New Albany-Plain Local board reviews enrollment, staffing and operations ahead of 2025–26 school year

At its June 9 meeting, the New Albany-Plain Local Board of Education heard several operational updates as the district prepares for the 2025–26 school year, including enrollment activity, staffing changes, technology purchases, food-service line changes and summer construction.

Superintendent Sawyers told the board that enrollment for 2025–26 is “in full swing” and that the district is scheduling enrollment appointments daily; families will be welcomed beginning June 20. He said student handbooks are in their final stage and will be released later in the month, and that several personnel items — including resignations, retirements and hires — were on the superintendent’s personnel agenda for board approval.

On personnel, the superintendent noted a retirement notice from Jimmy Joseph, the intermediate school wellness teacher, and said the district has accepted resignations and is hiring to fill vacancies for the coming year. He said some extended school-year services were being finalized after parent meetings late in the school year to ensure summer services tied to individual education plans.

General business items discussed included a renewal of the district's META service contract (listed on the agenda as the 2025–26 META service agreement), approval of a milk and dairy bid, and recommendation to approve a property and casualty insurance renewal with Ohio School Plan, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Superintendent Sawyers told the board that one addendum item included recommended cybersecurity licensing and replacement of end-of-life routers that provide redundant fiber connectivity between the district and the city; those devices are located, in part, at the city police station as part of the district's redundancy setup.

Sawyers said the district will replace deteriorated concrete steps at the primary school and install a new hood system in the middle school cafeteria that will support a new Hibachi-style cooking line; the high school cafeteria will add an Indian cuisine line and retain the district's "New Albany Bop" menu option and "purple rice." He said summer construction and food-service preparations are part of getting the district ready to open in August.

The board approved the superintendent's personnel and general business items as presented; the motion passed by roll call. The board later moved into executive session under Section 121.22(G)(2) and (G)(4) of the Ohio Revised Code to discuss property matters and terms and conditions of employment; no action was taken in executive session, and the meeting was adjourned.

The board scheduled its next regular meeting for Monday, June 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the same location.