Ringgold board unanimously approves $2.44 million in bills, hires, contracts, technology addendum and 2025–26 EOP

The administration recommended and the board approved routine business items on unanimous roll-call votes throughout the meeting.

Bills: administration asked the board to approve payment of bills; the general fund total for the packaged bills was cited as $2,437,149.86. The motion was moved, seconded and approved by roll call (motion carries 9–0).

Personnel actions: the board approved substitute pay rates, accepted listed resignations and employment withdrawals, ratified superintendent hires previously authorized and granted permission to employ additional substitutes pending proper documentation. All motions carried on unanimous roll call.

Contracts and agreements: the board approved agreements with multiple service providers (Center for Hearing and HDS Services, Sunbelt Staffing for special-education positions, ProCare Therapy, Steel Cities Academy and Hope Academy) and accepted an Allegheny Intermediate Unit Technology addendum for the 11/01/2025–06/30/2026 school year contingent on final review. The addendum cited hourly rates of $70 for a data reporting specialist and $75 for an application support specialist.

Transportation coordinator: the board approved a three-year employment contract for Keith Froschel as transportation coordinator; approval was contingent on final review by the solicitor and administration.

Professional development and athletics: the board approved a conference request for Shannon Crombie to attend an "Improving Schools" conference in Pittsburgh (Jan. 26–28, 2026) at a cost of $534.97, and approved one out-of-district travel request to allow an out-of-district swimmer to travel with Ringgold's high-school swimmer.

Emergency Operations Plan: the board approved the 2025–26 Ringgold School District Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) following administration recommendation; Chief Shell was asked if he had anything to report and declined.

Votes at a glance (selected items):
- Approve payment of bills (General fund $2,437,149.86): approved, roll call 9–0 (SEG 202–212).
- Approve admissions 3, 4 and 5 and agreements 6 and 7: approved, roll call 9–0 (SEG 213–234).
- Approve substitute employee rate: approved, roll call 9–0 (SEG 235–258).
- Ratify hires and employment actions: approved, roll call 9–0 (SEG 269–309).
- Approve three-year contract for transportation coordinator (Keith Froschel): approved, roll call 9–0 (SEG 335–365).
- Approve conference request for Shannon Crombie (Pittsburgh, Jan. 26–28, 2026): approved, roll call 9–0 (SEG 366–376). Cost: $534.97.
- Accept AIU Technology addendum (11/01/2025–06/30/2026): approved, roll call 9–0. Rates: $70/hr (data reporting specialist), $75/hr (application support specialist) (SEG 440–455).
- Approve Emergency Operations Plan (2025–26): approved, roll call 9–0 (SEG 460–466).

All approvals noted in the meeting were recorded as motions moved and seconded and passed on roll-call votes with the board reporting "motion carries" and roll-call tallies of 9–0 where recorded.

The meeting then moved on to remaining discussion items and closing remarks without additional contested votes.