By Alec Keller

The Ada School Board met on Thursday, September 18 with the meeting conducted by board president Jay Salyer. The meeting agenda with documents is here.

RESIDENT INQUIRY ON FEE WAIVER
Ada resident Paul Knisley requested numbers for the recent waiving of school fees. Treasurer Tessa McVey answered that the estimated total of school fees waived is $57,000, based on enrollment, classes and expenses for those classes. Knisley asked for actual costs in years past. McVey said the previous year was closer to $65,000, with fiscal year 2025 being $54,000. 

Knisley also asked if student parking concerns addressed in a May meeting were ever resolved. Superintendent Julie Simmons stated the issue was resolved internally, though Knisley noted no record of the resolution appeared in the meeting minutes. Board member Troy Erickson agreed, emphasizing that once an issue is settled, there should be some sort of designated agenda item to provide feedback and keep the community informed. (See Students paying for spots do not always have a place to park.)

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM
Coordinator Bridgette Jones updated the board on the steady progress in the district's early intervention and after-school efforts. The program currently serves between 50 and 53 students, including 12 second-graders. Each student group works directly with an assigned teacher, supported by occasional volunteers from Ohio Northern University. 

Running Monday-Thursday, the schedule begins with an after-school snack before students move to designated classrooms for an hour of instruction. Lessons focus on core fundamentals: reading, math and phonics, which connects spoken sounds to written letters. Jones noted smooth operations this school year, with minimal disciplinary issues and all teaching slots fully staffed. 

Because rapid improvement naturally levels off as students grow older, she emphasized the importance of maintaining early identification and targeted support. Addressing a query from board member Troy Erickson regarding participation trends, Jones confirmed that enrollment has remained steady over the past three years. She added that a successful early intervention program should ideally result in declining enrollment numbers as students advance to higher grade levels.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Principal Angie Maag reported positive outcomes for the elementary and kindergarten open houses. Positive feedback was received for having separate events, so that students weren’t overwhelmed and had their own space. Maag said that students are starting to settle into their schedules and routines.

SUPERINTENDENT
Julie Simmons reported that both the elementary and high school were selected by the Ohio Department of Education as purple star schools for 2026. This award recognizes schools that display commitment to students and families connected to the United States military. Both buildings will be formally recognized at the Ohio School Board Association Northwest Regional meeting on October 8. 

Simmons also announced that Angie Hall has been named the 2026 OMLA Regional Administrative Assistant of the Year for Northwest Ohio. Hall has been with the district for 27 years and will be recognized at the OMLA fall conference in November.

TREASURER
Tessa McVey reported on the second month of the fiscal year. She noted that the district was overpaid $18,000 in Inflation Cap Credit (ICC) reimbursements; money that will need to be repaid. McVey said that some schools across the state were overpaid and some were underpaid. Balance of funds supporting documents are here.

CONSENT AGENDA
The list of substitute teachers for 2026-2027 was presented. The 2026-2027 bus routes for the year were approved and the Superintendent was authorized to approve changes in routes throughout the school year.

ACTION ITEMS
The board approved a Shared Services Agreement with Kenton City Schools Board of Education, to transport students to extra-curricular activities and events.

The board also approved an agreement between the Ada Exempted Village Schools and the Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Board member Troy Erickson was appointed as a member of the Apollo Career Center Board of Education

NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.