School board votes Monday on state-driven policy package
The Westerville City Schools Board of Education meets in regular session at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12 at the Early Learning Center, 936 Eastwind Dr., and the posted agenda has the seven policies the board first read in September up for final readings — including the new Student Athlete Mobility policy required under Senate Bill 276 (listed as Policy 2431.07, Extracurricular Participation of Non-Enrolled Public High School Students), which lets students take part in extracurriculars at another public high school when their own school doesn’t offer the activity. The other final readings: Bylaw 0145 on filling a board vacancy, Bylaw 0146 on resignation or removal, Policy 8310 on public records, Policy 2431 on interscholastic athletics, new Policy 5224 on youth membership organization access, and Policy 5330 on use of medications.
Also on the agenda
A report on the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce report card, first readings for policies on homeless students, volunteers and sex offender notification plus the secondary music curriculum, the September financial report and FY2027 activity budgets, a personnel consent agenda covering resignations, retirements, hires and two OAPSE Local 138 MOUs, donations, a preconstruction-services agreement with Elford, Inc., a police-services agreement for a school resource officer at Minerva Park Middle School, out-of-state and overnight field trips, and early graduates.
From the district’s WCSD Communiqué 9/18/2026
The board’s post-meeting email covering the Sept. 14 session reported two summer graduation candidates — one each from Westerville Central and Westerville South — plus remarks from Superintendent Angie Hamberg on superintendent advisory committee meetings and a new transportation app, and a look at the 2026–27 employee wellness plan. Financials approved included the August 2026 financial report, calendar-year 2027 medical/dental/vision insurance rates and activity budgets; the consent agenda covered new classified hires, three retirements — Lisa DeSalle, Lance Holmes and Lori Nedelco-Searfoss — and an OAPSE Local 719 MOU on custodial substitutes. The board also accepted donations totaling $14,578.50, approved a resolution of impracticality to transport and a settlement agreement, and gave first readings to the policies now up for final votes Monday.
Recognitions
Three seniors were named Commended Students in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program: Tyler Buck and Dominic Perrini of Westerville Central and Russell Craiglow of Westerville North. They are among about 34,000 Commended Students nationwide recognized for outstanding academic promise.
Two district leaders were honored at the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators fall conference: Monica Asher, executive director of secondary schools, received a board service award, and Westerville Central assistant principal Stacy Smith was named the association’s Zone 10 High School Assistant Principal of the Year.
The Westerville Education Foundation named its September Teachers of the Month: Kate Kestella, an intervention specialist at Wilder Elementary; Jami Hicks, a second-grade teacher at Cherrington Elementary; and Connor Ledford, a third-grade teacher at Annehurst Elementary.
On the calendar
The board holds its regular session Monday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Early Learning Center, 936 Eastwind Dr.
The district’s Holiday Help program is looking for families willing to help fulfill children’s holiday wish lists — the volunteer form is due Oct. 31. Westerville North Theatre presents “13 Past Midnight” Oct. 15–17.
From the district’s News & Announcements
The board of education meets in regular session Monday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. at the district’s Early Learning Center, 936 Eastwind Drive. (See the lead item above for the agenda highlights.)
The district is organizing a Holiday Help program, joining community organizations and businesses that support families and fulfill wish lists for children in the district. Families who want to help can complete the volunteer form by Oct. 31; questions go to Holiday Help at holidayhelp@wcsoh.org or 614-797-5879.
Westerville City Schools and the city Parks and Recreation Department launched a new pre-apprenticeship program that student Drew Dillon used to build new skills and see parts of the city he didn’t know existed.
A year after Genoa Middle School opened its Reset Room, counselors and the mental health specialist have data showing it works — students use the dedicated space to calm down, manage emotions and regain focus, then return to class.
Minerva Park Middle School principal Dr. Garrett Carter stepped back into the classroom Tuesday as “Teacher for a Day”, leading a lesson he last taught 11 years ago as an eighth-grade English language arts teacher.
Westerville North Theatre presents “13 Past Midnight” Oct. 15–17 — a trip to the late 1980s steeped in the nostalgia of dramatic soap operas and daytime television.
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