You can’t miss it when driving onto the campus at Riverside Local Schools in DeGraff. The structure has been framed out, indicating just how large the district’s new multipurpose building will be.
Dr. Scott Mann, school superintendent, praised the construction company in charge of the putting up the new gymnasium and weight room, H.A. Dorsten, Inc., located in Minster.
“They don’t mess around,” he said. “They’re getting it done.” He added their goal is to have it ready for students by the end of January 2026.
The other big summer project involves finishing the new track and field turf by Aug. 1.
Wanting to prepare for the future, the board passed a request for Ronnie Fitchpatrick, treasurer, to create a capital planning account. To start it, they authorized an initial transfer of $1,607,100 from the general fund to the capital projects fund.
Mann stated this action will put them “in a good place,” and added, “Ronnie does a good job preparing us for the future, not just for today.”
Covering a maximum period of 10 years, the fund will go toward:
· Technology updates and additions: $127,100
· Turf and track replacement: $350,000
· Transportation: $830,000
· Asphalt repair and replacement: $300,000
Employment
Mann said he doesn’t anticipate any more job openings with everything now filled. However, he said they’ll know for sure on July 10, as that’s the last day employees can get out of their contract to take another job.
The board approved the following consent agenda items from the superintendent:
· Employ Connie Owen as a full-time cafeteria staff member for the 2025-2026 school year.
· Employ Kylee Purtee on a limited one-year teaching contract for the 2025-2026 school year. According to Mann, Purtee expressed a willingness to get extra classes toward becoming an intervention specialist.
· Offer a supplemental contract to Tyler Hodge for his work as the weight room coordinator.
· The ninth-period proposal as presented along with the elementary teachers for the aforementioned ninth period after-school reading sessions at a rate of $25 an hour.
· Selling these items on publicsurplus.com: library shelving units (3), compact tractor tires, Pioneer Brite Striper 3000, Grizzly jointer, Grizzly planer, Hash Mark Stencil – aluminum, Pioneer football field stencils – Poly, stencil – Flying R.
· Athletic worker rates for fall, winter and spring sports. Pay for positions range from $20 to sell tickets at a junior high basketball game to $35 to run the scoreboard for high school football to $170 for serving as the host game prep/manager for a spring baseball/softball tournament. Most positions pay $30 – $35 per game.
Treasurer’s Report
Ronnie Fitchpatrick, school treasurer, presented the following for approval:
· Monthly financial reports including bank reconciliations, annual spending plan report, cash position report, check register report, detail revenue status and detail expenditure status reports.
· Invoices and expenditures paid in the amount of $776,135 for the general fund and $323,722 for all other funds totaling $1,099,857 for May 2025.
· Payroll-related expenditures for May: regular – $439,404; payroll-related – $178,247.
· Significant or atypical vendor expenditures for May: Midwest Regional ESC – $28,102 (various services); H.A. Dorsten – $88,125 (fieldhouse); Stray Dog Strength – $100,000 (weight room equipment) DP&L – $8,595 (electric).
· Temporary appropriations for 2025-2026 at 25 percent of the current year expenditures.
· Severance payments to Ken Truster ($30,460.53) and Lori Roberts ($22,341.12).
· Appropriation modifications, which includes a $2,668,871 increase to the general fund and a $19,925 increase to food service.
Fitchpatrick and Mann also expressed concern regarding the Ohio state budget bill, which could lessen the school’s funding by about $300,000 over the next several years. Having passed the House, it’s currently under consideration by the Senate. Both will need to agree on a combined bill before they send it to Governor DeWine’s office.
“If it goes through, it will be a trainwreck,” Fitchpatrick admitted.
Mann added it’s about to go to joint committee so they’ll know soon. “But it will hurt a lot of people, especially those who are not prepared.”
The next Riverside Board of Education meeting will be on Tuesday, July 8. The board agreed to change the usual meeting time — 5:30 p.m.— to 5 p.m. at the request of board president Janet Siders. The motion passed unanimously.
