Big Walnut Board adopts organizational items, awards generator contract; OSBA membership rejected

Angela Graziosi was elected president of the Big Walnut Local School District Board of Education and Alice Nix was elected vice president during the board's Jan. 13 organizational meeting. The board also approved its 2025 meeting schedule, several administrative authorizations and a contract award for a campus generator; it voted against renewing membership in the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) and the OSBA Legal Assistance Fund.

The board took routine organizational votes early in the meeting, electing Graziosi president and Nix vice president and administering oaths of office. The board approved the 2025 schedule of regular meetings and created a $7,500 board service fund under Ohio law to reimburse members for expenses incurred performing their duties.

The board approved standing authorizations for district signatories with a late amendment to allow either the board president or vice president to sign state and federal grant applications between meetings. The board separately approved superintendent authorities, including authorization for the superintendent to approve tuition waivers for permissive and required reasons listed under Ohio law, and to enroll the district in state and federal title or chapter programs. The board set an administrative spending threshold that allows the chief fiscal officer or superintendent to commit district funds without prior board approval up to $50,000.

In a separate set of votes, the board authorized a list of private law firms to provide legal services and approved continuing membership in several purchasing cooperatives (Meta, E&I, OMNIA, Equalis) and the Big Walnut Area Chamber of Commerce. The board approved appointments to external committees, including the Big Walnut Education Foundation and the Sunbury-Big Walnut Joint Ventures Agreement Committee.

A major contract on the consent agenda passed: the board awarded the backup generator contract for Rosecrans Elementary to Converse Electric as the lowest responsive bidder. The contract award documents list a project amount of approximately $4,411,177 for a 180-kilowatt natural-gas standby/emergency generator intended to provide emergency power for building egress lighting, phone and internet systems and to enable the building to function as an emergency shelter when needed. Construction was scheduled to start in late May and conclude in early August.

The board considered OSBA membership and the OSBA Legal Assistance Fund in a prolonged discussion. Board staff reported the membership fees at $8,829 for OSBA and $250 for the legal fund. After public and board debate about OSBA's political activity and the district's relationship with OSBA, a motion to approve both memberships failed on recorded votes.

Human-resources business on the consent agenda passed with one exception: the board voted to table the proposed job description for a new administrative assistant position intended to report to the superintendent and treasurer (board members asked staff to seek legal guidance about whether the board could directly employ or evaluate that position). Other HR contracts, stipends and hires on the consent agenda were approved.

Votes at a glance

- Election: Angela Graziosi elected board president (members cast votes orally; Graziosi sworn in). Outcome: elected. - Election: Alice Nix elected vice president. Outcome: elected. - Approve 2025 regular meeting dates. Outcome: approved. - Establish board service fund, $7,500 (ORC 3315.15 referenced). Outcome: approved. - Amend standing authorization to allow president or vice president to sign state/federal grant applications. Outcome: amendment passed; authorization approved. - Superintendent authorization to approve tuition waivers (permissive/required under ORC). Outcome: approved. - Superintendent authorization to participate in state/federal title/chapter programs. Outcome: approved. - CFO purchasing/contract authority up to $50,000 without board approval. Outcome: approved. - Authorize law firms for legal services (list of firms as proposed). Outcome: approved. - Approve OSBA membership ($8,829) and OSBA Legal Assistance Fund ($250). Outcome: motion failed. - Approve memberships in purchasing cooperatives (Meta, E&I, OMNIA, Equalis) and chamber. Outcome: approved. - Award contract for Rosecrans Elementary backup generator to Converse Electric (~$4,411,177). Outcome: approved. - Approve kindergarten/preschool tuition at $225 per month. Outcome: approved. - Human resources consent items approved; job description for board administrative assistant tabled to February. Outcome: tabling passed.

The board ended the organizational and special meetings after public comment and routine business.