Meeting Details
January 14, 2026
6:30pm - 7:30pm
1 hr
Tri-Rivers Career Center
Purpose
N/A
1.
Call the Organizational Meeting to Order
2.
Roll Call
___ Mr. Choina ___ Mr. Landon ___ Mrs. Pinney
___ Mrs. Dyer ___ Mr. McFarland ___ Mrs. Plotts
___ Mrs. Ehret ___ Mr. McKinniss ___ Mr. Sims
___ Mrs. Good ___ Mr. Park
3.
Pledge of Allegiance
4.
Oaths of Office
Oaths of Office to new and returning Board of Education members.
5.
Nomination for President
President Pro-Tem Eric Park will call for nominations for President.
____________ placed the name of ____________ in nomination.
____________ placed the name of ____________ in nomination.
____________ moved the nominations be closed.
____________ seconded the nominations be closed.
Discussion
Roll Call:
___ Mr. Albright ___ Mrs. Good ___ Mrs. Pinney
___ Mr. Choina ___ Mr. Landon ___ Mrs. Plotts
___ Mrs. Dyer ___ Mr. McFarland ___ Mr. Sayers
___ Mrs. Ehret ___ Mr. McKinniss ___ Mr. Sims ___ Mr. Park
6.
Election of President
____________ moved to elect ____________ President of the Tri-Rivers Board of Education.
____________ seconded the motion.
Discussion
Roll Call:
___ Mr. Albright ___ Mrs. Good ___ Mrs. Pinney
___ Mr. Choina ___ Mr. Landon ___ Mrs. Plotts
___ Mrs. Dyer ___ Mr. McFarland ___ Mr. Sayers
___ Mrs. Ehret ___ Mr. McKinniss ___ Mr. Sims ___ Mr. Park
6.1
Administer Oath of Office
7.
Nomination for Vice President
President will call for nominations for Vice President.
____________ placed the name of ____________ in nomination.
____________ placed the name of ____________ in nomination.
____________ moved the nominations be closed.
____________ seconded the nominations be closed.
Discussion
Roll Call:.
___ Mr. Albright ___ Mrs. Good ___ Mrs. Pinney
___ Mr. Choina ___ Mr. Landon ___ Mrs. Plotts
___ Mrs. Dyer ___ Mr. McFarland ___ Mr. Sayers
___ Mrs. Ehret ___ Mr. McKinniss ___ Mr. Sims ___ Mr. Park
8.
Election of Vice President
____________ moved to elect ____________ Vice President of the Tri-Rivers Board of Education.
____________ seconded the motion.
Discussion
Roll Call:
___ Mr. Albright ___ Mrs. Good ___ Mrs. Pinney
___ Mr. Choina ___ Mr. Landon ___ Mrs. Plotts
___ Mrs. Dyer ___ Mr. McFarland ___ Mr. Sayers
___ Mrs. Ehret ___ Mr. McKinniss ___ Mr. Sims ___ Mr. Park
8.1
Administer Oath of Office
9.
Public Participation/Introduction of Guests and Their Comments
"This meeting is a meeting of the Board of Education in public for the purpose of conducting the School District's business and is not to be considered a public community meeting. Public participation is governed by Board bylaw 0169.1 - Public Participation at Board Meetings."
10.
Organizational Meeting Recommendations
____________ moved to approve the following items.
____________ seconded the motion.
- Board Compensation at $125.00 per meeting for all meetings during 2026, this will include mileage for all meetings at the approved IRS rate effective on the date of travel. Mileage will be reimbursed semi-annually through payroll.
- Regular meeting dates and times for the Tri-Rivers Joint Vocational School District Board of Education will be held on the _____ (day) of the month. The meetings will be held at _____ p.m. at Tri-Rivers Career Center, 2222 Marion-Mt. Gilead Road, Marion, Ohio. The exceptions will be the April 2026, June 2026 and July 2026 meetings, which will be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, Wednesday, June 24, 2026 and July 22, 2026. The Annual Records Commission Meeting will be held in January prior to the Organizational Meeting. The date and time of a regular meeting of any given month may be changed provided such change is made by resolution during some preceding regular meeting or by the President should an emergency situation develop. All Board members will be notified of such changes and appropriate steps taken to notify the public. The regular meeting for January 2026 shall be held following the organizational meeting on January 14, 2026.
