The Bellefontaine Board of Education hosted their first meeting of 2024 Monday night, Jan. 8, in the Bellefontaine High School Distance Learning Center, where Colin Yoder was re-elected board president during the annual organizational meeting.
Mark Fissel was re-elected board vice president.
The board approved their meeting schedule for 2024, with meetings slated for Feb. 12, March 11, April 15, May 13, June 10, July 8, Aug. 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 14, Nov. 11 and Dec. 9.Each monthly meeting will be conducted in the Bellefontaine High School Distance Learning Center at 6:30 p.m.
Oaths of office were administered by Treasurer Josh Wasson to new board member Kristen Lang, alongside returning members Yoder, Fissel and Karen Wilson.
During the regular board meeting that followed, Aaron Peitsmeyer was hired as the new varsity football coach. He served as the Chiefs’ associate head coach in 2023. Peitsmeyer, who graduated from Bellefontaine High School in 2002, played football for his father, Greg Peitsmeyer.
He was an assistant coach at Marysville for 15 years, spanning from 2007-2021. The BHS graduate was the defensive coordinator on the 2021 team, which advanced to the Division I regional final.
Peitsmeyer is a business teacher at BHS. He succeeds Jason Brown, who led the Chiefs the last four seasons.
In other action, the board:
• appointed Karen Wilson was appointed the OSBA (Ohio School Boards Association) delegate for 2024 and Yoder as an OSBA alternate for this year.
• designated the Bellefontaine Examiner and WPKO Radio were designated as the official media outlets of the school district;
• approved teachers Shannon Hodge, Nichole Watkins and Elaine Keller were approved as substitutes for the second semester of 2023-24.
• approved Becky O’Rielley as a home/school tutor;
• hired Tonya Anderson as a food service worker;
• approved the following individuals under the Ohio 1 year temporary non-bachelor’s substitute teaching license for the remainder of 2023-24: Faith Denkewalter, Aliya Furton, Angela Lowe, Andrew Phillips, Owen Standley and Ethan Yoder;
• accepted the resignations of educational aide Joanna Eaton and maintenance worker Jared Patterson;
• extended a supplemental contract to Chelsea Jay, musical production assistant;
• accepted a donation of $2,500 from Kemba Financial Credit Union to pay for outstanding student lunch charges; and
• recognized January Seniors of the Month Mia Oppy and Harper Scott; they each received an achievement pin and a $15 gift card to Ron’s Pizza.
The next board meeting is 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12 in the Distance Learning Center.
From the left, Bellefontaine City Schools Board of Education members Kristen Lang, Colin Yoder, Mark Fissel and Karen Wilson are sworn in by Treasurer Josh Wasson. (BCS PHOTO)
