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Board approves handbooks, contracts, facility work and one‑year teacher increases including Tomorrow River
Summary
Trustees approved the consent agenda and a set of routine items: an inter‑agency public‑health agreement, a $3,000 donation to the AHS Spanish club, 2024‑25 certified and support staff handbooks, the student handbook, instructional technology coordinator overload, teacher overloads, one‑year Tomorrow River teacher contract increases, and small facility projects (stairs, carpet replacement).
The Board of Education approved a package of routine items and a set of one‑year staffing and facility expenditures in a single meeting session.
Board action: by voice motions and seconding, trustees approved the consent agenda and then moved through agenda items that included: an annual inter‑agency agreement with Portage County Health and Human Services; acceptance of a $3,000 donation to the AHS Spanish club from the Harley Fergus scholarship fund; approval of the 2024‑25 certified and support staff handbooks (changes limited to calendars and PTO language); approval of the student handbook after discussion of grading checks and cell‑phone/digital wellness guidance; authorization of an instructional technology coordinator overload responding to an audit that identified understaffing in tech support; approval of 2024‑25 teacher contract overloads; one‑year Tomorrow River School teacher contract increases to address virtual program growth; approval of quotes to install concrete stairs/handrail at the STEAM center entrance (approx. $10,250) and approval to replace classroom carpet in construction‑impacted areas using referendum funds.
Why it mattered: district staff said the Tomorrow River contract increases are a one‑year measure tied to higher enrollment in virtual programs (the presenter stated enrollment is up by about 40 students) and are not intended to roll into base contracts. In technology, staff said a recent audit showed the district has only one person to manage roughly 1,200 student devices and about 150 staff devices, and the instructional tech coordinator overload was approved to provide direct teacher and student support.
Notable quotes and procedural notes: an agenda presenter summarized the Tomorrow River staffing need: "so we are up 40 42 students" when explaining why one‑year contract increases were needed; board members made motions and the assembly carried each motion by voice vote. A board member asked staff to keep solar project grants on the radar and to place a solar discussion on the Sept. 16 agenda.
Next steps: many approvals were one‑year or limited changes; staff said they will assess the instructional tech coordinator position at year end and return recommendations. The board moved into closed session at the end of the meeting for personnel matters.
