Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Organization topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oakwood Board elects Dr. Laura Middleton as president, approves organizational slate and administrative authorizations
Summary
At its Jan. 7 organizational meeting, the Oakwood Board of Education elected Dr. Laura Middleton as board president, named a vice president, approved committee appointments and multiple administrative authorizations — including legal counsel, financial authorities and OSBA membership.
The Oakwood Board of Education on Jan. 7 elected Dr. Laura Middleton as board president and completed routine organizational business, approving a slate of officers, committee appointments and administrative delegations for 2026.
Board members moved and approved the organizational meeting agenda, then voted to elect Dr. Laura Middleton president after a nomination and second. A subsequent nomination for vice president ('I'd like to nominate Lauren Hawaii for vice president') was seconded and approved.
In a single series of motions the board approved the February meeting calendar and the district’s notification list for special and regular meetings. The board also authorized the superintendent and treasurer to retain the law firms Cross, Brown, Todd, Rickard, Braden LLP (Columbus) and Russell and Andres for legal assistance in 2026.
On membership matters, the board voted to recognize the Oakwood Teachers Association as the bargaining unit for teachers during 2026 and approved participation in the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA). The board adopted a resolution to join the OSBA Legal Assistance Fund; the transcript contains inconsistent language about the fee (it variously states 'to pay the LAF 2,000 or $250'). The board also appointed the treasurer (or the treasurer’s designee) as the board’s public-records training designee for 2026 and named delegate and alternate representatives for the OSBA annual conference (the board discussion identified 'Nathan' as delegate and 'Lauren' as alternate).
Treasurer-authorized financial actions were bundled and approved: the board authorized tax advances, intra-year advances and transfers, investment of district funds 'according to the Ohio Revised Code', payment of expenses within appropriation limits, and continuation of a purchasing-card agreement.
Votes at a glance (official outcomes recorded in meeting minutes): - Organizational agenda: Approved (roll-call aye votes recorded). - Election of board president (nomination of Dr. Laura Middleton): Approved by roll call. - Election of vice president (nomination recorded as 'Lauren Hawaii'): Approved by roll call. - February meeting calendar: Approved by roll call. - Notification list for meetings: Approved by roll call. - Authorization to retain two law firms for 2026: Approved by roll call. - Recognition of Oakwood Teachers Association as bargaining unit: Approved by roll call. - OSBA participation and LAF resolution: Approved by roll call (fee amount in transcript unclear). - Appointment of treasurer/public-records designee and OSBA delegates: Approved by roll call. - Authorization of financial actions (advances, transfers, investments, purchasing card): Approved by roll call.
The board held these organizational approvals at the start of the regular meeting and moved on to superintendent reports and a curriculum showcase. The meeting minutes list roll-call approvals for each motion; no recorded dissenting votes were heard on the adopted organizational items.
