Bellbrook-Sugarcreek board confirms officer slate, approves standing authorizations, tax estimate, travel and software add-on

Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Local Board of Education members closed nominations and completed reorganizational business at a meeting called to order Dec. 9, 2025, including electing board officers, approving standing authorizations for calendar year 2025 and adopting a tax-budget estimate for the coming period.

The board began by taking nominations for president and vice president. After nominations were closed by motion moved by Mrs. Audra Dorn and seconded by Dr. Pryor, members recorded their president choice by roll call; Mr. Kinsey was the nominee carried forward for the office. A separate nomination and roll call established Audra Dorn as vice president. The board then voted to approve standing authorizations for calendar year 2025, a routine set of permissions listed in the published agenda.

The board approved a tax-budget estimate described in the meeting as the "25.6 tax budget" (the agenda wording used that shorthand). A staff explanation during the meeting noted the tax-budget estimate is an administrative projection used for planning and can change based on valuation and other factors; the meeting record did not provide a detailed dollar total.

Members also approved a purchase described as an add-on to the district’s Public School Works system intended to support positive behavioral interventions and student-discipline tracking. The item was presented as a software efficiency and recognition tool (PBIS add-on) that will help administrators manage discipline letters and recognize positive student behavior; the vendor name given was Public School Works and the board approved payment up to the amount listed on the meeting agenda.

Out-of-state travel requests on the consent calendar were approved. The agenda item named physical-education teacher Sasha Taylor to attend the SHAPE America national convention, April 1–5, 2025, in Baltimore; the district’s listed cost included a substitute teacher for the period noted. The high-school drone team and chaperones (advisors Dave Lambright and Deborah Saruman) were approved to attend a national conference (Houston, dates listed in the agenda) with district costs covering one substitute teacher where indicated.

The board took a second reading and approved numerous technical revisions to board policy that were presented as housekeeping and reorganization items; the superintendent’s office noted some additional policy work may come in spring to align with recent state changes. The board also approved the consent agenda covering certificated and support staff employment actions and accepted the minutes and treasurer’s reports presented for the record.

Votes on these routine agenda items were taken by roll call as recorded in the minutes and the meeting transcript. Where roll-call names were spoken during votes, members answered “yes,” and the meeting record shows those motions passed.

Ending: The board completed its reorganizational business and moved on to reports and community items later in the meeting before adjourning at 7:40 p.m.