Mapleton Local board approves personnel moves, service contracts, curriculum purchases and discontinues preschool

The Mapleton Local School District Board of Education on May 12 approved a wide-ranging consent agenda that cleared personnel changes, service contracts, curriculum purchases and the discontinuation of the district’s Little Mountie STEM Preschool for the 2025–26 school year.

ShaNa Benner moved to approve the Superintendent’s Consent Agenda, seconded by Vince Hartzler; the motion passed and the personnel approvals were recorded as contingent on successful criminal-record checks and meeting district and state requirements. The consent package included non-renewal of all certified and classified substitutes at the end of 2024–25; approval of new substitute appointments; approvals of extended days for several certificated and classified staff; and multiple limited-term contract renewals and transfers. The board accepted the resignation of Cory Runkle as Mapleton Middle School principal effective at the end of the 2024–25 school year and approved the transfer of Skip Fulton from Curriculum Director to Mapleton Middle School principal for 2025–26.

The board approved several service and program agreements: a service agreement with River Education Services, Inc. for LEAP program services for 2025–26; an agreement with the Educational Service Center of Medina County for RISE Academy services for 2025–26; and a two-year agreement with EJ Therapy for occupational and physical therapy and evaluation services for FY26–FY27. The board also approved KidsLink Neurobehavioral Center for Board Certified Behavior Analyst and consultation services for 2025–26 and authorized a revised contract with Appleseed Community Mental Health Center, Inc. for school-based therapist services for 2024–25 in the amount of $21,128, to be paid from Student Wellness and Success funds.

On instructional materials, the board approved the purchase of Reading and Mathematics curriculum and resources from Curriculum Associates for $48,531.74 and K–8 English-Language Arts curriculum and resources from Amplify for $19,331.20 for the 2025–26 school year.

The board also set fees and pay schedules for 2025–26: K–5 academic fee $75, 6–8 academic fee $100, technology fee $25 (K–12), a 6–12 non-athletic activity fee of $40, and athletic fees of $200 per sport at the middle school (individual cap $500) and $400 per sport at the high school (individual cap $1,000). Substitute pay rates for FY26 were approved (certified substitutes $85 for days 1–60; $195 for days 61+ per year; long-term certified $195/day; and hourly rates for classified substitutes and drivers as listed in the agenda).

One consequential program decision: the board voted to discontinue the Little Mountie STEM Preschool for 2025–26, citing “declining student enrollment and the financial condition of the district” as the reasons recorded in the minutes.

Other routine actions approved included acceptance of the April 2025 financial report and an updated Five Year Forecast for FY26–FY30, approval of a three-year shared-service agreement with New London Local School District for routine fleet maintenance (July 1, 2025–June 30, 2028), designation of Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company as the student accident insurance provider for 2025–26, and approval of a list of donations for April 2025.

Votes at a glance: the minutes record roll-call voting for motions throughout the meeting; contested or split votes are noted where present (for example, one limited contract motion recorded one abstention). Most motions reported in the minutes carried unanimously.

The board scheduled its next regular meeting for June 9, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.

Ending: The meeting adjourned at 6:47 p.m.