Ashland City School Board approves bids for kitchen upgrades, adds girls wrestling and passes consent items

ASHLAND CITY — At a regular meeting April 28, 2025, the Ashland City School Board voted to seek bids for kitchen upgrades at two elementary schools, approved adding girls wrestling to the high school athletic program and adopted routine treasurer and superintendent consent calendars.

The board authorized staff to solicit bids for kitchen equipment for Edison Elementary and Taft Intermediate, using a portion of the district’s food-service fund balance accumulated during the COVID-19 period. "We are required to spend that down. So we are looking to spend around 200 to $250,000 doing upgrades to our kitchens in Taft and Edison," said Mr. Klingler, the district staff member who discussed the bid request. The board approved the motion to seek bids by roll call.

Why it matters: spending the food-service fund down affects how the district maintains and equips meal-preparation facilities. District officials said the middle school, high school and Reagan Elementary already have newer kitchens and the planned work targets older facilities.

Superintendent Steve Paramore recommended adding girls wrestling as an Ashland High School sport and said the change reflects growth in the sport at lower grades. "It is the fastest growing sport in OHSAA athletics," Paramore said. "We are going to add that, actually add it to the supplemental schedule." The board approved the addition; the superintendent said the program will aim for varsity status and noted the district may not yet field a junior-varsity team but that middle-school participation is strong.

The board approved the treasurer’s consent calendar and the superintendent’s consent calendar. Board member Mr. Summers abstained from the superintendent consent vote and explained his reason during the meeting: "The consent. My wife was on there as a assistant swim coach," he said. The superintendent consent motion carried with four votes in favor and one abstention.

The meeting also included a motion to enter executive session under the authority cited on the agenda as "matters required to be kept confidential by federal law or rules or state statutes." The board voted by roll call to enter executive session; the board chair said there would be no further action following the executive session.

Votes at a glance - Seek bids for kitchen equipment (Edison Elementary, Taft Intermediate): motion approved; vote recorded by roll call as passing. Details: district expects to spend approximately $200,000–$250,000 from the food-service fund to upgrade older kitchens. (discussion and vote recorded April 28, 2025) - Add girls wrestling as an Ashland High School sport (add to supplemental schedule; varsity-level intent): motion approved by roll call; unanimous approval recorded. - Treasurer's consent calendar: approved by roll call. - Superintendent's consent calendar (personnel and routine superintendent items): approved by roll call; final tally recorded as four in favor, one abstention (Mr. Summers). - Executive session to consider confidential matters required by federal/state law: approved by roll call; board entered executive session with no additional public action announced.

The meeting also included the superintendent's regular report and presentations of monthly student and staff recognitions earlier in the agenda. District officials reminded the public of an "Excellence in Education" event scheduled for April 29 and graduation events at the end of May.

(Quotes are verbatim from the meeting transcript and appear as attributed.)