Monroeville board approves personnel changes, $60,000 AI training purchase and insurance renewal

MONROEVILLE, Ohio — The Monroeville Local Schools Board of Education met May 18 and approved a series of personnel, financial and policy actions, including a superintendent-recommended nonrenewal of a staff contract, a $60,000 purchase order for AI training and a multi-line insurance renewal.

The meeting opened at 6:30 p.m. with a recorded roll call (Hedrick, Schafer, D. Smith and J. Smith present; Ruggles noted as absent for the initial votes). During the public-comment period, residents and stakeholders including Ben Paul and Dr. Grant spoke and several attendees expressed support for the district’s dual sports participation policy.

After an executive session to consider employment matters under Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G), the board returned to open session and voted to accept the superintendent’s recommendation to nonrenew the contract of Mr. Jim Kaczor. The motion was moved by Schafer and seconded by Hedrick and carried by recorded ayes from trustees present (see votes list below).

The board approved financial and purchasing items in the Treasurer’s report. Notably, the board approved a Then-and-Now purchase order to AI Learning Solutions Group for an AI training package (requisition TR190744) totaling $60,000. The FY27 Ohio School Plan insurance renewal from Hylant was also approved, with premiums listed as a 6% increase overall and line-item amounts including Property $76,238; Pollution $401; and Cyber $5,300.

The board voted to postpone indefinitely the first-reading updates to the ADA Transition Plan to allow additional review and discussion by trustees and staff.

Multiple personnel actions were approved: retirements and resignations were accepted (including Pamela Owens, music; and Deborah Smith, preschool teacher, noted as retirement effective June 2028), and the board approved a range of employment and coaching assignments for 2026–2027, including promotions and volunteer conversions (full list in votes below). The board also approved 5% performance pay for Dr. Khari Grant, PK–12 Principal, and 5% for Megan Elmlinger, Assistant K–12 Principal, and authorized an annual $3,000 stipend for staff holding an active Certified EMIS Professional designation.

The board accepted multiple donations, including a $1,500 gift from Lynn Child (split among scholarships), $14,000 from the Twenty First Century Foundation Scholarship for graduating seniors, a $50 donation from Joshua Peterson and a $100 donation from Digital Decimal to the unpaid lunch fee account.

The board set its next regular meeting for June 15, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting included two executive sessions related to personnel matters and adjourned at approximately 9:21 p.m.

