Goshen Local board elects Deborah Gray president, sets 2026 schedule and authorizes routine administrative actions

The Goshen Local School District Board of Education held its organizational meeting Jan. 7 and elected Deborah Gray as board president and Lisa Warnecke as vice president for 2026. The meeting began at 5:30 p.m., included the swearing-in of three newly elected members, and concluded at 5:45 p.m.

During the meeting the clerk administered the oath of office to Mrs. Deborah Gray, Mr. Bill Herrera and Mrs. Melissa Pabrocki. After nominations and a roll-call vote, Deborah Gray was approved as board president for 2026; Gray thanked members for their trust, saying, "I just wanna thank all of you guys for the support and honestly, the collaboration, as we move in forward and grow together." Later the board approved Lisa Warnecke as vice president.

The board confirmed standing committee assignments (audit and finance; facilities; curriculum; community and staff public relations; business advisory; and policy) and approved a set of liaison roles, moving Melissa into the legislative liaison role, Lisa into student achievement, Corey into the township trustee role and Bill as the district's Great Oaks representative, as recorded on the meeting record.

The board set its regular 2026 meeting schedule as the second Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m., with noted exceptions for June and August and a stated plan to hold some financial meetings at 7:30 a.m.; members said the change to a 6:00 p.m. start is intended to be more family-friendly and would be communicated to the public.

Members also moved to appoint the assistant superintendent and the treasurer as the board's designees to attend a three-hour public-records training program under "ORC 109.4311," as cited in the meeting record. The board approved resolutions authorizing the superintendent to hire staff between board meetings, to accept resignations or retirements between meetings, and to establish a board service fund. According to discussion during the meeting, the service fund has historically been set at $10,000 and would be used for training and conference-related expenses; any amounts above that would require additional approval.

All motions recorded on the agenda were approved by roll-call votes as documented in the meeting transcript. The board adjourned at 5:45 p.m.

Next steps: the board's regular meetings for 2026 are scheduled for the second Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m.; the district said it will communicate the schedule and any location changes to the public.