Olentangy Local board elects officers and approves organizational, financial and personnel consent items

The Olentangy Local School District Board of Education held its organizational and regular Jan. 9 meeting and completed a series of elections and consent actions.

Elections: The board elected Brandon Lester as board president and Kevin Dabrico as vice president for calendar year 2025. In the roll-call vote for president, four members voted yes and Lester abstained; for vice president, four members voted yes and Dabrico abstained. Each elected officer took the oath of office immediately after the vote.

Organizational and consent approvals: The board approved the 2025 board meeting schedule, board liaisons and committee assignments, district organizations and board service fund, membership in the Ohio School Boards Association and other routine authorizations (treasurer authorizations, superintendent authorizations, purchasing agent designation, and business and facilities authorizations). The package of grouped consent items (identified as items a through m during the organizational meeting) was approved by roll call.

Financial and personnel consent items: The board approved treasurer consent items including acceptance of November 2024 monthly financials, the annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, and the popular annual financial report (PAFR) for FY24. The PAFR will be mailed to district residents; staff said the document costs about 50¢ a copy and will go to roughly 50,000 households.

Superintendent consent items: The board approved personnel items (certified, classified and supplemental staff listings), student early graduations, overnight field trips, and business/facility items including the Berlin Memorandum of Understanding (the sanitary-easement MOU described separately). The superintendent also reported retirements of five employees representing about 111 years of combined service.

Meeting close: The board adjourned and noted the next regular Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Jan. 23, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.

Votes at a glance (selected): - Election of Board President — Brandon Lester: Yes — Libby Wallach, Kevin Dabrico, Doctor Wallach? (see roll call) [roll-call recorded in transcript]; Result: elected (4 yes, 1 abstain). - Election of Board Vice President — Kevin Dabrico: Result: elected (4 yes, 1 abstain). - Organizational consent items (a–m): Approved (unanimous roll call of present members). - Treasurer consent items (a–e): Approved (roll call accepted). - Superintendent consent items (a–g, includes Berlin MOU): Approved (4 yes, 1 abstain on that roll call).