At the Oct. 20 meeting the Big Walnut Local Schools Board of Education processed routine business items and several purchases, and it voted to table a proposed transfer of general‑fund dollars intended to reduce the district’s debt‑service tax rate.

Highlights of actions the board approved at the meeting (vote outcomes as announced at meeting):

- Agenda and minutes: The board approved the Oct. 20 agenda and minutes of the Sept. 15 regular meeting by voice/roll call votes.

- 2026–27 school calendar (item 6.1): Approved by roll call; board members present voted yes.

- Extended field trips (item 6.2): Approved. Big Walnut High School varsity baseball trip to Indianapolis and Clarksville, Tenn., March 27–April 3, 2026, was authorized.

- Change order for Baumann reroof project (item 6.3): Approved (change order No. 2) after facilities staff explained additional compromised roof layers and gypsum board remediation; vote recorded in favor.

- Grants and purchases (items 6.4–6.7): The board accepted a Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Safety Intervention Grant (item 6.4), approved a 72‑passenger bus purchase (item 6.5) for $159,478 under the Metabas bid program, authorized Meta Solutions cooperative bidding for bus chassis and bodies (item 6.6), and approved joining purchasing cooperatives (item 6.7). Votes on these items were recorded as approved.

- Donations and disposals (items 6.8 and 6.9): Donations listed in the agenda were accepted and the board authorized disposal of obsolete fixed assets (projectors, broken Chromebooks and other items) per policy; motions carried.

- Third‑party administration and compliance services (item 6.10): The board approved an agreement with OMNI and TSACG for third‑party administrative services related to voluntary retirement plans; no district cost was reported.

- Personnel, stipends and contracts (section 7): The board approved a slate of personnel items, including athletic supplemental contracts, classified and co‑curricular contracts, unpaid leaves, stipends for extra work, volunteers confirmed for the 2025–26 school year, and accepted multiple retirements and resignations. Votes were recorded as approved for each personnel item.

- ESC and other service agreements (items 6.11 and related): The board approved a $53,000 purchase of guidance‑counseling services from the ESC of Central Ohio for Genoa Christian Academy (a pass‑through from auxiliary funds) and authorized an amended agreement with Paladin Protective Systems for additional security monitoring services (no additional cost reported); motions carried.

- Debt‑service transfer (item 6.11 as introduced): The board considered a resolution to transfer up to $3,026,730.65 from the general fund to the debt retirement fund to reduce the property‑tax levy for the 2026 tax collection. After discussion the board voted to table the resolution for further review and constituent outreach; roll call: Mr. Crowell — yes; Mr. Fuji — yes; Mrs. Nicks — yes (motion to table carried).

Ending note: Where roll‑call votes with board member names were read aloud in the record, the article reflects those tallies. Routine approvals generally passed on unanimous or majority voice/roll call votes as indicated in the meeting record. Any item that requires further board action or additional documentation was set for future agendas.