Board approves multiple contracts, personnel and policy items; travel trips set for separate follow-up

Orange City School District Board of Education members at a special meeting April 7 approved minutes, personnel items, multiple contracts and several policy updates, and added a reporting requirement for upcoming student travel.

The board voted unanimously on a set of routine and nonroutine action items after discussion. The board approved the minutes for the March 17 regular meeting and the April 2 special meeting. It approved revisions to the confidential/exempt handbook, and it approved a calendar revision for the 2024–25 school year to add a professional development day at Moreland Hills Elementary to support full implementation of a K–5 English language arts curriculum adoption.

On policy matters the board took first readings of newly revised policies and approved two policies at second reading as listed on the agenda.

The board approved a slate of contracts covering grounds and equipment purchases, building and facility work, service contracts and software. Contracts approved by vote included: - Baker Vehicle Systems: Husler Super Z commercial zero-turn mower, $14,190 (approval) - Martin Public Seating: quote for 18 tables and 60 chairs for the learning center, $20,402 (approval) - Imperial Dade: replacement floor scrubber (Orland Hills Elementary), $19,008.55 (approval) - Garland: roof replacement, Pepper Pike Learning Center (roof sections H and H1), $667,123 (approval) - Educational Alternatives: in-person day treatment and tuition for a student up to $16,500 (approval) - Apptegy (Aptitude): OCR website design and hosting, $12,000 (approval) - North Ohio Trenching Service: upgrades to water and fire lines, $477,200 (approval) - Two contracts for extended school‑year services with Proactive Behavioral Services for summer tuition for two students, each $10,002.50 (reviewed) - Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve: service agreement for Gateway High School remainder of 2024–25, $18,002.93 (reviewed)

Board members moved to separate three travel-related items—two foreign immersion trips and the football team camp—for individual consideration. The board approved the remaining contract items and then approved the three travel items with a proviso: the world‑language trips to France and to Rome/Sorrento and the July football camp will be allowed to proceed but the advisers must provide a written update 90 days before each trip with final itinerary, participant counts, chaperone counts and final costs. The board recorded that EF Tours mandates one chaperone per six students; the advisers agreed to provide periodic updates (18 months, 12 months, 6 months and a final 30/90‑day report depending on timing) and the board asked staff to revise the district trip form to be more practical and actionable.

Personnel and finance motions on the agenda also passed by roll call. The general personnel motions included acceptance of at least one long‑tenured staff resignation noted in the personnel discussion. The board approved items on the Orange Community Education and Recreation (OCR) consent docket and approved the district’s routine financial items.

Finally, the board voted to adjourn into executive session for personnel matters and conferences with counsel related to pending or imminent court action.

Votes and roll calls were recorded on the transcript; the board’s standard roll‑call sequence recorded “yes” votes from the present board members on each final motion as reflected in the meeting record.