Board Committees for 2026 will be as follows:
2025 Audit/Finance Committee
Bob Haas
Mick Landon
Jim McFarland
Ted McKinniss
Eric Park
Gary Sims
Tammi Cowell, Treasurer-Chair
Daniel Kaffenbarger, Interim Superintendent
2025 Policy Committee
Bob Haas
Mick Landon
Jim McFarland
Ted McKinniss
Eric Park
Gary Sims
Jennifer Lawson, Director of Operations
Tammi Cowell, Treasurer
Daniel Kaffenbarger, Interim Superintendent-Chair
2025 Strategic Planning Committee
Tara Dyer
Mick Landon
Pam Pinney
Glenna Plotts
Keith Rogers
Chris Solis, Principal
Jen Lawson, Director of Operations
Tammi Cowell, Treasurer
Daniel Kaffenbarger, Interim Superintendent-Chair
2025 TDA Sponsor Oversight Committee
Debbie Good
Bob Haas
Ted McKinniss, Chair
Tammi Cowell, Treasurer
Daniel Kaffenbarger, Interim Superintendent
2025 Superintendent Advisory Committee
Tara Dyer
Shelly Ehret
Jim McFarland
Eric Park
Glenna Plotts
Gary Sims
Chris Solis, Principal
Tammi Cowell, Treasurer
Daniel Kaffenbarger, Interim Superintendent-Chair
Discussion
Roll Call:
___ Mr. Albright ___ Mrs. Good ___ Mrs. Pinney
___ Mr. Choina ___ Mr. Landon ___ Mrs. Plotts
___ Mrs. Dyer ___ Mr. McFarland ___ Mr. Sayers
___ Mrs. Ehret ___ Mr. McKinniss ___ Mr. Sims ___ Mr. Park
10.1
Committee Appointments for Legislative Liaison and Student Achievement Liaison
2025 - Bob Haas and Tara Dyer
11.
Adjourn Organizational Meeting
____________ motioned to adjourn the Organizational Meeting.
____________ seconded the motion.
Roll Call:
___ Mr. Albright ___ Mrs. Good ___ Mrs. Pinney
___ Mr. Choina ___ Mr. Landon ___ Mrs. Plotts
___ Mrs. Dyer ___ Mr. McFarland ___ Mr. Sayers
___ Mrs. Ehret ___ Mr. McKinniss ___ Mr. Sims ___ Mr. Park
12.
Budget Hearing
12.1
Budget Hearing Discussion
13.
Call to Order the Regular January Board of Education Meeting
14.
Roll Call
___ Mr. Albright ___ Mrs. Good ___ Mrs. Pinney
___ Mr. Choina ___ Mr. Landon ___ Mrs. Plotts
___ Mrs. Dyer ___ Mr. McFarland ___ Mr. Sayers
___ Mrs. Ehret ___ Mr. McKinniss ___ Mr. Sims ___ Mr. Park
15.
Report
16.
Motion to Amend Agenda (if needed)
____________ moved to approve the motion to amend this agenda.
____________seconded the motion.
19.14 Approve paying Adena Corporation $268,013.00 for the Construction Trades Academy fabric building.
Discussion
Roll Call:
___ Mr. Albright ___ Mrs. Good ___ Mrs. Pinney
___ Mr. Choina ___ Mr. Landon ___ Mrs. Plotts
___ Mrs. Dyer ___ Mr. McFarland ___ Mr. Sayers
___ Mrs. Ehret ___ Mr. McKinniss ___ Mr. Sims ___ Mr. Park
17.
General Discussion of Agenda, Addendum and Other Items
Items 18-19.1-19.14 and 20.1-20.13 listed below under the Consent Agenda are considered by the Board to be routine and will be enacted by the Board in one motion in the form listed below. There will be no discussion of these items prior to the time the Board voters on the motion unless members of the Board, staff or the public request specific items to be discussed and removed from the Consent Agenda. The Superintendent, Treasurer and administrative staff recommend approval of all Consent Agenda items.
Discussion
Roll Call:
___ Mr. Albright ___ Mrs. Good ___ Mrs. Pinney
___ Mr. Choina ___ Mr. Landon ___ Mrs. Plotts
___ Mrs. Dyer ___ Mr. McFarland ___ Mr. Sayers
___ Mrs. Ehret ___ Mr. McKinniss ___ Mr. Sims ___ Mr. Park
18.
Minutes of the December 17, 2025 Regular Board Meeting
19.
Treasurer's Business and Report
19.1
Service Fund
To approve the Board of Education Service Fund set at $7,500 for 2026.
19.2
Purchasing Agent Approval
To approve Daniel R. Kaffenbarger as Purchasing Agent for Tri-Rivers Joint Vocational School District effective January 1, 2026 through the 2027 Organizational Meeting.
