Bowling Green school board elects officers, adopts tax rates and approves personnel and policy changes

Norm Gere was elected president of the Bowling Green City School District Board of Education and Dr. Arty Gonyard was elected vice president during the board's organizational meeting on Jan. 14, 2025. The board also adopted a tax-rate confirmation, approved multiple personnel recommendations and operations items, and heard a superintendent update on a new high school project and a grant award.

The reorganization vote began as the board opened its first meeting of 2025. After nominations, the full board cast roll-call votes to elect Gere as president and to elect Dr. Gonyard as vice president. The board then confirmed liaison appointments to district committees and external organizations and approved consent items from the agenda.

The superintendent reported the district had been awarded “a grant from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation for over $28,000 worth of new equipment” including floor scrubbers to help maintain facilities. The superintendent said geothermal well work for the new high school is expected to begin in late winter, with more visible construction after the 2025 school year ends, and described an extensive schedule of meetings and focus groups supporting the project.

The treasurer presented the district's financials and a required revenue estimate for Wood County. The treasurer said the district is roughly on target after the first six months of the fiscal year, reporting that about 53% of projected investment income for the year had been collected and that the district's average investment yield was “a little over 4%.” Property valuations were reported as up about 1.6%–1.7% from the prior year, and the treasurer said the district's cash balance has moved from about $17 million to about $16 million in the past year.

Under operations, the board approved agreements for student services and transportation, accepted gifts totaling $6,297.92 from several donors and organizations, and approved out-of-state travel for student groups to Model UN in Columbus and athletic tournaments in Myrtle Beach in March. The board also approved several policy revisions, including a proposed change to policy 5113 to expand open enrollment from adjacent districts to statewide open enrollment; the superintendent explained that under Ohio law the superintendent retains final approval authority for individual open-enrollment applications.

The board approved multiple personnel recommendations, including supplemental contracts for nine employees for the remainder of the 2024–25 school year, transfers and promotions in support staff, retirements and resignations, the hiring of custodial and food-service staff, approval of a home-instruction tutor for a student with special needs, and the appointment of Christine King as head volleyball coach for the 2025–26 school year. The superintendent noted all recommended extracurricular appointees held the required Ohio Department of Education Pupil Activity Permit and had satisfactory background checks.

Public comment included an invitation from resident Jane Dice to participate in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Jan. 20, and information about donation needs for the Brown Bag Food Project and the district's “Bobcat Basics” supply list.

Near the meeting's close the board moved into executive session to consider matters related to appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion or compensation of public employees or officials.

Votes at a glance

- Election of Norm Gere as board president — nomination by Ryan Myers; second recorded. Roll-call vote recorded in the minutes as carried (unanimous yes; roll call recorded). - Election of Dr. Arty Gonyard as vice president — nomination and second recorded. Roll-call vote carried (unanimous yes; roll call recorded). - Approval of liaison appointments and committee representatives — motion moved and seconded; roll-call vote carried (unanimous yes). - Approval of estimated revenues for submission to Wood County — motion moved and seconded; roll-call vote carried (unanimous yes). - Adoption of the confirming tax-rate resolution — motion to adopt; roll-call vote carried (unanimous yes). - Approval of personnel recommendations (hires, transfers, retirements, supplemental contracts, coach appointments, volunteers) — motion moved and seconded; roll-call vote carried (unanimous yes). - Operations approvals (agreements for student services/transportation, acceptance of gifts totaling $6,297.92, approval of student trips) — motion moved and seconded; roll-call vote carried (unanimous yes). - Policy revision (open enrollment change to statewide) — motion moved and seconded; roll-call vote carried (unanimous yes). - Motion to enter executive session on personnel matters — motion moved and seconded; roll-call vote carried (unanimous yes).

The board's organizational actions set committee liaisons for the year (for example, liaison to the Bowling Green School Foundation and OSBA legislative liaison) and confirmed appointments including a three-year appointment of Peggy (board member) as the district's representative to the joint vocational school panel.

The superintendent outlined next steps on the new high school, noting continued behind-the-scenes work and scheduled meetings; the superintendent said geothermal well procurement was in process and that heavier construction activity should begin in late spring. The treasurer said the district will analyze recently received property valuations and redemption factors to confirm levy impacts and finalize budget-year planning.

The meeting included routine housekeeping (approval of minutes, treasurer's report, consent agenda items) and concluded with the move into executive session for personnel matters.