trouble using the funds over the next three months.
“We have lots of trips coming up, and flights are not cheap,” Lang said.
On Lang’s recommendation, the board approved the February 2025 financial statement and the following interest and investments: HNB Gen Op Investments: $24,658.72; HNB Bldg Fund Investments: $462.98; HNB Bond Trust: $2.12; Star Ohio interest: $13,436.32; Middlefield Bank interest: $91.92; Richwood Bank interest: $1.49; Total: $38,653.55.
In addition, the board approved moving $6,000 from the district general fund to technology.
The FY24 audit report results, released on March 13, 2025, were accepted. No issues were found at the report level. At the management level, however, the auditor presented four issues: competitive bidding, no blended learning declaration for FY24, a GAAP reporting issue, and a lack of SOC 1 report for PaySchools.
Four verbal comments were also presented: a final appropriation certificate, capital assets, deposit of monies and an MFA & food service data technology issue.
Still, Anne Reames, board president, concluded that, overall, “It really was an excellent audit.”
Lang’s final request to the board was authorization to create the new Harold & Barbara Marker Skilled Trade Scholarship Fund, which was approved.
Superintendent Recommendations
Smith presented the following for approval:
- New job descriptions for a business operations director and an instructional coach as well as revised descriptions for a curriculum supervisor and two intervention specialists.
- The resignations of Matthew Heaston, business operations supervisor, effective April 15, pending approval of a new administrative contract for reassignment; Brad Richardson, assistant superintendent, effective Dec. 31, for reassignment as superintendent effective Jan. 1, 2026; and Samantha Schaffner-Gessler, school counselor, effective June 30.
- Changes to the staff wellness incentive point structure as presented, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
- Revision of salary and fringe four-year plan, which changes when staff members will receive their incentive from half in January and the rest in June, to getting the full incentive in June upon completion of their full year. This will go into effect at the beginning of the FY26 school year.
- Employment of the following: Keith Teague as an adult education instructor; Matthew Heaston as the director of business operations under an administrative contract for the 2024-2025 school year; Terrie Bodey, curriculum supervisor, and Justin Rigsby, career tech supervisor, under administrative contracts for the 2025-2026 school year; Shawn Bradley, assistant tech coordinator, and Ray Van Nest, assistant tech coordinator.
- Monthly cell phone stipends for Shawn Bradley and Ray Van Nest in the amount of $50.
- Substitute teacher contracts for Mollie Forrester, long-term, and Caroline Russell, satellite allied health instructor for Mechanicsburg and West Liberty-Salem.
- Five extended days for Caroline Russell.
The next meeting is 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 23.