Fremont City School Board re-elects officers, approves tax budget and joins Unified Champion Schools partnership

The Fremont City Board of Education met in its annual organizational meeting and regular session and confirmed leadership appointments, approved a slate of routine organizational items and contracts, accepted the district's tax budget for fiscal 2026–27 and approved participation in the Unified Champion Schools partnership with Special Olympics.

The meeting opened with students from Otis Elementary's Girls With Goals club leading the Pledge of Allegiance. The board then administered the oath of office to reelected members and took nominations for officers. Tom Price was the sole nominee for president and was affirmed by roll call; Sarah J. Lewis was affirmed as vice president.

Why it matters: the organizational votes set who will lead board meetings and represent Fremont City Schools for the year; approval of the tax budget is the formal step the district uses to justify its requested property-tax revenue to Sandusky County and move into the formal budget process.

Superintendent Denise Hurd praised the board for its service, telling members: "We are extremely fortunate to have 5 very qualified, very loyal, very dedicated individuals who serve in this capacity." The superintendent outlined the organization's routine approvals (meeting schedule, liaison and delegate appointments, committee assignments, authorization for the superintendent and treasurer to act on grants and investments) and presented personnel and contract items.

The board heard a presentation on the district's tax budget from district staff Megan, who explained the five schedules submitted to the Sandusky County auditor that break down voted millage, general-fund operating and bond-millage requests. "This is the first step in that process," Megan said; later the board approved the district's 2026–27 tax budget by roll call.

Student-services staff introduced the Unified Champion Schools partnership. Jim Boss, director of student services, said the program is a Special Olympics initiative to create integrated athletic and social opportunities. Holly Vancina described a phased rollout: "Why aren't we doing this? We need to do this," she said, urging the board to start by attending regional events (Perkins, Sandusky) this year to learn what works before hosting local events. The board approved the Unified Champion Schools contract by roll call.

The meeting also included routine consent approvals: donations, recognition of recent graduates, adoption of the recommended school calendar (option B) for next year, a continuing contract with the Sandusky County Board of Developmental Disabilities to place some students, a large package of policy updates (second reading, items 6–47), and multiple personnel actions including resignations, hires and supplemental coaching contracts.

One personnel vote drew an abstention: item 50, a support-staff substitute appointment who is related to board member Missus Bloom. The roll call recorded Missus Bloom as 'abstain' and the motion passed.

Financial highlights: the treasurer reported the district's self-funded balance on health benefits at $966,055.14 and explained a year-end "true up" with North Central's ESC that increased charges for last year; she described the reconciliation as an actual-versus-estimated settlement. The November financial report and the tax budget for 2026–27 were both approved by roll call.

Votes at a glance (summary of key recorded motions and outcomes): - Election of president: Tom Price — affirmed by roll call (majority of board members on record) - Election of vice president: Sarah J. Lewis — affirmed by roll call - Approve items 1–24 (organizational authorizations and appointments) — approved by roll call - Approve donations and recognition of graduates (item 1–2) — approved by roll call - Approve 2026–27 school calendar (option B) — approved by roll call - Approve Unified Champion Schools contract — approved by roll call - Approve contract with Sandusky County Board of Developmental Disabilities — approved by roll call - Approve policies (items 6–47, second reading) — approved by roll call - Approve personnel items 48–56 (resignations, appointments, coaches) — approved by roll call - Item 50 (support staff hire related to a board member) — approved; Missus Bloom recorded as abstain - Approve stipends for science-of-reading professional development (items 57–58) — approved by roll call - Approve November financial report (item 59) — approved by roll call - Approve 2026–27 tax budget (item 60) — approved by roll call

What’s next: The board will continue its regular meetings on the second and fourth Mondays at 6:00 p.m., unless otherwise posted; staff will submit finalized tax forms to the county auditor as part of the budget cycle and the district will begin initial participation/attendance in regional Unified Champion School events this year as planned.

Attributions: quotes and specific program descriptions are drawn from remarks by Superintendent Denise Hurd, district staff Megan (treasurer/finance staff), Jim Boss (director of student services) and Holly Vancina (Unified Champion Schools coordinator).