Union contract approved, BOE gets upgrades update

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

CONVOY — Teachers and staff members employed by the Crestview Local Schools are getting raises.

Monday, members of the Crestview school board unanimously approved a three year contract with the Crestview Employees’ Association, which represents certified and classified staff members. The contract includes raises of 3.5 percent each of the three years.

Superintendent Matt Dube said negotiations with the union went smoothly. For Dube, it was his first contract negotiation.

“Both the CEA and our team worked really well together, it was just a matter of working through schedules – the spring was so hectic with rescheduling dates in terms of sports and things like that – but overall we worked really well together and we were able to come to common ground pretty quickly,” Dube said “It was a learning experience for me but I think the president of CEA, James Lautzenheiser, gave me a lot of grace and we worked together quite well and he was able to have patience with me. Of course our treasurer, Ashley Whetsel, helped out a lot as well.”

The new contract goes into effect July 1 and runs through June 30, 2029.

Monday’s agenda featured several routine personnel matters, including approval of a one-year contract for Amanda Black as a third grade teacher, a one-year contract for Austin Voors as a high school physical science teacher and a one-year contract for Ebany Hammons as an elementary paraprofessional. The board also approved extended transitional administrative contracts (10 days each) for Trent Kreischer, Brett Latman and Sara Miller.

Clare Routt was approved as a volunteer soccer coach and Connor Sheets as a middle school/high school football coach.

The board was informed that Katie Perkins will be moved from part-time to full-time as an elementary paraprofessional, while Krysten Stone is being reassigned to the elementary paraprofessional position. 

A pair of resignations were accepted – Anne Myers is resigning as director of of program services after one year, effective July 31, and middle school track coach Deanna Grandstaff retroactive to March 18. She was then appointed as a volunteer coach, effective March 19. 

The board congratulated track state qualifiers and winners Delanie Balliet, Marissa Gros, Graylie Grose, Lydia Grace, Ellieanah Ward, Drayden Hoffman, Braxton Leeth, Ian Owens, Hayden Perrott, Hudson Perrott, Beckam Putman, Liam Putman, Brentyn Rodriguez, Lincoln Smith and Kale Vining, along with coaches John Rosebrock, Randy Grandstaff, Rachel Alvarez and Matthew Speelman.

Other agenda items approved by the board were the kindergarten tech integration curriculum for the 2026-2027 school year, the 2026-2027 athletic handbook and the substitute wage sheet, effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. The board also voted to take the next step toward putting an existing five-year, 5.0 mill permanent improvement levy on the ballot for renewal this November.

A pair of transfers were approved, including $15,000 from the general fund to the Latchkey fund, and $23,000 from the general fund to the athletics general fund.

Board members heard from middle school/high school art teacher Ashley Eby, who gave a brief presentation on a possible trip to France and Italy in 2028. The “Artists of Italy and France” sightseeing tour would include such things as the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, Accademia Gallery, a canal cruise, the Groeninge Museum and chocolate testing. It would be 10-12 days. 

Eby said the goal is to have at least five students in grades 7-12 make the trip, although there would room for more. She also said if interested, students from other county schools could join in. The cost would be approximately $5,600, per student although it could lower if a higher number of students make the trip.

“Once students are enrolled they can make monthly payments and there is a direct link on social media for them to be able to do fundraising,” Eby explained. “This would not be until summer of 2028 so it gives families plenty of time to plan and financially plan as well.”

Toward the end of the meeting, board members took a brief tour to see demolition work done at the existing high school gym. The renovation project is part of a plan to upgrade the district’s athletic facilities, inside and outside.

“The parking lot out back, the JV field out back, the track and football field eventually will get demo’d,” Dube explained.

Dube also said the project, which will include artificial turf at the football stadium, is expected to cost between $14.1 and $14.2 million.

“We’re a little over right now but we’re still working through the bids,” he said. “When I say a little over, we’re looking at $300,000 to $500,000 past our target and with our bids coming in and not yet done and we keep whittling away at that, I think we’re going to hit our target perfectly.”

The next meeting of the Crestview Local Schools Board of Education will be held at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 23, in the multi-purpose room.