Riverdale Local Schools, Board of Education Organizational Meeting

It is recommended the Board enter into executive session for the sole purpose of the consideration of any of the following matters:
To consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee or regulated individual.

The Board would like to invite Drew Bostic and Jeremy Kuhlman into executive session. 

It is recommended the board approve the regular meeting minutes of December 18, 2025 as presented.

It is recommended the board approve the following use of facilities:

Boys Basketball on Sundays during the 2025-2026 season, supervisor Al Thomas.

Girls Basketball on Sundays during the 2025-2026 season, supervisor Drew Bostic.

Football Open Gyms on Sundays January -March 2026, supervisor Tyson Speyer.

It is recommended the board approve the classified employee subsitute pay for Betty Wages.

It is recommended the board approve the following resignation:

Stacy Wickiser -Effective Decemebr 31, 2025 

  SET BOARD MEETING DATES

It is recommended that the Riverdale Board of Education set the monthly meeting dates as follows: 

Monday        January 26, 2026             5:30 P.M.

Monday         February 23, 2026           5:30 P.M.

Monday        March 23, 2026                 5:30 P.M.

Monday        April 20, 2026                    5:30 P.M.

Tuesday        May 26, 2026                    5:30 P.M.

Monday        June 29, 2026                    5:30 P.M.

Monday        July 27, 2026                     5:30 P.M.

Monday        August 24, 2026                 5:30 P.M.

Monday        September 28, 2026           5:30 P.M.

Monday        October 26, 2026                5:30 P.M.

Thursday      November 19, 2026            5:30 P.M.

Monday        December 14, 2026             5:30 P.M.

It is recommended that the Riverdale Board of Education designate The Courier, Daily Chief Union and The Kenton Times as the official newspapers for Riverdale Local Schools.

It is recommended that the Riverdale Board of Education set the rate of compensation at $80.00 per meeting for Board Members, not to exceed 12 meetings per year.

It is recommended that the Board approve the following annual resolutions:

1.    Designation of the Superintendent as Purchasing Agent

2.     Designation of the Superintendent to act for the Board on matters pertaining to surplus property procurement and federal grant applications and reports.

3.     Authorization of the Treasurer to pay utility bills and contractual obligations when they become due.

4.         Authorization for the purchase of liability insurance to protect the district, Board members, administrators, teachers, and classified staff.

5.      Authorization for the Treasurer to establish a service fund.

6.      Authorization for the Treasurer to pay school debts.

7.         Authorization for the Treasurer to pay bills prior to regular Board meetings, to take advantage of discounts.

8.    Authorization for the Treasurer to secure advances on tax monies as demonstrated by need.

9.       Authorization for the Treasurer and/or the Superintendent to act as official custodians of the Riverdale Local school district     safety deposit box (s).

10.        Authorization for the Superintendent to approve the use of school buses for field trips outside the district.

11.           Authorization for the Superintendent to approve attendance of staff members at professional meetings and conferences outside the district.

12.       Authorization for the Treasurer to temporarily invest interim deposits, as allowed by law.

13.         Authorization for the Treasurer to open and read bids publicly before the Board by law.

14.      Authorization for the Treasurer to make necessary transfers when needed (not to exceed $75,000).

15.      Authorization for the Treasurer to borrow funds when necessary and repaid within the same fiscal year.

16.       Authorization for the Superintendent to employ such temporary personnel as needed for emergency situations.  Such employment to be presented for approval by the Board of Education at the next Board meeting following the emergency.

17.      Authorization for the Superintendent to suspend and dismiss classified personnel in accordance with law and policy.

18.        Authorization for the Superintendent to hear appeals of suspension and expulsion as Board designee.

19.      Designation of the Superintendent and/or Treasurer to attend a public records training seminar approved by the Attorney General on behalf of the Board of Education.

20.     Authorize the Superintendent, on behalf of this Board, to accept resignations which have been submitted by employees during times when this Board is not in session, subject to ratification by this Board; provided however, that upon ratification by this Board, such resignations shall be deemed effective as of the date and time of the Superintendent’s acceptance.

