Waterloo Local board approves staff contracts, launches free student meals and awards plumbing contract

The Waterloo Local Board of Education unanimously approved several personnel actions, enacted free student breakfasts and lunches under the Community Eligibility Provision, and accepted a contract for water treatment plant plumbing improvements at its recent regular meeting.

At the start of the meeting the Board President opened with condolences for two students and asked for a moment of silence, saying, “I often say that the sun rises and sets right here on the water,” and framing the community response to recent losses. A parent and PTO representative delivered updates about volunteer turnout and fundraising, noting the PTO collected about $1,600 at a recent back‑to‑school event.

On personnel, the board approved transition days for Frank Grant as superintendent for time worked in July and issued one‑year limited contracts for multiple staff members listed on the agenda. The board also confirmed the appointment of Carrie Dennison as athletic director for the 2025–26 school year and approved substitute and supplemental contracts for the coming year. A motion to grant additional hours for an employee (Katie Hansen) to increase her schedule passed after clarification that the approval would raise her total weekly hours to just over four.

Board members and administrators emphasized staffing and safety as underlying priorities. The elementary principal described revised arrival and dismissal patterns intended to separate car riders and buses and said the district will use drone footage to refine the traffic map. Board members noted a shortage of roughly three bus drivers and cautioned that training and CDL requirements can take two to three months for new drivers.

On student nutrition, the board adopted lunch and breakfast pricing consistent with the Community Eligibility Provision so that students will not be charged for meals next school year; adult meal pricing was set at $4. A board member described the vote as “just great news,” and the board noted the district’s reimbursable meal rate from the state audit will be about 69%.

The board accepted a $1,250 donation from the Ohio High School Athletic Association to the athletics department and approved a K‑12 consulting agreement for an upcoming November activity. It also voted to approve a pilot agreement with Teachtown for an online instructional program in one classroom and a contract with Total Education Solutions for extended‑school‑year speech services.

In facilities business the board voted to accept a bid and contract from English Plumbing LLC for water treatment plant improvements after a rebid process. Board members said the accepted bid exceeded initial estimates but noted the rebidding corrected problems with earlier submissions and that the contract was ready to move forward.

The board moved into executive session under statutory provisions related to personnel and attorney conferences and, after reconvening, amended the agenda to consider a settlement. The board approved an Open Meetings Act litigation settlement not to exceed $2,000 plus court costs.

Votes at a glance: the meeting’s recorded roll calls show the board adopted the meeting agenda and approved motions on personnel contracts, handbooks, bus routes (with Transportation Director Tim Fox authorized to make future route changes), the Camp Fitch field trip (Oct. 27–29, 2025) pending logistics, the English Plumbing LLC contract, and the Open Meetings Act settlement; all motions reported in the audio transcript passed by roll call with no recorded dissents.

The board also approved minutes from the July 10, 2025 meeting and the July 2025 financial statements. The meeting proceeded to executive session for personnel and legal matters and reconvened to complete the agenda before adjourning.