19.3
Authority to Hire Employees Pending Board Confirmation and Accept Resignations
To authorize Superintendent Daniel R. Kaffenbarger to hire employees for existing or newly created positions pending board confirmation at its next regular or special meeting called for the purpose and to accept resignations of current employees on behalf of this board effective January 1, 2026 through the 2027 Organizational Meeting.
19.4
Treasurer Transactions Approval
So that advances can be secured quickly by the Treasurer to cover current expenses or to invest, it is recommended by the Treasurer to cover current expenses or to invest, it is recommended that the Treasurer be granted the authority outlined in the motion below: Section 1. Be it Resolved by the Board of Education of the Tri-Rivers Joint Vocational School District, State of Ohio: That the Auditors of Marion, Morrow and Union Counties be and they are hereby requested to issue an order to the Treasurer of their respective Counties to pay the Treasurer of this Board of Education such funds as they may be available for distribution by their respective County Treasurer. Section 2. That the President and/or Vice President be and is he/she is hereby authorized to sign and the Treasurer to countersign the necessary documents to secure advances and also the secondary documents to secure the semi-annual settlement with the above county Treasurer's during the calendar year 2026. Section 3. That the authorization herein conferred shall extend to any advances that may be requested during the calendar year 2026. Section 4. That the Treasurer of the Board be and he/she is hereby authorized and directed to certify a copy of this resolution to the County Auditors of the above said Counties and make such other certifications and reports to these County Auditors as may be necessary to make this resolution effective.
19.5
Investments Procedure
To approve the Treasurer of the Tri-Rivers Joint Vocational School Board be granted the authority and responsibility to determine the funds, to determine the length of time to invest such funds, to secure bids from eligible financial institutions and to invest the interim funds in certificates of deposit in the eligible financial institution or institutions submitting the highest rate of interest for each proposed investment in treasury bills or notes in compliance with applicable statutes.
19.6
Tax Budget Approval
The projected tax budget for FY27 is based on the five-year forecast presented in November 2025. To approve the Tri-Rivers Joint Vocational School District Tax Budget for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 as proposed by Treasurer/CFO, Tammi L. Cowell and Interim Superintendent Daniel R. Kaffenbarger.
19.7
Posting of Interest
To authorize the Treasurer/CFO, Tammi L. Cowell, to allocate interest earnings on bank accounts and investments to the following funds: 001 Fund- General,006 Fund- Cafeteria, 007 Fund-All,008 Fund- All
19.8
Payment of Bills
To approve the Treasurer paying bills due as long as the amount of payment is within the established appropriations. A complete history of bills paid will be provided for board approval each month during regular Board of Education meetings.
19.9
Blanket and Super Blanket Purchase Orders
To approve the use of Blanket and Super Blanket purchase orders for amounts not to exceed $300,000.00 per order for all non-grant funds and amounts not to exceed the Grant Award per order for all grant funds for fiscal year 2027. The Treasurer may issue "super blanket" purchase orders (certificates) for any amount for expenditures and contracts from a specific line-item appropriation account in a specified fund for most professional services, fuel, oil, food items and any other specific recurring and reasonably predictable operating expense. Such a purchase order (certificate) shall not extend beyond the fiscal year.
19.10
Financial Report
19.11
Paid Bills
19.12
FMLA Requests
- To approve intermittent FMLA request from Brian Schaadt, approximately 12 weeks beginning December 12, 2025.
- To approve FMLA request from Aaron Stewart, up to 12 weeks beginning December 17, 2025.
- To approve intermittent FMLA request from Jodi Rogers, up to 12 weeks beginning January 6, 2026.
19.13
Conference Request Expenses
To approve reimbursement for conference hotel expenses for Jennifer Lawson, Dave Mack and Cody Hawkins in the approximate amount of $7,766.65.
19.14
Adena Corporation
Approve paying Adena Corporation $268,013.00 for the Construction Trades Academy fabric building.
19.15
Discussion
20.
Superintendent's Report and Recommendation
Items listed below under the Consent Agenda are considered by the Board to be routine and will be enacted by the Board in one motion in the form listed below. There will be no discussion of these items prior to the time the Board votes on the motion unless members of the Board, staff or the public request specific items to be discussed and removal from the Consent Agenda. The Superintendent and administrative staff recommend approval of all Consent Agenda Items.
20.1
Employment
Substitutes for the 2025-2026 school year
- Maria Edler, Full-Time Rotational Substitute, $150 per day
- Josh Gallagan, substitute support for Interactive Media, $115 per day, 3 days per week, beginning February 2, 2026
Adult Education
- To approve making a correction to the salary/step of Catherine Irons, Nursing Instructor, effective with her 2025-2026 contract, Step 20.
