Orange City School Board approves policies, contracts and budget resolutions; calendar vote set for Nov. 7

The Orange City School District Board of Education on Sept. 27 approved a package of second‑reading board policies, several vendor contracts and the district's annual appropriations resolution, and set final adoption of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school calendars for the board's Nov. 7 meeting.

The board voted unanimously on routine business early in the meeting to approve the minutes of the Sept. 12 regular meeting and to adopt 13 policies presented for second reading. Board members noted that a small number of policies had been withdrawn for further wording discussion and would return to a future agenda. "They should be on next meeting," a board member said, noting follow-up with school nurses on wording changes.

In consent business the board approved several contracts and agreements: a yearbook printing arrangement presented for review (the district acts as a conduit and students purchase the yearbook), an agreement with Thrive Learning Center to provide a school-based behavior technician for the 2022-23 school year for $44,940, and an Orange High School studio art field trip to the Andy Warhol Museum and Mattress Factory on Oct. 6 at no cost to the district. The board also approved construction and facility items (locker and agility-room equipment outstanding) and a general personnel consent resolution covering educator mentors and other hires.

The treasurer reported that employee benefit costs will rise Oct. 1 by 6.7 percent and that the district has conservatively forecast up to a 10 percent increase; board members discussed fuel, food-service and maintenance supply cost pressures as part of the budget outlook. The board also reviewed carryover ESSER (ARP ESSER) grant funds of about $1.6 million and confirmed plans to spend that carryover in the current fiscal year on curriculum, instruction and school improvement projects before the grant expiration.

Votes at a glance - Approval of Sept. 12 minutes — Passed. Ayes: Mr. Lycan; Dr. Boyle; Mrs. Arnold; Mr. Bilski; Mrs. Fish. - Second reading and approval of 13 board policies (with a small number withdrawn for rewording) — Passed unanimously. - Approve Thrive Learning Center school-based behavior technician agreement ($44,940) — Passed (consent). Ayes as above. - Approve Orange High School field trip to Pittsburgh (Andy Warhol Museum, Mattress Factory) — Passed (consent). Ayes as above. - Approve annual appropriations resolution and financial consent items (including ESSER carryover planning) — Passed. Ayes as above. - Approve construction updates and related consent items — Passed. Ayes as above. - Approve general personnel consent resolution — Passed. Ayes as above. - Motion to adjourn to executive session for personnel matters — Passed. Ayes as above.

Board members present at the meeting included Missus Arnold, Mister Bilski, Doctor Boyle, Mister Likin and Missus Fish; votes recorded throughout the meeting were unanimous as listed above. Several motions in the record were moved and seconded without individual mover/second named in the transcript.

The board also scheduled a special meeting on Oct. 7 at 8:00 a.m. and noted regular meetings on Oct. 10 and a subsequent meeting in October; final adoption of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 calendars will occur at the Nov. 7 meeting.

Less urgent items discussed during consent reports included ongoing delivery and installation of athletic bleacher work and locker-room equipment, an orchestra donation permitting a Florida field trip, and routine committee meeting dates for archives and audit and finance.