School Board Considers Career Center Board Appointment
The school board of education discussed a soon-to-expire term for a Belmont-Harrison Career Center board member at the November meeting.
Treasurer Mark Lucas from Belmont-Harrison Career Center told superintendent Micah Fuchs that the three-year term of Barnesville’s current board member, Ted Hanlon, ends in January. Each school district in the Belmont-Harrison Career Center’s service area has one appointed school board member on the career center’s board.
According to the Ohio Revised Code §3311.19, no member of a vocational school district may serve more than two consecutive three-year terms.
The school needs to appoint a member to the board. Local school board members plan to reach out to Lucas to clarify rules on who is eligible to be a member on the career center board.
There is a tight timeframe for the board to appointment a new board member.
ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL REPORT
High school principal Ron Clark reported 14 freshmen visited the Belmont County Joint Vocational School (JVS) on Thursday to tour and look into various programs.
“Hopefully the kids will find something of interest,” Clark said.
The BHS Career Fair is set for Tuesday at the high school for students to explore a number of careers.
The National Honor Society induction took place at 2 p.m. Nov. 21 with over 50 juniors and seniors inducted into the society. Clark emphasized this highlights students’ dedication to their academics.
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR REPORT
Athletic director Brad Hannahs reported that fall sports have wrapped up. Several students were recognized for Academic All-Ohio in the Eastern District, including football players, volleyball players and cheerleaders.
“That’s really good, not only are they student athletes, they’re just good kids and good students.”
Winter sports will soon fill the calendar. Girls’ basketball season began Friday, followed by swimming, bowling, boy’s basketball and wrestling.
Two December wrestling events are set. The Shamrock Duals will take place Dec. 13, while the Doan Ford Barnesville Wrestling Invitational will be Dec. 20 with around 20 schools from as far away as Pennsylvania taking part.
No date is finalized yet for “Winter Meet the Teams” event. Coaches considered weekends, but Hannahs said he didn’t think it was the a good idea. He will share updates as they develop.
School board president Leslie Schultz recommended the school possibly do an announcement at the end of the school day recognizing winter sports athletes if Hannahs cannot arrange a general “Meet the Teams” date.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPORT
Elementary school principal Zack Powell reported the school completed its gifted testing for fourth grade. The school is required to undertake testing annually for grades kindergarten to second and third to sixth grades. The next round of testing will take place in February.
Students participated in a tree decorating contest at the Belmont County Victorian Mansion Museum. Each grade decorated a tree. Powell encouraged board members to visit and vote for their favorite tree. The winning grade will receive a pizza party compliments of the museum.
The school will also be participating in a Christmas classroom door decorating contest. Images will be posted on Facebook for voting.
“We’re getting into the holiday spirit,” Powell said.
CURRICULUM DIRECTOR REPORT
Curriculum director Clint Abbott reported he and superintendent Micah Fuchs have attended meetings in Columbus working with the Ohio Stem Learning Network (OSLN) with the goal to achieve science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) designations for the district.
The OSLN is involved with STEAM in Ohio by supporting schools as they try to acquire a STEM and STEAM designation. STEAM differs from STEM in that it incorporates art into the core subjects, as well.
Last Friday, in the district leadership team meeting, members discussed a possible new vision statement for the district that would incorporate STEM characteristics.
Few school districts in Eastern Ohio have achieved either designation.
FOOD SERVICE REPORT
Nutrition Group director Brian Saner reported the students mark Wellness Wednesdays at the elementary school. The group also had a “Taking Nutrition Global” program with Indian food. The group will now put chicken masala on the menu rotation as it was a popular meal with students.
Some other events included “freaky foods” for Halloween and special treats and a fun dress up day for staff. Of 22 operating days in October, 11 events took place.
Vice president of the Nutrition Group Kim Cassidy visited the schools as employees prepared Thanksgiving meals for students and staff.
Youth and Parent Advisory Committees are involved and culinary students contribute to events, Saner reported.
More information on the Barnesville Schools program is posted on TNG’s Facebook page.
SUPPORT SERVICES REPORT
Director of support services John Blattler reported that tiling for science rooms 204 and 214 at the middle school will take place over Christmas break. Staff will start with the worst one and complete the other room over the summer if the work is not completed during break.
Two new buses are now in service. Routes for next school year are also being prepared.
TREASURER RECOMMENDATIONS
Treasurer Adam Quik reported two donations were received in October. The Goaliners Group paid their final pledge of $40,000 for the turf/lighting project at Shamrock Stadium.
Whartons Sportsman Club donated $300 to the H.S. Art Club
Quirk received approval to enter into an oil and gas lease for the district with Gulfport Appalachia, LLC.
SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMENDATIONS
The school board approved the following superintendent recommendations:
Indoor track returns for the 2025-2026 school year, as a club sport. Volunteer indoor track coaches approved are Dylan Rogers, Brian Grear and Ryan Grear.
Personnel
School tutors approved for the current school year at the Elementary school are Terra Shriver, Mindy Acton and Amanda Householder
Volunteers approved for 2025-2026 sports are: Jason Carpenter – volunteer assistant swim coach; Troy Fitzpatrick – volunteer junior high boys basketball coach; Chad Winland – volunteer junior high assistant softball coach; Clarissa Kernen – volunteer assistant girls basketball coach; Jason Weiss and Derek Reed Jr. – volunteer junior high softball coach.
A request for unpaid leave of absence was approved for Colleen Yesenczki of Barnesville Elementary School effective Jan. 2, 2026 (tentatively) through the end of the 2025-2026 school year
Substitutes hired for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year include Emily Byrd – aide, cook and secretary; Lisa Butler – aide; while long-term substitute contracts, retroactively to Nov. 10, were approved for Erin Hannahs and Amanda Householder.
Jeff Sheperd was reappointed to serve a four-year term as a trustee for the Barnesville Hutton Memorial Library Board of Trustees. His new term will extend through 2029.
MEETINGS
The safety committee meeting planned for 7 a.m. Dec. 4 will move one day to Dec. 5.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Dec. 18. This is the regularly scheduled meeting date, the third Thursday of the month.
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