Orange City School Board elects officers, approves organizational authorizations and several facility contracts

Jeffrey Lycan was sworn in and elected board president and Beth Wilson Fish was sworn in and elected vice president during the Orange City School District Board of Education organizational meeting on Jan. 8 in the district administration offices. The board then adopted its annual standing authorizations and approved a series of appointments and contracts.

The board approved the consent agenda of standing authorizations that included member compensation for up to 24 meetings at the statutory maximum rate of $125 per meeting; calendar meeting dates for 2024 (second or fourth Monday, 6 p.m. start); re-adoption of existing bylaws and policies; certification of student enrollment (2,064, reported on Nov. 2023) for the board service fund; authorization for the superintendent to apply for state and federal grants (Title I, Title II-A, Title III, and other federal/state funds); designation of the Shaquan Valley Times as the district’s newspaper of record; and a series of routine financial and administrative delegations to the treasurer and superintendent. The consent agenda was approved by roll call with all members voting yes (Mister Bilski: yes; Doctor Boyle: yes; Mister Lycan: yes; Missus Fish: yes; Missus Arnold: yes). The minutes for Dec. 11 also were approved by roll call.

The board approved membership and delegate appointments to the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA). The board recorded an invoice amount of $13,996 for OSBA membership during the discussion; the membership motion passed by roll call (all voting yes). The board also approved appointments to OSBA roles (conference delegate, alternate, legislative and student achievement liaisons) and a separate $250 high-school board legal assistance fund.

Legal service providers were approved for 2024, including Squire Patton and Boggs; Mansour Gavin; France Ward; Cosgrove; John Henry Law; Rinza, McIntyre and Seed; Smith Peters & Kaleo; Weston Hurd; and Scott Scriven. The board approved an appointment of Ernest Wilkerson as the board designee for student expulsions for calendar year 2024; that motion passed by roll call (all voting yes).

Committee and liaison assignments across audit and finance, academics, buildings and grounds, communications, boosters, foundation, PTAs and other district-affiliated groups were set and approved. The board discussed efforts to circulate the committee list and to ensure meeting notices are sent centrally.

On district operations and facilities, the board moved to consider an item that had been listed for review (replacement of the Brady Middle School boiler) as an immediate action item. The board voted to remove the energy-optimizers boiler item from the membership-contract review agenda and to suspend a second reading so the replacement could be approved and installed sooner. That procedural motion passed by roll call (Mister Bilski: yes; Missus Arnold: yes; Doctor Boyle: yes; Missus Fish: yes; Mister Lycan: yes). The board then voted on several contract approvals that had been moved to the action agenda: Field Turf USA (replacement turf) in the amount of $647,934; Vasco Sports Contractors (structural spray for the track) in the amount of $125,000; and Energy Optimizers for the replacement of the Brady Middle School boiler in the amount of $93,750. The motion to approve items 13a–c (the three contracts) passed by roll call (Mister Bilski: yes; Doctor Boyle: yes; Mister Lycan: yes; Missus Fish: yes; Missus Arnold: yes).

Other financial and administrative approvals included routine treasurer authorities (requesting tax advances, amended certificates of estimated resources per Ohio law, delegations for contracts under $9,999.99, and records commission duties) and confirmation of board practice to maintain minimum cash balances in the general fund and permanent improvement fund. The treasurer reported the district is roughly at expected mid‑year financial position, noted improved interest revenue, and said tax collections will be posted later than in prior years (county tax bills are expected Feb. 15). The board approved the December 2023 financial reports, the tax budget and acceptance of several grants and donations (including gifts for the arts center and robotics) by roll call.

No public participants had signed up for the public comment period. The board set meeting dates for upcoming meetings, including a regular session on Jan. 22 and Feb. 12.

Votes at a glance: - Election of president: Jeffrey Lycan — outcome: elected (unanimous roll call approval) - Election of vice president: Beth Wilson Fish — outcome: elected (unanimous roll call approval) - Consent agenda (items 5a–5t): approved (roll call unanimous) - OSBA membership and delegate appointments (invoice $13,996): approved (roll call unanimous) - Appointment of legal service providers (listed firms): approved (roll call unanimous) - Appointment of Ernest Wilkerson (board designee for expulsions): approved (roll call unanimous) - Motion to suspend second reading and move boiler item to action: approved (roll call unanimous) - Contracts approved as part of item 13: Field Turf USA $647,934 (approved); Vasco Sports Contractors $125,000 (approved); Energy Optimizers (Brady boiler) $93,750 (approved) - Finance resolutions (December reports, tax budget, grants/donations): approved (roll call unanimous) - Personnel and Orange Community Education & Recreation consent items: approved (roll call unanimous)

The board adjourned into executive session later in the meeting for matters related to personnel, appointment and employment.

Ending: The board scheduled follow-up items for future agendas (updates on ComDoc contract review and detailed budget/forecast updates tied to capital projects) and confirmed the next regular meeting on Jan. 22.