April 2026

The Botkins Board of Education met on April 8th for the regular board meeting and took the following actions:

• Approved the minutes of the March 12, 2026 regular board meeting

• Approved the Treasurer’s report by fund, general fund activity, the Investment Report, and the 5-year review of General Fund Activity as presented

• Amended the Certificate and Appropriations

• Approved a $60,000 transfer from the general fund to the severance fund 035 as presented

• Approved the Then and Now purchase order as presented

• Approved the Modified Cash Basis Contract as presented

• Approval of Class of 2026 Graduates as presented

• Approved to hire Tyler Wolters and JH/HS Guidance Counselor for the 2026-27 school year as presented

• Approved to participate in Ohio SchoolComp for 2027 Workers' Compensation Group Rating Program as presented

• Approved to accept the following donations as presented:

  • $192 donation from Meyer's Tavern for the Track and Baseball teams

  • $250 donation each from Endodontic Associates of NOW and Eley Funeral Home for the Softball fund

• Approved the following overnight trips as presented:

  • High School Volleyball Camp - Sandusky, OH July 20-22

  • High School Boys Soccer Camp - ONU July 17-19

• Approved the following Resolution of Commendation as presented:

Bella Bucio 

1.      500 Free: Set a new school record with a time of 5:19.21

2.      100 Fly: Set a new school record with a time of 1:00.29

3.      200 IM: Sectional Champion, District Qualifier, State Qualifier with a 15th place finish

4.      100 Back: Sectional Champion, District Qualifier-set a record of 57.48 at Districts & 2nd place finish, State Qualifier-6th place finish at State Div.2

5.      100 Free: Set a new school record with a time of 54.26 at Districts

6.      5X All-Ohio Honors

Chaise Rigney – placed 1st at Sectionals in 100 Breaststroke, District Qualifier, set a new school record at Districts with a time of 1:07.21

Girls 200 Medley Relay – Team consisting of Bella Bucio, Courtney Mann, Remi Paul, and Emma Roberts qualified for Districts and set a new school record at Districts with a time of 1:59.88

Rory Mack – placed 1st in Prepared at Sub Districts Public Speaking Contest, placed 1st at and Districts Public Speaking and Gold Rating for her Secretary’s Book

Stella Zink – placed 1st in Beginning Prepared at Sub Districts Public Speaking Contest, placed 2nd at Districts Public Speaking Contest

Eleanor Koenig – placed 1st in Extemporaneous at Sub Districts Public Speaking Contest and placed 2nd at Districts Public Speaking Contest

Alaina Topp – placed 1st in Creed at Sub Districts Public Speaking Contest and placed 3rd in Creed at Districts Public Speaking Contest

Stella Braun – Gold Rating for Reports Book

Madison Baughman – Gold Rating for Reports Book

General Livestock Team – Team placed 2nd out of 11 teams at the Wilmington Contest. Individual scores out of 835 were Jay Wildermuth 13th place, Quinn Schnippel 20th place, Cole Aufderhaar 38th place, and Eli Pitts 40th place.  Team consisting of Danika Hulsmeyer, Jay Wildermuth, Cole Aufderhaar, and Carter Hulsmeyer placed 20th out of 120 teams at the Marysville Judging Contest.

Poultry – Stella Zink placed 7th out of 131 individuals at the Wilmington Contest.

Dairy – Team consisting of Katelyn Steinke, Leah Fullenkamp, Rory Mack, and Bryce Berning placed 20th out of 41 teams at the Wilmington Contest; Team consisting of Bryce Berning, Leah Fullenkamp, and Brennen Mack  placed 19th out of 40 teams at the Marysville Judging Contest.  Bryce Berning placed 1st overall individual out of 134 individuals.

Solo Superior Ratings at District 11 Solo & Ensemble – Oliver Schmerge (class b marimba), Jeff Johnson (class C tuba), Ryan Koenig (class C alto sax), Johnny Casillas (class B alto sax and class A piano)

Ensembles Superior Ratings at District 11 Solo & Ensemble – woodwind trio of Mallori Bruggeman, Adi Miller, Makayla Bell; clarinet trio of Makayla Bell, Amelia Gillespie, Shelby Vaubel; saxophone trio of Ryan Koenig, Wesley Gutman, Johnny Casillas

Ensembles Excelling Ratings at District 11 Solo & Ensemble – percussion ensemble of Oliver Schmerge, Cohen Tennant, Noah Miller, Johnny Casillas, Shelby Vaubel, Adi Miller; brass quartet of Aaron Faler, Ariahna Hicks, Liam Cooper, Jeff Johnson

Vocal Solo & Ensemble – The following received Superior Ratings (I) for their vocal solos: Penelope Gillespie, Emily Luckey, Zander Warren, Regan Quinn, Morgan Lenhart, and Shelby Vaubel

Vocal Solo & Ensemble – The following received Excellent Ratings (II) for their vocal solos: Katelyn Steinke, Macy Heuker, Johnny Casillas, Eli Boyer, and Emma Johnson.  SSA Ensemble of Morgan Lenhart, Macy Heuker, Emma Johnson, Makala Wick, Katelyn Steinke, Leah Ivey, Madison Baughman, and Sofia Brown.  SSA Ensemble of Faith Altenburger, Emily Luckey, Ava Rigney, Penelope Gillespie, Kaydence Duncum, Mya Gillette, Coral Griffith, Regan Quinn, and Brooke Black.  Chamber Ensemble of everyone listed above also received an excellent rating.

Taylor Huelskamp – 1st Team All-SCAL, 1st Team All-Southwest Ohio, District 9 Coaches Selection, Senior All-Star Game Participant District 9, All-Ohio Special Mention

Brianna Egbert – All-Southwest Ohio Honorable Mention, All-SCAL Honorable Mention

Kriston Wendel – All-Southwest Ohio Honorable Mention

7th Grade Boys Basketball Team – SCAL Champions regular season

High School Boys Basketball Team – SCAL Champions, District Champions, Regional Runner-up, 17th SCAL title (3rd title in the last 6 years)

JV Boys Basketball Team – Undefeated season 1st time in school history

Eli Pitts – SCAL Player of the Year, 1st Team All-District 9, 1st Team All-District Media Team, 3rd Team All-Ohio

Owen Zimpfer – 2nd Team All-SCAL, All-Ohio Honorable Mention, District All-Star Game Participant, 3rd Team All-Southwest Ohio

Will Monnin – All-Ohio Honorable Mention, 2nd team All-Southwest Ohio, 1st Team All-District 9, 1st Team All-SCAL

Coach Phil Groves – D7 Ohio Southwest District Coach of the Year, 100 career wins

• Entered Executive Session at 7:21 p.m.

• Left Executive Session at 7:48 p.m.

• Approved to hire the following certified staff members' contracts as presented:

Trevor Barhorst – 1 year

                     Andrea Jones – continuing

                     Vicki Steinke – 3 year

                     Brooke Schmerge – 3 year

                     Gerald Lenhart - continuing

• Approved to hire the following administrative, certified, and classified staff members' contracts as presented:

Trevor Barhorst – 2 year

                     Jeremy Pleiman – 2 year

                     Evan Poeppelman – 2 year

                     Dale Steinke – 2 year

                     Julie Meyer – 2 year

                     Jane Fullenkamp – 2 year

                     Joe Shuga – 2 year

                     Kellie Baughman - continuing

• Denied CRA Exemption as presented