Wellston board hires consultant to pursue Fallis School House reclamation

The Wellston Board of Education on Aug. 6 authorized hiring consultant Greg Upton to “proceed with the process of reclaiming the Fallis School House Property.” The motion was made by Bradley Pittman and seconded by Crystal Hull and carried 5-0.

Board minutes record the hire as an action intended to advance title or site-control steps for the Fallis property; the board provided no dollar amount or contract terms in the minutes. Superintendent Dwayne Danker’s start-of-year report earlier in the meeting noted a range of facilities-related items the district is tracking, including right-of-way issues at the school farm and coordination with ODOT on Highway 66, which board members said relate to broader property priorities. “Start of the year updates, letter regarding right of way at school farm and 66 with ODOT, and we have had requests to discuss bringing football back,” Superintendent Dwayne Danker said during his report.

The board did not attach a procurement amount to the authorization in the public minutes; the motion recorded only the decision to engage Upton to proceed with reclamation steps. The district did not specify a timeline or departmental assignee for follow-up in the minutes: board members voted to hire Upton and moved on to other agenda items. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 11, 2025, where board members could revisit contract terms or provide further detail if staff place the item back on the agenda.