Fredericktown Local board approves consent agenda after debate over nearly $915,000 ESC contract

The Fredericktown Local Board of Education on June 16 approved the superintendent’s consent agenda after extended discussion about rising costs for contracted educational aide services through the Knox County Educational Service Center.

Superintendent Mr. Chapman told trustees the district’s annual cost for services from the Knox County ESC is “the estimated amount is $914,674,” a sum he said has been creeping up over recent years because of growing numbers of one-on-one aides and changing student needs. He also previewed a pavilion donation proposal from the district music boosters that will return to the board for formal acceptance after architect and code review.

The discussion centered on how enrollment fluctuations and program needs have altered costs. One trustee noted preschool counts that dipped from 293 to as low as 212 and then rose to 327, and questioned how those swings affected related therapy and aide costs. Mr. Chapman said the enrollment changes help explain some year-to-year variation but that overall expenditures for aid and related services have risen substantially.

Trustees compared the district’s arrangement with Knox County ESC to alternatives. A committee member said Knox’s benefit offering is comparatively small—cited in the discussion as roughly $2,000—while Mid-Ohio ESC was described as offering more comprehensive benefits (the meeting referenced a figure near $35,000 for a full benefits package). Board members said those differences affect aide recruitment and retention, noting aides are often one-on-one or two-to-one assignments and that turnover is high.

The meeting also recorded a cited change order of $189,400 for D and K Hathaway and several other consent items, including a Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center agreement for gifted services, a merged job description for head cook and school nutrition manager, and supplemental contracts for coaches and volunteers. The superintendent’s consent agenda motion was moved and seconded and later approved by recorded roll call votes.

Votes at a glance:
- Agenda adoption: motion approved (affirmative votes recorded from Mr. Holt, Mrs. Swanger, Mr. Bowman, Mrs. Lindeman and Mr. Napier).
- Minutes (June 9) approval: motion approved (affirmative votes recorded from Mr. Bowman, Mr. Napier, Mr. Holt, Mrs. Lindeman and Mrs. Swanger).
- Superintendent’s consent agenda: approved (affirmative votes recorded from Mrs. Winger, Mr. Napier, Mr. Bellman, Mr. Polk and Mrs. Lindeman).
- Motion to enter executive session for superintendent and treasurer evaluations (no action to follow): approved by roll call (Mr. Napier, Mr. Bellman, Mr. Polk, Mrs. Lindeman and Mrs. Winger voted yes).

The board moved into executive session to conduct superintendent and treasurer evaluations; the meeting record notes there was no action to follow the executive session.

Clarifying details recorded at the meeting include the $914,674 estimate for the Knox County ESC agreement; a cited change order of $189,400 for D and K Hathaway; preschool enrollment figures listed as 293 → 248 → 220 → 212 → 327; an increase in the number of ESC aides by four for the upcoming year; and cited hourly rates discussed (aid sub rate referenced as $13 and an hourly figure of $14.28 mentioned in the conversation).