Votes at a glance (motion ID — short description — mover / second — result): 2026-131 — Approve agenda — M: D. Smith / 2nd: J. Smith — approved (Hedrick: aye; Ruggles: absent; Schafer: aye; D. Smith: aye; J. Smith: aye) 2026-132 — Enter executive session (employment) — M: D. Smith / 2nd: Hedrick — recorded 2026-133 — Re-enter regular session and amend agenda — M: Schafer / 2nd: Hedrick — approved (unanimous) 2026-134 — Accept superintendent recommendation on nonrenewal of Mr. Jim Kaczor — M: Schafer / 2nd: Hedrick — approved (unanimous) 2026-136 — Approve minutes Apr. 20, 2026 — M: Ruggles / 2nd: D. Smith — approved (unanimous) 2026-137 — Approve financial statements for April 2026 — M: J. Smith / 2nd: Ruggles — approved (unanimous) 2026-138 — Approve Then-and-Now PO to AI Learning Solutions Group (TR190744), $60,000 — M: Schafer / 2nd: D. Smith — approved (unanimous) 2026-139 — Approve quote from Tusing Builders for bathroom repairs — M: D. Smith / 2nd: Schafer — approved (unanimous) 2026-140 — Postpone vote on updates to ADA Transition Plan (item #4) — M: Schafer / 2nd: Hedrick — board voted to postpone indefinitely 2026-141 — Approve clarification of FY27 Classified Pay Scale — M: Hedrick / 2nd: Schafer — approved (unanimous) 2026-142 — Approve FY27 Ohio School Plan from Hylant Insurance (premiums +6%; Property $76,238; Pollution $401; Cyber $5,300) — M: Ruggles / 2nd: D. Smith — approved (unanimous) 2026-143 — Approve FY27 Exempt Salary Schedule — M: Schafer / 2nd: Hedrick — approved (unanimous) 2026-144 — Approve District online Learning Plan for 2026–2027 — M: Ruggles / 2nd: D. Smith — approved (unanimous) 2026-145 — Approve 3-year renewal agreement with ParentSquare (7/1/2026–6/30/2029) — M: Schafer / 2nd: Hedrick — approved (unanimous) 2026-146 — Accept resignation/retirement of Pamela Owens (music), effective 4/27/2026 — M: D. Smith / 2nd: J. Smith — accepted (unanimous) 2026-147 — Accept resignation/retirement of Deborah Smith (Preschool), effective June 2028 — M: Schafer / 2nd: Ruggles — accepted (unanimous) 2026-148 — Approve Gail Rosser and Melissa Fries-Seip for 2 days (Kindergarten screening) Aug. 4–5, 2026 — M: Ruggles / 2nd: D. Smith — approved (unanimous) 2026-149 — Approve McKenna Dunlap promotion to Cheerleading Varsity Head coach — M: Hedrick / 2nd: J. Smith — approved (unanimous) 2026-150 — Approve Caroline Schnetzer Gessling move to Cheerleading Varsity Assistant — M: D. Smith / 2nd: Hedrick — approved (unanimous) 2026-151 — Amend previously approved coaching assignment for Donovan Platte from paid to volunteer JH Football — M: Schafer / 2nd: J. Smith — approved (unanimous) 2026-152 — Correct coaching title for Chris Scherley to Robotics IQ Head Coach — M: J. Smith / 2nd: Hedrick — approved (unanimous) 2026-153 — Approve Jefferson Fair as Head Cross Country Coach (50%), Step 2 — M: Ruggles / 2nd: Hedrick — approved (unanimous) 2026-154 — Approve Savannah Stacy as Head Cross Country Coach (50%), Step 0 — M: J. Smith / 2nd: Schafer — approved (unanimous) 2026-155 — Approve Cody Appeman as JH Assistant Football coach, Step 4 — M: D. Smith / 2nd: J. Smith — approved (unanimous) 2026-156 — Approve Chris Scherley as volunteer JH Football Coach — M: Hedrick / 2nd: Schafer — approved (unanimous) 2026-157 — Approve Brooklin Higham as Cheerleading JH Head coach, Step 0 — M: Hedrick / 2nd: Schafer — approved (unanimous) 2026-158 — Approve Trevor Schafer as Freshman Boys Basketball coach, Step 0 — M: J. Smith / 2nd: D. Smith — approved (unanimous) 2026-159 — Approve 5% performance pay for Dr. Khari Grant for 2025–2026 — M: D. Smith / 2nd: Ruggles — approved (unanimous) 2026-160 — Approve 5% performance pay for Megan Elmlinger for 2025–2026 — M: Ruggles / 2nd: [Smith] — approved (unanimous) 2026-161 — Approve annual $3,000 stipend for Certified EMIS Professional designation holders — M: Schafer / 2nd: Hedrick — approved (unanimous) 2026-162 — Accept resignation of Theresa Fries from Monroeville Public Library Board — M: D. Smith / 2nd: Ruggles — accepted (unanimous) 2026-163 — Approve Charles Sanders for 2-year Maintenance contract, Step 25 — M: Schafer / 2nd: J. Smith — approved (unanimous) 2026-164 — Approve Marie Shultz for 2-year Assistant Treasurer contract, Step 8 — M: D. Smith / 2nd: Hedrick — approved (unanimous) 2026-165 — Accept resignation of Laura Baxter, bus driver, effective June 30, 2026 — M: D. Smith / 2nd: Schafer — accepted (unanimous) 2026-166 — Approve Laura Baxter as sub bus driver for 2026–2027 — M: Schafer / 2nd: Ruggles — approved (unanimous) 2026-167 — Accept $1,500 donation from Lynn Child (designated to scholarships) — M: D. Smith / 2nd: Schafer — accepted (unanimous) 2026-168 — Accept $14,000 donation from Twenty First Century Foundation Scholarship — M: Hedrick / 2nd: J. Smith — accepted (unanimous) 2026-169 — Accept $50 donation from Joshua Peterson to Mrs. Barker’s 3rd grade class — M: D. Smith / 2nd: J. Smith — accepted (unanimous) 2026-170 — Accept $100 donation from Digital Decimal to unpaid lunch fee account — M: Hedrick / 2nd: D. Smith — accepted (unanimous) 2026-171 — Enter second executive session per ORC 121.22 — M: Schafer / 2nd: Hedrick — recorded 2026-172 — Exit executive session — M: Schafer / 2nd: Ruggles — recorded 2026-173 — Adjourn meeting — M: D. Smith / 2nd: Schafer — approved (unanimous)

What matters: The nonrenewal of an employee contract and the $60,000 AI training purchase are the most consequential items for staffing and district expenditures; the ADA Transition Plan remains under review. The board’s next regular meeting is June 15, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.