By Betsi Werling

The Bluffton Exempted Village School Board met on Monday, June 29 with President Roni Kaufman conducting the meeting.

TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer Paula Parish provided a report, noting that the FY’ 2024-2025 audit was clean and completed by the Auditors of the State of Ohio. The Bluffton Public Library budget starting May 26, 2026 through January 1, 2027 was presented to the Board.

Year-end allocations have been made for the district. Temporary appropriations in the amount of $19,492,247.00 will allow payroll and initial expenses to occur for the beginning of the FY’ 2026-2027. 

The school lunchroom ended with a deficit this year;  transfers were made from the general fund to the lunchroom account. 

CONTRACTS, ASSIGNMENTS, RESIGNATIONS
Adde Berdin was introduced as the new Bluffton Elementary School librarian. Sierra Lieurance will be a new 3rd grade teacher for the 2026-2027 academic year. She has been teaching at Cory Rawson. Supplemental Contracts for the Fall Athletic Teams were shared. 

Elementary School Principal Kori Bernal has resigned. 

TRANSPORTATION
The Bluffton School District will not transport students to private schools due to time, distance and equipment. However, the school board agrees to pay the parent or guardian to provide these services. The amount set by the Ohio Department of Education for the 2026-2027 academic year is $636.75. 

The Bluffton Board of Education will not provide transportation for low-incidence handicapped students and authorizes the superintendent to negotiate and arrange special transportation when necessary. 

Bus Routes for 2026-2027 were approved with regular drivers Eric Garmatter, Adrienne Gossard , Daniel Lee, Deborah Hilty, Jack Hohenbrink and DeAnn Scott. Substitute drivers will be Stephen Lemley, Kevin King, Donald Leader, William McClain, Mike Wilson, Alex Hanna and Brian Hilty. 

MEAL PRICE CHANGES

There is no change to the cost of breakfast. However, due to the lunchroom ending with a deficit, a $.25 increase across the board for all lunch prices was approved, with Jeremy Scoles voting against the changes. New lunch prices:

$2.75 - Elementary School 

$2.75 - Middle School 

$3.00 - High School 

$4.25 - Adults 

CYBERSECURITY FRAMEWORK
The passage of Ohio House Bill 96 requires schools to adopt a rigorous standard-based framework for cybersecurity. The Bluffton Board of Education voted to use the NIST Cybersecurity Framework Version 2.0 as the official cybersecurity program framework for Bluffton Exempted Village School District. The Technology Coordinator leads the cybersecurity program. 

BOARD POLICY UPDATES
The credit card policy now states that approval for use must come from the Treasurer. Two policies regarding administering medication to students were broadened. A new dashboard will track student absenteeism.

APOLLO REPORT
Jeremy Scoles provided the Apollo Report. In the 4th quarter of 2025-2026, there were 37 Bluffton students enrolled, and 51% of them qualified for All A or AB Honor Roll. Seniors at Apollo who enrolled in the workplace/apprentice program completed 250 hours of work and earned $1.3 million in wages.

The Bluffton Exempted Village School Board entered executive session at 5:42 p.m. 

NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be Monday, July 20 at 5:30 p.m.