Warren Local board approves $2.8 million in bills, affirms student expulsion and hears bus-stop safety complaints

The Warren Local School District Board of Education on Nov. 20 approved a slate of routine financial and personnel actions, adopted model special-education procedures for 2025–26 and affirmed an expulsion order while hearing public comments about a bus stop on Bender Road.

During public participation Dylan Edgell asked the board to move a bus stop on Bender Road back to its previous location, saying the stop “blocks the neighbor’s driveway” and requesting it be returned to where it was in past years. Robert Goodwin echoed those concerns, saying the stop “has not been an issue in the past” and that neighbors did not give permission for buses to stop in front of their driveway; he suggested dropping students at the stop sign and urged the board to prioritize student safety.

In Treasurer’s business the board approved minutes from Oct. 23, 2025, financial reports for October and payment of bills totaling $2,795,567.77. The board also approved recording investment earnings of $732.46 deposited to the Permanent Improvement Fund. The motion to approve these items (RES 84-25) passed unanimously (Mr. Allen, Mr. Crum, Mrs. Greenup, Mrs. Proctor and Mr. Roush voted yes).

Under communications, legislative liaison Jesse Roush reported on several state bills — HB186, HB309, HB335 and HB129 — and said he was particularly concerned that HB335, as written, could threaten local control. The board’s District Operations committee, reported by Mr. Allen, discussed a Bus Safety Equipment grant, progress on a clinic, building stain removal and the condition of the administration building; Allen noted the maintenance staff oversees more than 308,000 square feet of building space and 71 acres of exterior grounds.

The administration recommended, and the board adopted, the Department of Education and Workforce Special Education Model Policies and Procedures for the 2025–26 school year (RES 85-25). The board also provided public notice required by Ohio Revised Code section 3313.48(B) that it will hold a public hearing at least 30 days before adopting the 2026–27 school calendar.

The board considered an appeal of a Superintendent’s expulsion and, after reviewing the designee’s findings, affirmed the removal order. The resolution noted that the board appointed David L. Hire of the Ohio Valley Educational Service Center as designee and that the expulsion runs from Oct. 1, 2025, through the end of the first semester of the 2025–26 school year; the Treasurer was directed to notify the parent and student by certified mail (RES 86-25).

Personnel actions approved under RES 87-25 included supplemental and pupil-activity recommendations (for example, Ann Skufca as Event Coordinator), volunteer coaching assignments for indoor track and girls varsity basketball, a classified retirement for bus driver Jack Church effective Dec. 1, 2025, staff transfers (including Tonia Cottrille and Kaylon Dennis) and the addition of classified substitutes (including Iva Bailey and Stephen Jr. Bailey). All personnel motions passed unanimously.

The board noted a workshop with an OSBA representative, Teri Morgan, covering governance and meeting management topics and reaffirmed the date and time for its next regular meeting on Dec. 15, 2025, at Warren High School. The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. (RES 88-25).

Votes at a glance: • RES 84-25 (Treasurer’s business: minutes, bills, financial reports) — Motion by Mrs. Greenup, second by Mr. Roush; outcome: approved; vote: Mr. Allen yes, Mr. Crum yes, Mrs. Greenup yes, Mrs. Proctor yes, Mr. Roush yes. • RES 85-25 (Adopt Department of Education and Workforce Special Education Model Policies; public notice re: 2026–27 calendar) — Motion by Mr. Allen, second by Mr. Roush; outcome: approved; unanimous yes. • RES 86-25 (Affirm order of removal/expulsion) — Motion by Mr. Roush, second by Mrs. Greenup; outcome: approved; unanimous yes. • RES 87-25 (Personnel and pupil-activity recommendations) — Motion by Mr. Crum, second by Mr. Allen; outcome: approved; unanimous yes. • RES 88-25 (Adjourn) — Motion by Mr. Allen, second by Mrs. Greenup; outcome: approved; unanimous yes.

What’s next: The board will hold a public hearing on the 2026–27 school calendar at least 30 days before formally adopting it, per Ohio law. The district did not record further board direction on the Bender Road bus stop in the minutes; community members raising that issue may expect follow-up at future meetings or through district transportation staff.