BCS Board takes first step to put earned income tax levy on the ballot

Bellefontaine City Schools held its monthly meeting Monday afternoon in the High School Sloan Distance Learning Center.

Board members passed a resolution to move forward with an earned income tax levy in November '26.

The board will consider a final resolution at the next monthly meeting.

Board members heard an in-depth presentation regarding school levies from Paul Rutter, who's a public finance attorney at Bricker Graydon Wyatt in Columbus.

Rutter explained the benefits of an income tax levy compared to a property tax levy.

He also noted that state funding to public schools has significantly decreased over the last 5-10 years.

Now, hundreds of schools are facing deficit spending in their respective five-year forecasts.

Rutter said, "The money has to come from somewhere for these districts."

BCS Treasurer Josh Wasson explained why the levy is necessary. 

"Bellefontaine City Schools has been fiscally responsible with taxpayer funds by making several strategic staffing adjustments in recent years to save money while only being on the ballot 3 times since 2011.

"Unfortunately, public school districts have been put in a position where expenses are increasing but revenues are not. BCS needs local community assistance to maintain the basic programming our students need and deserve."

In other news, the board approved the monthly financial reports.

In personnel, the board accepted the following resignations:

Cailyn Coronado - High School Spanish Teacher

Carter Curl - Intervention Specialist

Nicole Terrill - Intervention Specialist

Mataya Reinhard - Intervention Specialist

A continuing contract was approved for teacher Ami Horvath.

The following one-year teaching contracts were approved:

Holly Bates Mays

Shari Brown

Terra Byrd-Grupe

Deena Fenske

Sherry Fitzgerald

Grant Gariety

Justin Hudgell

Kaylee Huggins

Drew Jackson

Erica Justice

Hanna Kean

Sarah McDonald

Amanda McGee

Eric Miller

Maelinn Myers

Sutton O'Donnell

April Pulfer (retire/rehire)

Lechell Raines

Bryant Runyon

Karen Scott (retire/rehire)

Olivia Sharp

Hannah Shoffner

Nichole Stafford

Whitney Stolly

Brielle Ward

The following two-year teaching contracts were approved:

Nichole Burkhamer

Jacqueline Godsey

Ashleigh Hodosko

Ken Hoffman

Brittany Johnson

Angela Lowe

Hailee Miller

Mikael Neeley

Andrew Reinhard

Brooke Reinhard

Garrett Reinhard

Courtney Salyer

Jason Scott

Amy Treon

Trevor Woods

The following three-year teaching contracts were approved:

Harrison Brunner

Shaun Dunlap

Matthew Garrett

Ben Gillig

Daulton Mosbarger

Zoe Price

Bill Tipple

Jenna Tozer

Brooke Zuch

The following five-year teaching contracts were approved:

Lauren Burkhardt

Sandra Chervenak

Jeremy Clifton

Marcia Cooper

Kevin Cordell

Steve Henry

Lori Horn

James Howell

Ciara Irick

Jennifer Jervis

Shalie Logan

Chris Miller

Megan Miller

Justine Oliver

Keith Pettit

Brooke Pulfer

Leslie Regula

James Robinson

Ryan Sawmiller

Jeremiah Vigansky

Heather Wechta

Melissa Wical

Donna Howell was hired to teach summer school.

Nolan Core and Chandler Martell were hired for summer technology maintenance.

Kerry Copenhaver was approved as a substitute custodian.

A long list of supplementals were approved. They include:

Tricia Baker - High School Yearbook Advisor

Johnny Boling Maurice - Middle School Boys Wrestling Head Coach

Morgan Brugler - High School Color Guard Advisor

Theresa Carter - High School Volleyball Assistant Coach

Sandi Chervenak - Middle School MUN Advisor

Marcia Cooper - High School Senior Class Advisor

Cliff Core - High School Quiz Bowl Coach

Jere Daniels - High School Production Manager

Ben Davis - High School Boys Cross Country Head Coach

Sean Egler - High School Boys Basketball Assistant Coach

Stephanie Fissel - Middle School National Jr. Honor Society

Morgan Standley - High School Boys/Girls Weight Room Coordinator (Fall, Winter, Spring)

