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Fairview Area School District board approves staffing hires, bank-signatory changes and tuition reimbursement
Summary
At its Sept. 8 meeting the Fairview Area School District Board of Education approved a payroll-clerk hire, updated Mercantile Bank signatories to add district staff including the superintendent, authorized a $5,900 tuition reimbursement, approved robotics coaches pending background checks, and accepted a resignation. All motions passed unanimously.
The Fairview Area School District Board of Education on Sept. 8 approved a package of personnel and financial-authority changes, including hiring a payroll clerk and updating bank account signatories, during a regular meeting that ran from 6:27–6:55 p.m.
Board President Anne Tompkins called the meeting to order and the board unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included the Aug. 11 minutes and a Treasurer’s Report showing a General Fund balance of $2,037,241.52.
In formal action, the board approved the superintendent’s recommendation to hire Carie Blamer as Payroll Clerk/Administrative Assistant (motion by Mike Alchin, second Janice Handrich; vote 7-0). The board then approved several changes at Mercantile Bank: removing Mary Jo Green as a signatory; adding Kayla Layman as General Business Manager with authority over general operation, payroll, high school activity, athletics, food service, debt retirement, sinking funds and flex spending accounts; and adding Superintendent Troy Ross as a signatory on the same set of accounts. Board member Gary Wnuk asked why adding the superintendent was necessary; the board discussed that having two authorized signatories is considered best practice. The board also approved adding newly hired Payroll Clerk Carie Blamer to the payroll account (motions and votes: all 7-0).
The board approved reimbursing teacher Don McLean $5,900 for tuition in the Teachers of Tomorrow program after a brief discussion about whether the payment would complete program requirements (motion by Ryan Blair, second Ryan King; vote 7-0). It approved the 2025–26 coaching assignments, including appointing Jeremy and Misty Furchak as robotics coaches pending successful background checks (motion by Ryan Blair, second Mike Alchin; vote 7-0). The board accepted a letter of resignation from Mr. Bergwall, who gave two weeks’ notice and requested a substitute be found as soon as possible (motion by Ryan King, second Gary Wnuk; vote 7-0).
During the discussion portion of new business, administrators and board members noted that definitions for alternative teacher-pathway steps and pay schedules must be addressed in upcoming contracts because several new employees are expected to use alternative pathways. The Building & Maintenance Committee is scheduled to meet Sept. 16 to discuss snow-removal expectations and bid postings.
Votes at a glance: Carie Blamer hire (Approved 7-0; mover: Mike Alchin; second: Janice Handrich); Remove Mary Jo Green as signatory (Approved 7-0; mover: Mike Alchin; second: Ryan Blair); Add Kayla Layman as signatory (Approved 7-0; mover: Ryan Blair; second: Mike Alchin); Add Superintendent Troy Ross as signatory (Approved 7-0; mover: Ryan Blair; second: Mike Alchin); Add Carie Blamer to payroll account (Approved 7-0; mover: Mike Alchin; second: Ryan Blair); Tuition reimbursement for Don McLean, $5,900 (Approved 7-0; mover: Ryan Blair; second: Ryan King); Approve Robotics coaches Jeremy & Misty Furchak (Approved 7-0; mover: Ryan Blair; second: Mike Alchin); Accept resignation from Mr. Bergwall (Approved 7-0; mover: Ryan King; second: Gary Wnuk).
The board had no public comments and adjourned at 6:55 p.m. The meeting minutes were signed by Board Secretary Janice Handrich.
