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Waterloo Local board approves hires, contracts, and grants; adopts tobacco-free policy
Summary
The board approved EMIS coordinator salary-grid changes, several certified and supplemental hires, agreements for energy and preschool services, a one-year Spark internet contract (one abstention), and accepted donations and a listed grant; it also adopted a revised tobacco-free policy.
The Waterloo Local School District Board of Education on Monday approved a package of personnel contracts, service agreements, and small grants, and passed a revised tobacco-free policy.
Personnel and hires: The board approved an EMIS coordinator salary grid for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years to compensate increased hours for the position, and approved several certified contracts. New hires approved on the agenda included Hannah Fitz Simmons as school psychologist (the board noted an estimated annual savings of about $50,000 compared with outsourcing), intervention specialists Andrew Young and Lindsay Renol, and a new elementary music teacher, Michaela (last name in packet). The board also issued a three-year administrator contract to Sherry Phillips, effective Aug. 1.
Contracts and agreements: The board approved several agreements including an energy contract (Power for School Renewal), training through the ESC of Central Ohio, OHSAA membership to allow athletic participation, joining the Summit ESC preschool consortium (the ESC will operate preschool classrooms and pay the district for space), and a transportation cost-sharing agreement with Rootstown Local Schools for a specific student. The board approved a one-year agreement with Spark for internet services; the roll call showed one abstention by a board member.
Grants and donations: The board accepted donations, including $1,000 from the Magador VFW Charity Foundation for the theater/drama program and about $1,200 in elementary school supplies from Ohio SNAP. The meeting packet listed a grant figure shown as $3,629; the $40,000 security grant referenced earlier in the superintendent report will be on next month’s agenda.
Policies and other business: The board reviewed new and revised policies (first reading) and adopted a rewritten tobacco-free policy the president said was revised to satisfy the Ohio Department of Health’s guidance. The treasurer presented February financials showing tax advances of nearly $2 million and month-to-date surpluses across funds; the board approved the minutes and financials.
Votes and roll calls: Most personnel and contract motions passed unanimously on roll call. The internet-service item recorded a single abstention. Several items (supplemental contracts, policy adoption, grant approvals) passed by roll call vote.
What this means: The hires and contracts reflect operational steps to restore or expand programs (elementary music, special education supports, preschool partnership) and to modernize infrastructure (security cameras and internet services). The board characterized the grant and donations approvals as ways to reduce local taxpayer expense.
The board did not specify dollar amounts for all items in the public record; one grant figure in the meeting packet was listed as "$3,629" and the larger $40,000 grant will be formally considered next month.
