By HOLLY GASKILL
Bluffton-Harrison schools will pursue several capital projects and improvements in 2025 through a $1.1 million bond.
The board of trustees for Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan Schools approved issuing the bond 5-0 Monday evening, following a second public hearing. No one from the public spoke at either public hearing.
The district identified three main improvement projects — the elementary playground, middle school upper gymnasium floor, and high school parking lot — as well as other unnamed deferred maintenance items.
Jim Elizondo of Stifel Public Finance stated that the district’s current debt service rate ($0.4879) was anticipated to decrease in 2025 due to increased assessed value within the district. Subsequently, he did not expect the bond amount to raise the rate.
The district can expect the debt service rate to fall in 2026 and in the several years following — if left untouched — due to expiring debt.
Superintendent Brad Yates later discussed the district’s ongoing construction projects at all three schools. Firstly, the elementary’s safety village is nearly complete and is slated for a ribbon cutting on Sept. 27. The project includes mock buildings and roadways for students to practice traffic safety skills.
Meanwhile, the middle school is repairing the pool after equipment failed during a power outage this summer, flooding the basement and mechanical room. Yates said the new boiler has been installed and they’re currently installing the base-mounted pumps, but waiting for additional parts to arrive. The project is expected to be done by the middle of October.
At Bluffton High School, the track replacement has been delayed but is almost finished. The school has also added a designated “Future Tigers Field,” a lined field across from the home stands, for children to play during the game while being in sight of their parents. The area is also monitored by school staff. The high school’s project to address roof leaks and moisture issues is also on target for completion in November or December.
The board later approved a 2025-26 school calendar, beginning on Aug. 13, 2025, and ending on May 28, 2026. Yates said families had surveyed 2-1 in favor of this calendar, which started and ended a week later than the other option.
Yates also advised that BHMSD’s official count day is Oct. 1 — the district is currently tracking about 1,741 students, up 43 from last year.
Also during the meeting, the board:
• Heard from Assistant Superintendent Julie Meitzler about a new grant that has allowed the district to continue services with a licensed therapist, which the district added last year through another grant.
• Learned the Bluffton Lady Tigers Basketball Program has scheduled their youth basketball shootout over the holiday break for their 1st Annual Holiday Shootout.
• Approved the administrative leave with pay of Clayton Fry from Aug. 26-30 and Todd Morgan on Sept. 3, as well as the administrative leave without pay of Fry from Aug. 31 until further notice.
• Recognized the retirement of Brenda Clammefrom her role of 27 years as accounts manager and deputy treasurer. She has worked 32 years with the district and her retirement will be effective Jan. 21.
• Accepted resignations from Lindsey Leonard, Area 18 CTE career coach; Todd Morgan, high school health/PE teacher, assistant football coach and assistant baseball coach; and Shane Leimgruber, middle school custodian.
• Approved employment recommendations for Justin Uptgraft as bus driver, Jill Heintzelman as elementary special education instructional assistant, Kevin Leising as long-term substitute teacher, Haley Onweller and Thomas Kizer as substitute teachers, Grace Sommerfeld as an elementary school vocal/music production sponsor, and Erica Bluhm as an elementary school chess club co-adviser.
• Approved the following coaching recommendations: Craig Teagle as boys’ varsity basketball head coach with Chad Grieser and Luke Reust as assistant coaches and Mark Prible as a volunteer assistant coach; Matthew Sturgeon and Brett Bothast as middle school boys’ basketball coaches and Scott Ribich as volunteer middle school boys’ basketball coach; Ben Sprunger as high school wrestling head coach with Tim Zeis as assistant coach and Elliot Jiminez, Nick Krinn, Ryan Thomas and Brady Johns as volunteers; Uptgraft as high school boys’ swimming head coach and Steve Linderwell as assistant coach; Doug Curtis as high school girls’ varsity basketball head coach with Jaci Moser, Bryan Bowman and Abby Ault as assistant coaches; Jeff Blair and Lauren Brinneman as middle school girls’ basketball coaches; Hunter Cunningham as high school girls’ swimming coach with Kristi Searles as assistant coach; Searles also as middle school head coach and Jenny Boyd as assistant coach; Eric Mounsey as the boys Future Tigers Coordinator with Aaron Sturger, Patrick Pearson, Clint Renner, Sturgeon, Matt Beste, Jackson Lambert, Stacy Herrold, Ben Burman, Vic Reinhard, Uptgraft, Luke Reust, Phillip Heer, Chad Grieser and Denny Squires as volunteer coaches; Moser and Kistler sharing the role of Future Tigers Coordinator with Marah Hill, Erin Roush, Tristan Dick, Zoey Smith, Kelli Kistler, Chrissy Craig, Felicia McElveen, Keri Stahly and Brady Green as volunteer coaches;
• Approved the recommendation of Wendy Kaehr as a girls’ Future Tigers basketball coach volunteer 4-0; board members Angie Sheets, White, Julie Thompson, Trent White and Mike Murray voted in favor, and Preston Kaehr abstained. They also approved the recommendations for Trent White as boys’ Future Tiger basketball coach volunteer and Trayton White as an elementary chess club co-adviser 4-0; Kaehr, Sheets, Thompson and Murray voted in favor, and Trent White abstained.
• Announced their intent to hire an elementary school Title 1 instructional assistant, accounts manager and deputy treasurer, high school health/physical education teacher and middle school custodian.
• Accepted donations of $1,000 from an anonymous donor for the football program, $500 from an anonymous donor for football pork chop dinner expenses, $1,500 from Park Community Church for lunch balances, $2,014.41 from Gay Saunder to purchase one book for every elementary student and one for the library, and 500 mini tubes of toothpaste for third and fourth grade students from First Church of the Nazarene.
• Approved crediting the director of maintenance’s accrued vacation days as a lump-sum contribution to the employee’s retirement plan. The amount will be paid out of the rainy day fund.
The regular meeting was also preceded by a budget hearing; no one from the public commented. The budget is available on the district’s website.
holly@news-banner.com