21.     Authorize the Superintendent, during periods when this Board is not in session, to make offers of employment directly to candidates for either teaching or nonteaching positions on behalf of this Board, and to acknowledge acceptance of such offers on behalf of this Riverdale Local School Board, subject to a subsequent vote of ratification by this Board; provided however, that upon ratification by this Board, the employment shall be deemed effective as of the date and time of the employee’s acceptance of the Superintendent’s offer.  Nothing in this resolution shall require the Board of Education to employ or continue to employ an individual who has not provided a criminal records check satisfactory to the Board or who has not satisfied any other prerequisite to employment created by law or Board policy.

It is recommended the Board approve _________________________ as Student Achievement liaison for 2026.

It is recommended the Board approve __________________________ as Legislative liaison for 2026.

It is recommended the Board approve the tax budget for FY 2027 as presented.

It is reccomended the board approve the Treasurer consulting agreement with Addison Clark. 

It is recommended the board approve the 2026 OEPI (Ohio Education Policy Institute) Membership for the 2026 year at a cost of $500.00.

It is recommended the board approve the following resolution:

A RESOLUTION SUBMITTING TO THE ELECTORS OF THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT THE QUESTION OF THE RENEWAL OF AN EXISTING 1.00% SCHOOL DISTRICT INCOME TAX FOR THREE YEARS.

WHEREAS, on December 18, 2025, this Board adopted a resolution pursuant to Section 5748.02 of the Revised Code, requesting the State Tax Commissioner to estimate and certify to it the property tax rate and income tax rate that would have had to have been in effect on the taxable income of individuals, as defined in division (E)(1) of Section 5748.01 of the Revised Code, for the current year to produce an amount equivalent to $2,173,279 annually, a certified copy of which resolution was delivered to the State Tax Commissioner; and

WHEREAS, on December 23, 2025, the State Tax Department certified that an income tax rate of 1.00% (as rounded in the State Tax Department’s certification for certification to the Board of Elections and using the tax base as specified in the aforesaid resolution and herein) or an estimated property tax rate of 11.13 mills would be required to produce that amount; and

WHEREAS, this Board is now authorized, pursuant to Section 5748.02 of the Revised Code, to adopt a resolution proposing an annual tax for School District purposes on the school district income of individuals, as defined in division (E)(1) of Section 5748.01 of the Revised Code, at the rate set forth in the Tax Commissioner’s certification, rounded to the nearest onefourth of one per cent; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the approval of the electors of this School District at an election held on May 2, 2023, the School District currently imposes a school district income tax (upon the same tax base as specified herein) at the rate of 1.00% for the purpose of current expenses, which is due to expire at the end of calendar year 2026; and

WHEREAS, because this Board currently imposes an income tax pursuant to Chapter 5748 of the Revised Code that is due to expire at the end of calendar year 2026, and the proposed tax rate is no higher than the tax rate currently being imposed, in accordance with Section 5748.02 of the Revised Code, this Board may specify that the school district income tax to be submitted to the electors of the School District pursuant to this Resolution renews the expiring tax and is not an additional tax;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Education of Riverdale Local School District, Counties of Hancock, Hardin and Wyandot, Ohio, that:

Section 1. This Board finds, determines and confirms that the amount of taxes that may be raised by this Board of Education within the tenmill limitation by property tax levies on the tax list and duplicate will be insufficient to provide for the necessary requirements of this School District, that it is necessary to raise additional moneys for School District purposes, and that it is necessary to renew, for the purpose of current expenses, the existing annual school district income tax at the rate of one percent (1.00%) on the school district income of individuals, being the taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1) of Section 5748.01 of the Revised Code, for a period of three years.

Section 2. Pursuant to Chapter 5748 of the Revised Code, the question of renewing the existing annual 1.00% school district income tax for the purpose of current expenses, to take effect on January 1, 2027, and run for a period of three years, shall be submitted to the electors of this School District at the election to be held on May 5, 2026. The tax herein proposed would renew the aforesaid expiring tax and is not an additional school district income tax.

Section 3. The Treasurer is directed to deliver promptly, but in no case later than the close of business on February 4, 2026, a certified copy of this Resolution to the Board of Elections of Hancock County and the State Tax Commissioner.

Section 4. This Board finds and determines that all formal actions of this Board and of any of its committees concerning and relating to the adoption of this resolution were taken, and that all deliberations of this Board and of any of its committees that resulted in such formal actions were held, in meetings open to the public, in compliance with the law.

Section 5. This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon its adoption.

It is recommended the board approve the distance learning grant agreement resolution as presented.