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Big Walnut board reviews staffing plan, approves appropriations, course catalog and multiple personnel items
Summary
At its Dec. 16 meeting the Big Walnut Local School Board reviewed a five‑year staffing plan, directed administration to draft a part‑time administrative secretary job description, and approved amended appropriations, course‑of‑study materials, field trips, donations and several personnel items, including a leave and supplemental contracts.
The Big Walnut Local School Board spent Dec. 16 reviewing a multi‑year staffing plan, holding first readings of two policy updates and approving a set of routine fiscal and personnel actions.
Superintendent Mr McLean outlined a staffing plan aligned to the board‑approved five‑year forecast and said the district may add positions in future years depending on enrollment and funding. Trustees discussed enrollment trends, class‑size targets (an aspirational 25 students per class), continued effort to recruit bus drivers, and possible growth in performing‑arts and gifted‑program staffing. Following discussion, a board member moved and a second was recorded to request that administration prepare a job description for a part‑time administrative secretary to the board; trustees asked that a proposed job description be presented for action at the January business meeting.
The board approved amended FY2025 appropriations and ratified the 2025–26 high‑school and middle‑school courses of study as presented. Trustees also approved a set of business items by roll call, including overnight field trips (a high‑school cheerleading championship in Orlando, Feb. 7–11, 2025; and a Puerto Rico trip for current 8th–11th graders, June 4–9, 2026), multiple donations to district schools and a bundled human‑resources consent agenda (items 13.1–13.4). The board approved a leave of absence for Stacy Hamilton (Dec. 17, 2024–Mar. 30, 2025), one‑year athletic supplemental contracts, and classified contracts effective after probationary periods.
During the public‑comment period Linda Wagner urged trustees to consider the fiscal effects of Ohio’s EdChoice voucher expansion and suggested the board engage in discussions or litigation about vouchers; she described large state‑level transfers of funds to private schooling as a concern for public‑school funding. Her remarks were recorded as part of public participation but did not result in a formal vote.
The board also set Jan. 13, 2025 for its organizational meeting and regular meeting at the District Administrative Office and appointed Steve Fuji as president pro tempore for the organizational meeting (Fuji abstained on that nomination). Several items were approved unanimously by roll call where recorded; Mr Duffy was listed absent from roll calls in the meeting.
