Superintendent outlines staffing changes, lowers student athletic ticket price and reports facility work

Superintendent Bellville updated the Fairfield Union Local School District board on staffing, ticket pricing and facility projects, and asked the board to consider a policy revision affecting classified staff.

Bellville, introduced by the presiding officer as the superintendent, said several staff moves were complete: Scott Robinette will replace Charlie Roberts, Heath Grubb will fill Marsha Pugh’s role working night shift at Bremen Elementary School, and Dave Getz will take over responsibilities that include the stadium and activity center. He introduced Mr. Hartley to the board as a new hire present at the meeting.

On athletics, Bellville announced student ticket prices for home and away events will be reduced to $3 (adults remain $7 for high school events and $5 for middle school). “We dropped down to $3. We’ll see how many total students we get in the gates this year because we can track the difference between the 3 and the 7,” Bellville said. He said the district will monitor attendance and sales for a year before deciding whether to move to free student tickets, noting that other districts that have eliminated student ticket charges often rely on corporate or booster sponsorships to make up the revenue difference.

Bellville also summarized recent state legislation that will take effect 90 days after July 24. He said the law requires schools to continue offering a cash ticket option and prohibits charging a higher price for cash than for online ticket purchases; schools may, however, pass credit-card fees on to purchasers who buy online.

On facilities, Bellville reported that four chargers are operational and start-up training is complete; kitchen equipment installs should finish in the coming days; painting and lot sealing at Bremen and Pleasantville are done; and Pleasantville’s pool work is largely complete aside from a small punch list. He said the press box renovation at the stadium had uncovered soft underlayment that needed replacement and that flooring and air conditioning work are nearly finished.

Bellville requested the board waive the first reading and adopt a policy revision aligning classified staff personal-day carryover with certified staff—allowing classified employees to carry one unused personal day into the following year, matching the negotiated provision for teachers. He told the board the proposed change should be effective Aug. 1.

The superintendent closed his update by reminding board members of back-to-school events and staff orientation dates and inviting questions from the board.