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Field Local board approves hires, policy updates and Kent State CCP agreement
Summary
The Field Local School District Board unanimously approved personnel hires and resignations, adopted a new graduation policy and revised special education policy, and entered a College Credit Plus memorandum with Kent State for 2025–26, all as part of the superintendent consent agenda.
The Field Local School District Board of Education on Jan. 13 unanimously approved the superintendent consent agenda, authorizing multiple personnel actions, adopting policy updates and entering a College Credit Plus memorandum of understanding with Kent State University for the 2025–26 school year.
The consent agenda passed as motion 25-0019 after Member Randy Porter moved and Member Matt Slaven seconded; the roll-call vote was 5–0. District staff member Mr. Carpenter, speaking on behalf of Superintendent Heflinger, congratulated Denise Soulsby on her retirement and noted the personnel items.
Approved certified and extra-service appointments included Monica (Erin) Carpenter and Jessica Kefalos. Classified hires the board approved were Nina Haugen (5.5-hour paraprofessional at Suffield), Larry Whitmore (8-hour assistant custodian at Brimfield), Jasmine Watts (4.5-hour cook/cashier at the high school) and Leigh Harris (bus driver), each pending required paperwork and paid under the negotiated agreement. The board also approved a set of classified substitute hires and recorded several resignations and internal transfers, including the retirement of Denise Soulsby (music teacher, effective July 1, 2025) and staff transfers across custodial and paraprofessional positions.
The board approved parental and FMLA leaves: a parental leave for school counselor Ali Gaffke beginning Jan. 21, 2025 (return Aug. 14, 2025), a parental leave for intervention specialist Haley Hickle beginning April 22, 2025 (return Aug. 21, 2025), and FMLA for paraprofessional Danielle Pozun beginning Dec. 4, 2024 (return date TBD). The record states FMLA will run concurrently with sick leave where applicable.
The board conducted a first reading and then waived a second reading to adopt policy 6.15 (Graduation/Diploma Requirements, new) and to adopt immediately the revised policy 7.12 (Special Education Program). The board also approved the annual Food Sale Standards board policy statement (policy 9.15). Those policy actions were included in the consent motion and recorded as adopted.
As part of the consent agenda, the district entered a Kent State University College Credit Plus memorandum of understanding for 2025–26 (Exhibit S-3), authorizing the district to participate in the CCP program under the terms specified in that MOU. The board also approved payments in lieu of transportation for a list of nonpublic and alternative schools for the 2024–25 school year; the approved list includes Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, LEAP, Springfield Education Alternative, Chapel Hill Christian, and others named in the agenda.
The board’s action follows standard procedure for consent agendas that bundle routine personnel, policy and contracting items; all motions recorded in the minutes passed by unanimous roll call. The meeting was adjourned at 7:11 P.M.
Provenance: Topic introduced in SEG 002 and carried through SEG 005 (topicintro: SEG 002; topfinish: SEG 005).
