The organizational meeting for the Continental School Board was held at 6:00 p.m. on January 12, 2026 in the administrative office with the regular monthly meeting following. The meeting was called to order by the “president pro-tem” Brian Donaldson, who opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Board went into Executive Session at 6:02 p.m. to discuss the appointment of two new board members. The Board exited Executive Session at 7:07 p.m.
Dean Bidlack and Todd Sigler were nominated and approved as school board members, each for a two-year term beginning January 12, 2026 through December 31, 2027.
Dean Bidlack was re-elected as board president; Lynn Smith was elected as vice president. Board meeting dates will be held on the third Wednesday of each month with meetings beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the administrative office boardroom. The Superintendent was reappointed as purchasing agent and authorized to employ temporary personnel. Brian Donaldson was appointed as Legislative Liaison to OSBA and Scott Deken was appointed as Student Achievement Liaison. It was approved to dispense with the reading of the “minutes” of the previous meeting.
Authorized the treasurer to invest inactive funds. Appointed legal counsel with Ennis Britton Company, L.P.A. for calendar year 2026 in accordance with ORC 3313.203. Established the Board Service fund in an amount of $5,000. Authorized the treasurer to pay bills. Authorized the board president and treasurer to make advance draws on February and August tax settlements. Appointed the Superintendent as the ADA Coordinator. Authorized the superintendent and treasurer to attend professional meetings. Authorized the president and treasurer to borrow money, if needed. Authorized the superintendent and treasurer to enter into and/or accept/participate in Federal, State, or local grants or agreements and authorized the Treasurer to appropriate funds for the grants awarded. Authorized the Treasurer to file requests for amendments of the Certificate of Estimated Resources with the Putnam County Auditor as information becomes available to the Treasurer to warrant such a filing. Authorized the superintendent or treasurer to accept all donations to the school district on behalf of the Board of Education. Authorized the treasurer to make fund to fund advances, advance returns, transfers, and appropriation changes as needed throughout the year with Board ratification as part of the financial reports at the next meeting. Authorized the superintendent to send school employees to professional meetings within the amount of appropriations. Authorized copy cost of .15 per sheet for requests of public documents. Approved expending funds to purchase coffee, meals, refreshments or other amenities for professional development/meetings, staff recognition and service awards, and items for bereavement as a means to promote public health, safety, morals, general welfare, security, prosperity and contentment of all participants to further a public purpose pursuant to Auditor of State Bulletin. The board approved the 2026-2027 school year calendar that was presented at the December 17, 2025 Board meeting.
The following 2026 board committees were established:
District Records: (Required to be Supt, Treas, & Bd President) Tim Eding, Amy Rau-Lawhorn, Dean Bidlack
Negotiations: Dean Bidlack, Lynn Smith
Sexual Harassment: (Each building principal is the sexual harassment grievance officer for that building) Tracy Potts – Elementary, Tim Eding – JH/HS
The Organization meeting concluded at 7:44 p.m. with the Regular meeting immediately following.
Hearing of the Public:
The Board recognized and congratulated the following students for their achievements:
Students of the Month:
Elementary:
Alayla Drew is a third-grade student at Continental Elementary and the daughter of Randi Drew.
Brystol Thomsen is a sixth-grade student at Continental Elementary and the daughter of Bill and Sara Thomsen.
Junior High/High School:
Ella Siefer is a senior at Continental High School and the daughter of Doug and Dawn Siefer.
Artists of the Month
Elementary:
Zachary Donaldson is a third grader at Continental Elementary School and the son of Brian and Sarah Donaldson. His artwork is on display in the administrative office at Continental School.
Junior High/High School:
Abby Rue is a junior at Continental High School and the daughter of Joel and Kim Rue. Her artwork is on display in the administrative office at Continental School.
Mrs. Tracy Potts, Elementary Principal, reported:
•The State of Ohio requires students in grades K-3 to be given a reading diagnostic test to identify students who are at risk for poor learning outcomes. All students in grades K-3 are given the Dibels diagnostic three times a year. The 2nd round of testing is currently being administered.
•Kindergarten registration for the 2026-27 school year will be sent out next week. House Bill 114 is now in effect. Children must be 5 before the first day of school. This includes Kinderstart. •Upcoming events:
•Jan. 19 – No School, Martin Luther King Day
•Jan. 22 – PBIS Reward – Movie in Bluffton followed by House Time
•Feb. 6 – All A’s Night
•Feb. 12 – 3rd Quarter Mid Term
•Feb. 13 – County-Wide Professional Development Day
•Feb. 16 – 3rd Quarter Mid Term
Mr. Tim Eding, JH/HS Principal, reported:
•Today was the first day of the 3rd Quarter/2nd Semester. 2nd Quarter report cards should be ready mid to late week.
