Oneida Special School District board approves routine business, MOUs, budget changes and personnel items

The Oneida Special School District Board of Education approved a package of routine business items and several personnel actions at its meeting.

The board, chaired by the presiding member (speaker 1), unanimously approved the meeting agenda and the consent agenda after motions and roll-call votes conducted by the clerk (speaker 4). The board then approved two policies for first and second reading covering advertising and distribution of materials in schools and payroll procedures.

Principal Stacy presented student-of-the-month recognitions. Stacy named Ally Smith the February math-department student of the month and described Ally as someone who “represents our school with the highest level of integrity.” Stacy also recognized Ayla Sims as March’s English-department student of the month and praised her punctuality, participation and dedication.

The board approved two memorandums of understanding: one with the Town of Oneida for use of the Bear Creek sports facilities and one with Ridgeview Behavioral Health Service and another special school district. Board discussion focused on logistics for concessions and gate proceeds, who would maintain or paint fields, and how officials would be paid; following discussion the board approved both MOUs on roll-call vote.

Other formal actions approved by the board included:

Votes at a glance:
- Approval of agenda: motion adopted; roll-call (motion carried).
- Consent agenda: motion adopted; roll-call (motion carried).
- Policies (advertising/distribution and payroll procedures) approved on first and second reading: motion adopted; roll-call (motion carried).
- Two memorandums of understanding (Town of Oneida; Ridgeview Behavioral Health Service and partner district): motion adopted; roll-call (motion carried).
- Budget amendments (cafeteria and general purpose transfers to cover higher food and benefit costs): motion adopted; roll-call (motion carried).
- Fundraisers approved (two golf fundraisers, softball, cheerleading; stadium cushions/umbrella): motion adopted; roll-call (motion carried).
- Letters of resignation accepted (Zach Kazee; Jeremy Hurst; Kelly Bratton; Janet Gold; Cheslyn Davis): motion adopted; roll-call (motion carried).
- Leaves of absence approved (Donna Lee; Desiree Harper; Belden Phillips): motion adopted; roll-call (motion carried).
- Amendment to next year’s school calendar to add Good Friday (April 18) and designate May 28 as an administrative makeup day: motion adopted; roll-call (motion carried).

Director’s and principal’s updates

The director (speaker 2) delivered a detailed report recognizing staff members, announcing hires for March (Whitney Baird and Jacob Hamilton among those named), and noting that some budget allocations are arriving late. The director also reported legal updates included in the meeting packet and encouraged board members to contact staff with items they want discussed before the budgeting process begins.

Principal Stacy (speaker 7) reported that parent-teacher conferences had strong turnout for a high school, described upcoming ACT boot camps and testing requirements, noted several canceled games due to rain, and thanked staff and volunteers who stepped into coaching roles.

What happens next

The board discussed a scheduling conflict for April and will confirm whether the April meeting should move from Thursday to Friday. The director will follow up with principals and staff on legislative developments, and the clerk will circulate evaluation materials for the director and the new board self-evaluation required by policy 1.103.

Quotes used in this article are attributed to the meeting record and to speakers listed in the meeting transcript.