Waterloo Local board approves salary grid, service agreements and five‑year forecast; accepts donation

At its regular meeting the Waterloo Local Board of Education approved a range of district business items: a principal and assistant principal salary grid effective Aug. 1, 2024; multiple purchase‑of‑service agreements including Hazel Health (telehealth funded by a state grant), Franklin University (student teacher placements) and Jefferson Educational Service Center (virtual learning and credit recovery); and a five‑year forecast presented by the treasurer.

The salary grid passed after board discussion about retention and compensation transparency; the motion carried on a roll call with the five board members recorded as voting yes (Mr Mo; Miss Zachariah; Mr Hickin; Mr Moon; Mr P). The board also approved service agreements that could expand student access to telehealth and online courses. The Jefferson ESC arrangement was described as offering credit recovery and possible online cybersecurity coursework.

Personnel motions were numerous and approved by roll call: adding time to contracts for employees moving from an ESC to Waterloo Local; issuing and then accepting the resignation of Nicole Penny (custodian) after a short contract action; approving a leave of absence for bus driver Don Walker; issuing substitute and supplemental contracts (including support for a restored drama program overseen by Bobby Braybon); and approving athletic fund payments for event support staff.

Financial highlights reported by the treasurer included a $517,000 deficit in October for the general and emergency funds offset by a year‑to‑date surplus of about $1.6 million for those funds and an overall fund surplus of roughly $1.2 million. Notable October expenses included about $52,000 to Johnson Controls for repairs (with insurance reimbursement pending) and about $21,000 for fuel. The treasurer presented a conservative forecast assuming a 30% reappraisal figure and a state guarantee payment of about $700,000; the forecast projected a dip in fund balance in later years under current assumptions. The five‑year forecast was approved by unanimous roll call vote.

The board accepted a $5,400 donation from the Waterloo athletic boosters for basketball uniforms and approved participation in an Ohio deferred compensation retirement program for employees. The meeting concluded with a roll‑call vote to recess into executive session to discuss employment matters.

Votes at the meeting were recorded by roll call with the following board member labels used in the transcript: Mr Mo, Miss Zachariah, Mr Hickin, Mr Moon and Mr P. Where the transcript recorded unanimous consent, motions were recorded as passed without recorded dissent.