•Wednesday, January 21st is our 2nd Quarter PBIS Reward Outing. We are anticipating around 160 students qualifying for the reward, which will be ice skating at The Cube in Findlay.
•Next week is Homecoming Week. The dance will be on Friday, January 23 from 7-10 pm in the Auditorium. The game will be Friday, January 24 vs. North Central.
•All A’s recognition will take place during the Boys’ Basketball Games vs Ottoville on Friday, February 6th. The JH & HS Students earning all A’s will be recognized during the JV halftime and the Elementary Students earning all A’s will be recognized during the Varsity halftime. Board Members are invited and encouraged to attend and help congratulate our students that evening.
•On Saturday, February 7th our Esports team will be competing in their first “in-person” competition at Rhodes State. Mr. Kosch and the students are excited about this opportunity.
•On Monday, February 9th, our Government classes will be traveling to the Ohio Supreme Court in Columbus to observe court proceedings and gain an understanding of how the state judicial branch works. Mr. Ordway applied and received a grant from the Ohio Supreme Court for the trip. Mr. Ordway and Mr. Hoeffel will be attending the trip with our students in Columbus that day.
•Plans are being finalized for the upcoming All-County Professional Development day for our teachers on Friday, February 13th. This year the event will be held in Columbus Grove and a number of our teachers are presenting and facilitating topics during the event.
Treasurer’s Report:
The Board:
•approved the FY 2026 Alternative Tax Budget as required by the Putnam County Auditor.
•accepted a $78.00 from the former Lace N’ Levi’s CCL for the Continental Community Scholarship fund.
•appointed Brian Donaldson as the Vantage Career Center representative for Continental Local Schools.
SPOTLIGHT ON LEARNING
The Board heard:
•Monday, January 19, 2026 – No school in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
•Friday, February 6, 2026 – All A’s Night for students. We will recognize students who have earned this achievement at halftimes of the home JV and Varsity boys basketball game vs Ottoville.
Superintendent’s Report:
The Board heard:
•January is School Board Recognition Month. School board members are ordinary people who have an extraordinary dedication to our public schools. You are strong advocates for public schools and are responsible for communicating the school district’s needs to the public and the public’s expectations to the district. On behalf of the students, staff, and administration at Continental School, thank you for another year of service and leadership as a school board member.
•the transportation report.
Personnel
The Board:
•reaffirmed the hiring of Allison Gilliland from the June 12, 2025 board meeting to continue working under her substitute teaching license while pursuing appropriate licensure.
•approved the listed individuals as temporary substitute teachers who do not hold a post-secondary degree, as is otherwise required pursuant to Ohio law and regulations, including Ohio Revised Code 3319.226 and 3319.30, Ohio Administrative Code Section 3301-23-44, and/or Board Policy 3120.04 -Employment of Substitutes, during the 2024-2025 school year. This is pending satisfactory background checks, if applicable, as well as a valid non-renewable temporary substitute teaching license issued by the Ohio Department of Education to serve as a substitute teacher.
•Emily Baxter
•Kaitlyn Bidlack
•Justin Etter
•Raegan Gerdeman
•Lisa Johnston
•Brielle Sheets
•approved updated administrative team personal day reimbursement for the 2026-2027 school Year.
•approved a stipend of $5000 for Spencer Ordway for Dean of Students responsibilities that will take place outside of his “teacher contract” hours.
•approved up to 10 days of extended time for Spencer Ordway, paid at his per diem, that he can use at the end of the school year.
•approved retroactive employment of Andrew Hoeffel, effective January 5, 2026 as a long term substitute teacher ½ Time HS Social Studies (4 periods/day) pending proper certification and satisfactory background checks, through the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year.
•approved 3 dock days for custodian, Cheryl Grant.
•accepted the retirement of Teacher, Kelli Roney, effective May 31, 2026.
•accepted the retirement of Teacher Terri Schlegel effective May 31, 2026.
•accepted the retirement of Teacher Tammy Baker effective May 31, 2026.
•approved to begin the retire/rehire process for Kelly Roney, Terri Schlegel, and Tammy Baker.
•heard a Proclamation of the Continental Local School Board of Education Honoring the Distinguished Service of Superintendent Danny F. Kissell.
Executive Session:
•The Board went into executive session per ORC 121.22 to discuss labor relations.
Time in: 8:47 pm Time out: 10:05 pm
The next regular Board meeting will be February 18th at 7:00 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 10:07 p.m.
