BELOIT — The board of education approved a new school resource officer contract in its August meeting.

The board voted unanimously to approve a contract with the Goshen Township Board of Trustees to supply the district with resource officers for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. Egli said that the only change from the district’s previous SRO contract, which saw the district pay $110,000 annually for two full-time officers, was a 2.5% pay increase, for a new annual price of $112,750.

The board also voted unanimously to adopt a policy banning the operation of small unmanned aircraft systems, more commonly known as drones, “at any time by any individual who is not expressly authorized to do so by the Superintendent on property owned, leased, or contracted for by the Board.” It also prohibits drone operation “during District-sponsored contests … and tournaments under the auspices of the Ohio High School Athletic Association” and states that district officials may deny admission to anyone attempting to use a drone until the event has completed. The policy also specifies that to receive board authorization to operate a drone a person “must have a Remote Pilot Certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration” (FAA) and have the drone they intend to use registered with the FAA and that any failure to adhere to the policy “may result in loss of authorization to operate a [drone] on property owned, leased, or contracted for by the Board, referral to local law enforcement, and/or further disciplinary action, up to and including termination for an employee and expulsion for a student.”

Applications for tuition students for the 2025-2026 school year were also approved. While the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce has not determined tuition rates for fiscal year 2026, tuition rates for fiscal year 2025 were $5,602.06.”

The board also approved several personnel and administrative items.

Personnel matters approved included: the resignation of Nurse Aide Tiffany Woods; the hire of substitutes; athletic supplementals for the 2025-2026 school year; athletic clock and scoreboard operators and ushers for the 2025-2026 school year; the hire of hourly technical worker Corey Clay for the 2025-2026 school year; the retire rehire of Vocational Agriculture Teacher Greg Sharp; and the hires of Middle School Aide Matt Vizzuso, Early Learning Center aide Olivia Dawes, and Community Liaison Consultant James Helm for the 2025-2026 school year.

Administrative matters approved included: a contract with the Beloit and Damascus fire departments to provide EMT services at football games during the 2025-2026 school year for $100 a game; a $192,000 bid from J Herbert Construction for the pre-engineered metal building for the Wellness Center Project; in lieu of transportation payments for the 2025-2026 school year; and a contract with VAZA Consulting for finance advocacy and consultation for the 2025-2026 school year.

The meeting concluded with an executive session to discuss the employment of a public official with no action following. The board of education will meet next at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 23.