Warren Local board approves September finances, closes OFCC construction fund and OKs two school buses

The Warren Local Board of Education on Oct. 24 approved a package of routine financial and administrative actions, including $2,461,527.72 in payments for September 2024 and the closure of the district's Project Construction Fund after certifying construction complete under the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program.

The board recorded a roll-call vote on Resolution No. 76-24 to accept minutes, financial reports and payments for September, including an investment-earnings deposit of $284.91 to the Permanent Improvement Fund and a "Then and Now" invoice payment of $6,975 to the Boys and Girls Club for pool usage during the 2023—2024 school year. Mr. Allen (board member) moved the resolution; Mr. Crum (board member) seconded it. Mr. Allen, Mr. Crum, Mrs. Greenup and Mrs. Proctor voted yes; Mr. Roush was absent.

In a related action, Resolution No. 77-24 authorized execution of a Certificate of Project Completion with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) and directed the treasurer to close the Project Construction Fund (Fund 10) in accordance with Ohio Revised Code Section 3318.12. The board recorded the same affirmative vote by present members. The resolution follows the district's Classroom Facilities Assistance Program agreement with OFCC dated Oct. 6, 2017 and states that all construction and contractual obligations have been completed and reconciled.

Under Resolution No. 78-24 the board approved multiple agreements and memoranda of understanding for the 2024—2025 year. Approved items include: an agreement to coordinate Title I services between the Warren Local School District and the Fort Frye School District for services to the nonpublic St. Johns; a Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C) professional-development agreement for district integration of community- and career-connected learning; a memorandum of understanding with Hopewell Health Centers, Inc.; a memorandum of understanding with the Marietta Plumbers and Pipefitters Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee; and a non-exclusive licensing agreement with RAP Promotions LLC dba Trademark Solutions/Discount Signs and Awnings. The resolution also authorized purchase of two 2026 83-passenger CE school buses from Hill INTL Trucks NA LLC via the META Solutions cooperative at a cost of $145,120 each. Motion on No. 78-24 was made by Mr. Crum and seconded by Mrs. Greenup; present members voted to approve.

The board acknowledged athletic sponsors under Resolution No. 79-24, thanking Lang Financial (business-level sponsor) and in-kind hospitality sponsors Antonio's and Penn Station East Coast Subs of Vienna.

Personnel actions under Resolution No. 80-24 included classified hires—Amber Curry (elementary aide), Randall Elder (evening custodian), Shane Floyd (mechanic) and Carl Stanley (bus driver)—and pupil-activity appointments and supplemental positions for the 2024—2025 school year, including the High School play/musical director listed as John "Robby" Allen. Several assistant and volunteer coaching positions were also approved. The motion was brought by Mr. Crum and seconded by Mrs. Greenup; votes were recorded as above.

During public participation, Leslie Arnold raised questions about security and safety around an upcoming clinic and asked whether resources and the district's protocol for parental notification after safety incidents were available; Ashlee Gates thanked Mr. Newton (staff member) for permitting a recent 8th-grade volleyball recognition night. Those remarks were heard before the board's formal votes.

Board members, led by Mr. Allen, praised district operations staff and noted the OFCC closeout. The board reaffirmed that the next regular meeting will be Nov. 20, 2024, at 6 p.m. in Rooms 1710/1711 at Warren High School. The meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m. by Resolution No. 81-24.