Canfield board approves personnel moves, calendar, trips and property valuation complaints; several routine motions pass unanimously

The Canfield Local Schools Board of Education on Feb. 12 approved a series of consent and business items by roll call vote, including personnel resignations and hires, adoption of the 2025–26 school calendar, summer‑school requests, several out‑of‑state/overnight field trips and resolutions to file original complaints challenging property valuations.

Key decisions and votes at the meeting (motions passed by roll call, all votes recorded as "yes" unless noted):

- Approval of minutes for the January organizational and regular meeting (motion moved by Campbell; second DeMilo). The board approved the minutes by roll call.

- Approval of the treasurer's reports for November and December, presented in the treasurer's absence by Mr. Knowles. The report noted a general fund balance decline from $17.9 million (July 1, 2024) to $17.6 million (Dec. 31, 2024), in line with a five‑year forecast; progress payments on construction projects and final payments on HVAC and secured vestibule projects were cited.

- Personnel actions (resignations, hirings, transfers): the board accepted licensed resignations including Lisa Zetz (Hilltop kindergarten teacher, effective June 1, 2025) and Jacqueline Echo (high school math teacher, effective June 1, 2025); classified resignations and hires; approved transfers including Alexis Novotny to a fifth‑grade position for 2025–26; and approved extracurricular assignments listed in exhibit 5. Motion moved by Campbell and seconded by DeMilo.

- Adoption of the 2025–26 school calendar (exhibit 7). The board approved the calendar, noting it resembles the current year, with Christmas break spanning two weeks and graduation scheduled over Memorial Day weekend (Sunday). Motion moved by Campbell; second Alquist.

- Summer school and field trips: the board approved summer‑school requests (dates for elementary and high school programs provided) and several out‑of‑state/overnight field trip requests, including a fifth‑grade trip to Camp Fitch (North Springfield, Pa.), sectional and district wrestling tournaments and a potential state wrestling trip to Columbus (Mar. 6–10, 2025). Motion approvals recorded on roll call.

- Resolution 57‑2025: membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) for the 2025–26 school year (exhibit 10). Approved by roll call.

- Exhibit 11: approval of a service agreement for a student attending Mahoning Valley Community School; board members described it as an agreement for billing that school for the district student placed there. The board approved the service agreement.

- Resolutions related to property valuations: the board adopted motions to authorize filing original complaints challenging the valuation of two parcels (identified in the meeting as parcel numbers 26‑020‑0‑010 and 26‑017‑0‑020.01.0). Board members said the district's attorney and a contracted firm review sales and make recommendations; past cases resulted in recoveries sufficient to cover attorney costs. Motions were moved and passed on roll call.

- Donations: the board accepted several donations detailed in exhibit 18, including Box Tops for Education proceeds, memorial trust contributions and business donations to school programs.

All listed motions were approved by recorded roll call votes during the meeting. Several other routine business items — including temporary appointment of a treasurer pro tem (Dr. Alquist), proclamations honoring school counselors and school resource officers, and Rotary Student of the Month recognitions — were presented but are ceremonial and were not the subject of recorded roll‑call votes beyond the items listed above.

Ending: Board members and the superintendent emphasized continued community communication on major items, including facility planning and the ongoing MSC site testing discussed separately in the meeting.