20.2
Administrative Contract Notification
According to state law, boards of education must notify all administrators up for contract renewal that their contract is up for possible renewal, and they have the option to discuss their contract with the board.
To authorize and direct the Treasurer/CFO to notify the following administrator in writing that their contract expires on the date indicate and they may request a meeting with the Board of Education to discuss the Board's reasons for renewal or non-renewal of their contract.
Dr. Emeline Kelly, Adult Education Director of Nursing
Amy Randolph, Special Education Career Intervention Coordinator
Jennifer Sheridan, Student Services Career Coordinator
20.3
Authority to Approve Out of State and Overnight Field Trips and/or Meetings/Conferences Pending Board Confirmation
To authorize Superintendent Daniel R. Kaffenbarger to approve overnight and out of state field trips and overnight and out of state meetings or conferences pending board confirmation at its next regular or special meeting on behalf of this board effective January 1, 2026 through the 2027 Organizational Meeting.
20.4
Donations
- To accept a donation 2 Testo Combustion Analyzers valued at $1,445.00 each from Johnstone Supply to be used for Adult Education instruction.
- To accept a donation of miscellaneous items from Cardington Home and Auto to be used by Maintenance/Custodial Services, valued at $5,420.12.
20.5
Out of State Conference Requests
- To approve Molly Clapper, Director of Special Education & Pupil Services, to attend the ACTE National Policy Seminar in Washington D.C., March 22-25, 2026.
- To approve Nikki Hamilton, Financial Aid Coordinator, to attend the Federal Student Aid Conference in Washington D.C., March 3-6, 2026.
20.6
Ohio Education Policy Institute
To approve membership in the Ohio Education Policy Institute.
20.7
Micro-Purchase Threshold Resolution
To approve the Micro-Purchase Threshold Resolution as attached.
20.8
Seniority List
To approve the 2025-2026 Seniority List.
20.9
2025-2026 Emergency Operations Plan
To approve the 2025-2026 Emergency Operations Plan.
20.10
Contract for Organizational Assistance
Sharon DeLay, not to exceed $20,250.
20.11
Contract with Obviam
To enter into a contract with Obviam to perform an internal and external test assessment and onboarding with regard to Cybersecurity.
20.12
Job Description
To approve the job description for Lead Custodian.
20.13
Special Board Meetings
To approve January 21, 22 & 28, 2026 as Special Board of Education Meetings. The meetings will be held in Executive Session with no action taken during those meetings.
21.
Discussion
School Board Appreciation Month
22.
Executive Session
____________ moved to enter into Executive Session.
____________ seconded the motion.
WHEREAS, as a public board of education may hold an executive session only after a majority of a quorum of this board determines by a roll call vote to hold such a session and only at a regular or special meeting for the sole purpose of the consideration of any of the following matters:
1.In accordance with ORC 121.22G1- The appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion or compensation of a public employee or official, or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual.
2.In accordance with ORC 121.22G2- The purchase of property for public purposes, or for the sale of property at competitive bidding.
3.In accordance with ORC 121.22G3- Conferences with an attorney for the public body concerning disputes involving the public body that are the subject of pending or imminent court action.
4.In accordance with ORC 121.22G4- Preparing for, conducting, or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation.
5.In accordance with ORC 121.22G5- Matters required to be kept confidential by federal law or regulations or state statutes.
6. In accordance with ORC 121.22G6- Details relative to the security arrangements and emergency response protocols for a public body or a public office.
Therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED that the Tri-Rivers Joint Vocational School District Board of Education, by a majority of the quorum present at this meeting, does hereby declare its intention to hold an executive session on item(s) ______ as listed above.
Discussion
Roll Call:
___ Mr. Albright ___ Mrs. Good ___ Mrs. Pinney
___ Mr. Choina ___ Mr. Landon ___ Mrs. Plotts
___ Mrs. Dyer ___ Mr. McFarland ___ Mr. Sayers
___ Mrs. Ehret ___ Mr. McKinniss ___ Mr. Sims ___ Mr. Park
The Board entered into Executive Session at __________.
23.
Executive Session Concluded
Executive Session concluded at ________.
24.
Adjourn
____________ made a motion that the meeting be adjourned.
____________ seconded the motion.
Roll Call:
___ Mr. Albright ___ Mrs. Good ___ Mrs. Pinney
___ Mr. Choina ___ Mr. Landon ___ Mrs. Plotts
___ Mrs. Dyer ___ Mr. McFarland ___ Mr. Sayers
___ Mrs. Ehret ___ Mr. McKinniss ___ Mr. Sims ___ Mr. Park
Meeting declared adjourned at __________.
Next Meeting is ____________.