Matt Gallaway - High School DARE

Matthew Garrett - High School D&D Club

Brice Henry - Middle School & High School Vocal Music Director

Brice Henry - High School Drama Advisor

Steve Henry - High School Boys Soccer Head Coach

Ken Hoffman - High School Instrumental Music Director

Lindsay Hogan - 8th Grade Volleyball Head Coach

Stacey Holycross - High School Prom Coordinator

Chelsea Horsley - High School & Middle School Girls Wrestling Head Coach

Angie Horvath - High School OSU-MUN

Angie Horvath - High School Chieftain Leaders Coordinator

Drew Jackson - High School Boys Soccer Assistant Coach

Drew Jackson - High School Boys Basketball Assistant Coach

April Jameson - High School FCCLA Advisor

Garrett Jenkins - 7th Grade Boys Basketball Head Coach

Catherine Kern - Middle School Basketball Sideline Cheer

Jordan Kesler - Middle School Cross Country Head Coach

Jane Kline - High School Girls Bowling Head Coach

Aaron LaBatt - High School Boys Wrestling Head Coach

Melanie Lehman - High School Homecoming Coordinator

Melanie Lehman - High School Senior Class Advisor

Baylie Levan - 7th Grade Volleyball Head Coach

Sharon Lewis - High School Swimming Head Coach

Shalie Logan - High School FCA

Lindsey Maus - Middle School Cross Country Assistant Coach

Chris Miller - High School GSA

Chris Miller - High School Envirothon

Galen Miller - High School Boys Cross Country Head Coach

Lawrence Miller - Middle School Math Counts

Laura Mitchell - High School, Middle School, Elementary School Orchestral Music

Madison Moore - High School Football Sideline Cheer Assistant Coach

Darcy Neeld - Middle School Show Choir

Mikael Neeley - High School & Middle School Girls Wrestling Head Coach

Josh Neer - 8th Grade Girls Basketball Head Coach

Tammy Overholser - High School Boys Bowling Head Coach

Garrett Reinhard - High School Chieftain Leaders Advisor

Garrett Reinhard - High School FCA

Heather Rivon - Middle School Instrumental Music

Heather Rivon - High School Instrumental Music Assistant

Hannah Rodenhausen - High School GSA

Michelle Rohrer - High School National Honor Society

Brandon Rutherford - Middle School & High School Girls Wrestling Assistant Coach

Debbie Sheehan - High School Swimming Assistant Coach

Aaron Shumaker - High School Girls Soccer Head Coach

Caitlyn Shumaker - High School Girls Soccer Assistant Coach

Cody Sigrist - High School Envirothon

Jenna Smith - Middle School Football Sideline Cheer

Kyle Spence - High School Boys Wrestling Assistant Coach

Bess Standley - High School Educators Rising

Reagan Standley - High School Volleyball Assistant Coach

Leslie Steiner - High School Accompanist

Heather Storm - High School Football Sideline Cheer Head Coach

Heather Storm - High School Basketball Sideline Cheer Assistant Coach

Heather Storm - High School Competition Cheer Head Coach

Zane Tevis - Middle School Boys Wrestling Head Coach

Jeanie Tipple - High School Spanish Club

Jeremiah Vigansky - 8th Grade Boys Basketball Head Coach

Dean Whetsel - High School Boys Basketball Assistant Coach

Stacey Wilson - High School Girls Cross Country Head Coach

Micah Woolf - High School Robotics

The following athletic workers were approved:

Emily Baldeh

Johnny Boling Maurice

Kim Brown

Katie Buffkin

Maverick Calton

Morgan Calton

Stacy Calton

Sandi Chervenak

Damon Dixon

Catherine Eastman

Sean Egler

Keri Fergus

Matt Gallaway

Ben Gillig

Garrett Gross

Matt Gross

Cheryl Harman

Anastasia Hiatt

Elizabeth Hogue

Margaret Hogue

Ryan Holycross

Stacey Holycross

Lori Horn

DJ Howell

James Howell

Erin Hoyng

Jordan Kesler

Julie Kurtz

Melanie Lehman

Sharon Lewis

Jennifer Lynch

Lindsey Maus

Adam Middlesworth

Skylar Mifsud

Megan Miller

Nate Miranda

Cheryl Poppel

Christina Prine

Ric Prine

Jordan Reser

Jim Robinson

Wendy Rutan

Debbie Sheehan

Eva Skaggs

Bess Standley

Brandon Standley

Emily Taylor

Sharon Traul

Amy Treon

Barb Triplett

Jason Warner

Arianna Woodruff

Zane Woodruff

Gavin Yoder

The following volunteer coaches were approved:

Jim Ball - High School Girls Tennis

Dylan Legge - High School ESports Club

Jim Macaluso - High School Girls Golf

Derek McNutt - High School Boys Golf

Trent Nicholl - High School ESports Club

David Overholser - High School Bowling

Hunter Pool - High School Wrestling

Zach Schmid - High School Boys Soccer

The board approved the middle school athletic code and high school athletic code.

The board approved the non-renewal of employee Hunter Siler.

The board approved a resolution to adopt the NIST Cybersecurity Framework Version 2.0 as the official cybersecurity program framework for Bellefontaine City Schools. This will be implemented in accordance with Ohio House Bill 96.

Finally, the board recognized May Seniors of the Month Kelsie Snapp and Tanner Ballinger. They each received an achievement pin and a $15 gift card to Ron’s Pizza. Tanner was unable to attend the board meeting.

The next board meeting will be June 16th at 6:30 p.m. in the Distance Learning Center.

Photos: The BCS Board meets in the Distance Learning Center.

Paul Rutter (middle) discusses levy options with the BCS Board.

Kelsie Snapp