Board of Education meeting preview, January 11
New 5-year contract for superintendent
By Paula Scott
At 7:30 p.m. on January 11, the Bluffton Exempted Village Schools Board of Education will meet for a re-organization and regular meeting. Board meetings are held in the Elementary Media Center, 102 S. Jackson St.
The organizational meeting agenda gives a partial view of the duties of the school treasurer and superintendent based on the permissions granted to them by the school board.
In regular business, the board will be asked to approve a new 5-year contract for Superintendent Greg Denecker and the reappointment of Carrie Phillips to a 7-year term as a Bluffton Public Library board member.
A partial list of items on the meeting agenda is below; the full agenda is attached.
ELECTIONS
- Board President
- Board Vice President
STANDING AUTHORIZATIONS
Treasurer be authorized to
- Secure advances from the Auditor when funds are available and payable to the district.
- Borrow monies in anticipation of school foundation and tax receipts, not to exceed authorization given in R.C. 133.30, to meet payable and outstanding obligations as needed.
-Invest inactive funds at the most productive interest rate whenever inactive funds are available.
- Pay all bills within the limits of the appropriations resolution as bills are received and when the merchandise has been received in good condition.
- Have blanket authority to advance from the General Fund as needed to the lunchroom, uniform school supply, and federal funds to prevent deficit balances in these funds.
- Do appropriation modifications as necessary and report to board for final approval.
- Be named Director for Allen County Health Insurance Benefits Council of Governments in absence of superintendent.
- Enroll the Board of Education for membership in the Ohio School Boards Association and OSBA Legal Assistance Fund.
Superintendent to be
- Authorized to employ such temporary personnel, as needed for emergency situations with such employments being presented for approval to the Board at the next meeting.
- Named the purchasing agent for the Bluffton Exempted Village School District.
- Named as the board president’s representative to appoint trustees to the Rhodes State College Board.
- Named Director for Allen County Health Insurance Benefits Council of Governments.
- Duly authorized as representative of the Board of Education to formally accept all resignations.
- The Board of Education’s designee for any student suspension appeal, as provided under board policy: JGD-Student Suspension.
- Authorized to continue the school district’s participation with the Apollo Career Center for the Business Advisory Council.
BOARD REPRESENTATIVES
- Delegate and alternate to the 2023 Ohio School Board Conference.
- Legislative liaison to the Ohio School Board Association.
- Student achievement liaison.
Julie Steiner to be named as the Board’s designee to represent Bluffton Exempted Village Board of Education at the House Bill 9 Public Records Training Seminar.
TREASURER’S RECORDS COMMISSION
The Records Commission, composed of Gregory Denecker, Superintendent and Chairman; Larry Hoffman 2022 Board President, and Paula Parish, Treasurer met at 7:00 p.m. on December 19, 2022 to review the record disposal lists to be disposed, which is ready to be sent to the Ohio Historical Society for their review before disposal.
AGREEMENTS
- Ohio Department of Administrative Cooperative Purchase Program
- TIPS-USA Interlocal Purchasing System.
- Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Program
- Southwestern Ohio Educational Purchasing Council (EPC)
CONTRACTS
Substitute Teacher at $95.00 per day taught:
Heidi Steiner, Ricky Shaner, Patricia Shaner, Sheima Krezi, Melanie Koenig, Kristy Collins, Kalie Miller, Grace Bell, Chelsey Cloud, Janella Claudill
Bluffton – Richland Public Library Board Appointment:
Carrie Phillips – New 7-year term, January 2023 through December 2029
Administrative Contract:
Greg Denecker, Superintendent, Five Year Contract from August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2029.
Stories Posted This Week
Thursday, September 3, 2026
- September 3 Bluffton High School athletics lineup, streaming
- ONU mobile clinic schedule, serving Hardin, Allen, Putnam and Auglaize counties
- Bluffton front porches and back yards hum during 2026 Porch Fest
- Before Our Weakness Gets Too Strong: Science to modulate our immune system
- Meet the Pirate cross country runners, Fall 2026
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
- Bluffton University offers $1,000 annual award to enrollees who visit campus
- Pirate golf 3rd in NWC quad
- Pirate volleyball sweeps Elida
- Pirate boys soccer loss vs. Van Buren
- Pirate girls soccer win vs. Spencerville
- August 2026 land transfers in the Bluffton school district
- Bluffton alumnus to share grandmother's fight for U.S. citizenship
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
- Beavers sports roundup, August 2026
- Pirate golfers split tri
- ICYMI: August 2026 Bluffton Icon Highlights
- Nisly to present colloquium on Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”
- Bluffton School district mails 2026-2027 Summer District Newsletter
- Emmanuel UCC is 2026 Bluffton Family Y coed softball champion
Monday, August 31, 2026
Sunday, August 30, 2026
- Vickie Diane Little was a registered nurse
- Nancy Ann Wheeler Andrews worked for First Federal Savings and Loan
- Donor generosity powers Bluffton U technology upgrade
- Pirates girls soccer blanked by Sylvania
- Pirate volleyball drops 2 in close tri-match
- Pirate cross country opens Fall 2026 at DSJ Invite
- Back to School Days at Bluffton Public Library