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Lucas Local board approves contracts, mental-health MOU and bus cameras; transportation contract passes with one abstention
Summary
At its July 16, 2024 meeting, the Lucas Local Board of Education approved a package of personnel appointments, policies and vendor contracts — including a transportation contract with Tristar that passed with one abstention — and moved into executive session to consider candidates for a board opening.
President Timothy Cooper called the Lucas Local School District Board of Education to order at 6:00 p.m. on July 16, 2024 in the Lucas Middle School Media Center and the board approved a broad set of personnel contracts, policy changes and vendor agreements.
The board unanimously adopted the meeting agenda and approved the June 18, 2024 minutes. It approved the June 2024 monthly finance reports and authorized one month of premium holidays for the STARK C.O.G. health insurance plan for December 2024.
The board approved several personnel actions. It accepted the resignation of Hannah Ackerman, aide, effective July 8, 2024, and accepted the resignation of Kathy Grover as girls varsity basketball coach effective July 1, 2024. The board approved a slate of supplemental contracts for the 2024–25 school year (including Christel Koppert-Smith as junior class advisor and pep club advisor, Michael Barr as head middle-school football coach, Paige Luna as head volleyball coach and others) and approved pupil-activity program contracts advertised July 8, 2024 pending proper credentialing. Volunteer coaches for 2024–25 were also approved.
Policy and program approvals included adoption of a proposed grade scale implementation for grades 1–7 for 2024–25, approval of the 2024–25 Athletic Participation Handbook, and adoption of Free or Reduced Price Meals Guidelines for the coming school year. The board also approved the Classified Substitute List and the Substitute Teacher and Classified Non-Teaching Substitute Contracts for 2024–25.
On transportation and safety, the board approved a contract with Tristar Transportation Co. to provide student transportation from Aug. 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025; the motion passed with President Timothy Cooper, Mrs. Amy Cuthbertson and Mr. Roger Maglott voting yes and Mr. Rick Foss recorded as abstaining. The board approved Pro-Vision to install cameras on district school buses.
The board approved programmatic and partnership items including the Career Coach Program of Pioneer Career and Technology Center for Lucas High/Middle School students. It approved a Memorandum of Understanding among Lucas Local School District, the Richland County Mental Health and Recovery Board, and Family Life Counseling to provide a Wellness Team of licensed mental-health professionals for students and staff; that MOU is effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
The board approved an agreement with Ohio Heartland CAC to coordinate special education services for eligible young children (effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025) and a separate MOU with Ohio Heartland CAC Head Start to improve services for 3–5-year-olds and their families for the 2024–25 program year.
The board moved into executive session at 6:24 p.m. to consider candidates for an anticipated board opening and resumed regular session at 8:01 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m.
Votes at a glance: 2024-128 adopt agenda (unanimous); 2024-129 approve minutes (unanimous); 2024-130 approve June finance reports (unanimous); 2024-131 STARK C.O.G. premium holiday (unanimous); 2024-132 accept resignation of Hannah Ackerman (unanimous); transportation contract with Tristar (one abstention: Rick Foss); other listed personnel, policy and MOU approvals (unanimous unless otherwise noted).
The board received administrative updates from Mr. Herman — including the semi-annual bullying report, completion of a softball fence project, and notice of a special board meeting scheduled for July 23, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. Mr. Herman also said he would check with coaches and the athletic director about whether to enclose softball dugouts after a board member raised the matter. Mr. Pickering reported the FY23 audit was in final review. A fiscal certificate citing Section 5705.412, Revised Code, attested the district has sufficient funds for obligations; it was signed by Eric W. Pickétihg, Treasurer.
Next steps noted at the meeting included the special July 23 meeting and the district’s follow-up on policy guidance regarding recently enacted cellphone legislation, for which the board is awaiting suggested revisions from the Ohio School Boards Association.
