Waterloo Local board approves personnel moves, contracts and $4,000 literacy grant; discusses student programs

The Waterloo Local Board of Education on a unanimous roll‑call vote approved a set of routine personnel recommendations, vendor contracts and a $4,000 literacy grant and heard presentations about communications improvements and student programs.

Board President opened the meeting by praising staff and teachers for a strong start to the school year and invited trustees to regional training opportunities, including a Summit County ESC panel on levy work (Sept. 26) and the Ohio School Boards capital conference in November. The Board President said the district has prioritized communication improvements and credited administration for “a fabulous job” getting the year started.

Dr. Clark, Superintendent, told trustees the district conducted a communications survey with 176 responses and that families expressed a strong preference for weekly updates and expanded text messaging. Clark said the district is launching “Waterl Wednesday,” a weekly superintendent video highlighting district activities, and noted the district maintains both a board YouTube channel for meetings and a separate channel for those videos.

Tyler, a district staff member, outlined upcoming student programs: an “International Save a Life” distracted‑driving program with driving simulators scheduled for Sept. 18 for grades 9–12, a no‑cost pilot application with Hazel Health to provide teletherapy resources to students and families, and planned participation in the statewide Ohio youth/environment survey to collect anonymous wellbeing data from students. Tyler said the Hazel Health pilot is not guaranteed but would add teletherapy “at no cost to the district” if accepted.

The elementary principal reported managing dismissal logistics for up to about 50 cars at peak times, a successful kindergarten kickoff, in‑school personal‑safety presentations for K–6, formation of a sixth‑grade leadership group called the Viking Chiefs, and receipt of a $4,000 Dollar General literacy grant to purchase library books.

Heather, representing the Maplewood Career Center, said the Culinary Arts lab reconstruction is underway but roughly three weeks behind schedule, and that the center plans to hire optician and firefighting instructors and hosted an Aug. 20 orientation that drew about 2,000 people.

New business included a volunteer proposal to re‑start a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) high‑school club. Board member Joe said the club would be student‑led with volunteer supervision; trustees emphasized that district employees may supervise for safety but may not lead a religious group, and that any extracurricular must remain separate from district promotional activities.

On the consent and action side, trustees voted to: - Adopt the meeting agenda (motion passed by roll call). - Accept the resignation of cafeteria aide Marcy Ammons, effective Aug. 27. - Approve a leave of absence for custodian Oneita Salzman, effective July 1. - Approve corrected extended‑day assignments for several staff members (additional days to reflect extra work performed). - Issue substitute employee contracts for the coming year. - Approve LPDC stipends and a resident‑educator mentor stipend required by state certification rules. - Approve athletic support staff contracts, supplemental contracts (coaches, advisers), and detention‑duty assignments. - Approve four agreements: a Cintas uniform/service contract; a multi‑year therapy services agreement with Lisa DCH (noted as a three‑year price lock that does not obligate exclusive use); a SNAP‑Ed nutrition education partnership with Ohio State University (no cost to the district); and a one‑year school food‑service vending agreement with the Portage Private Industry Council. - Approve school fees for the year (no increases overall; a new fee for honors biology was noted). - Approve minutes from the Aug. 8 meeting and the August financial statements. - Accept donations: a flag‑display system valued at $679.95 from the Waterloo wrestling association and limestone materials (≈$500) from Paul Adelman Trucking. - Approve a then‑and‑now certificate to correct a purchase‑order date for Johnson Controls. - Accept the $4,000 Dollar General Literacy Foundation grant and create associated revenue and expense accounts. - Vote to recess into executive session to discuss employment and compensation matters.

Scott (financial report) told trustees the district posted an August surplus and a combined general + emergency fund balance of approximately $1.6 million year‑to‑date. Major revenue items for August included a second‑half real‑estate settlement of about $1.25 million, a final FY2022 Medicaid reimbursement of roughly $50,000, a manufactured‑home settlement (~$118,000), and interest/other receipts. Expense outliers included server installation and a music‑system upgrade (the latter around $20,000), partially covered by grants.

During the superintendent’s remarks, Clark acknowledged a messaging app setting that inadvertently sent automated voice calls when a button was left unselected; he said the district adjusted its process after learning that issue.

The meeting concluded with the board recessing to an executive session by roll call vote. No substantive changes to district policy or new binding commitments beyond the accepted motions were made in open session.

Next procedural steps: the board deferred final adoption of the revised board compensation language (training attendance pay) to a subsequent meeting (first reading held). Additional follow‑up items include clarifying timelines for the Hazel Health pilot acceptance, final details for the T‑Mobile “Friday Night Lights” stadium grant application, and scheduling details for the student leadership conference and band fundraiser.