LISBON – David Anderson High School and Junior High students will soon receive an all-call from Lisbon Superintendent Joe Siefke regarding a new cell phone policy set to take effect at the start of the year. Lisbon has long prohibited cell phones in instructional areas and classrooms but has traditionally allowed use during lunch.

“For years, that has been our policy, and it’s a policy that works for us,” Siefke said during Thursday’s December Board of Education meeting. “But new legislation prohibits phones even at lunch. It’s not our decision — it was the state’s — and we will implement the new policy to comply with the state’s wishes.”

The new Ohio law requires all public, community, and STEM schools to adopt nearly complete bans on student cell phone use during the instructional day by Jan. 1, 2026, with exceptions only for educational purposes, emergencies, or documented medical needs.

Also at the meeting, Siefke, along with McKinley Elementary Principal Dan Kemats, David Anderson Junior/Senior High School Principal Keith Edenfield, and Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Kyle Bing, highlighted the success of the 2025 “Hoops at Noon” boys basketball game, held Friday against Liberty. Playing before a packed gym filled with students from all Lisbon schools, the Blue Devils claimed a 72-48 victory.

Administrators described the event as a positive experience, noting it served as a PBIS reward activity and an opportunity to introduce younger McKinley students to basketball while promoting future participation. This year marked the third annual Hoops at Noon event, held in partnership with the Liberty School District to encourage school spirit, reward good behavior and achievement, and strengthen collaboration between the two districts. Quarter breaks and halftime included fun activities and giveaways for students from both schools.

The board also accepted two donations during the meeting: $100 from American Legion John J. Welsh Post 275 to support McKinley Elementary’s Veterans Day program, and $1,000 from an anonymous donor for the DAHS Show Choir. Kemats thanked the American Legion for its contribution, and Siefke read a letter from the anonymous donor, who praised the Show Choir for a recent performance and enclosed the donation to help the program continue to grow and shine.

Other action items included the approval of Jennifer Coldsnow to serve as President Pro Tem for the upcoming organizational meeting in January 2026; payment of $5,067 for the district’s 2026 membership dues to the Ohio School Boards Association; and a service agreement with Education Alternatives for one Lisbon student for the 2025-2026 school year, with costs reimbursed by the Brunswick School District.

The board approved online instructor stipends for the second semester at $75 per student per course. The instructors and their student counts include Ashley Wallace (24 students), Jon Burnell (33), Michael Miller (23), Nikol Mundy (19), Dave Crismon (16), Lauren Glenn (24), Melissa Walton (1), Molly Rodgers (4), and Kristi Slagle (8).

Additionally, $100 stipends were approved for district staff who completed three hours of gifted professional development. Staff members include Rachel Gentile, Delania Link, Kami Shingleton, Angela Sims, Sarah Julian, Ryan Snyder, Juliana Sabrin, Derek Joy, Jon Burnell, Meredith Dingey, Alex Walker, Steve Hlaudy, Beth Devine, Kristi Slagle, Becky McCullough, Madison Daughtery, Janet Lane, Maddie Wrask, David Toot, Ron Witman, Ashley Wallace, Michael Miller, Nikol Mundy and Carrie Smith.

The board approved Heather Ludwig as a classified substitute (cafeteria, custodian, aide) for the 2025-2026 school year, pending all required paperwork, and Erin Brown as an additional classified substitute. Resignations were accepted from high school secretary Lisa McCoy, who has served the district for 17 years, and custodian Jorden Holshue. Both letters, read by Siefke, expressed gratitude to the district and noted they were moving on to other opportunities.

Other routine business included approval of the Nov. 13 meeting minutes, approval of the district’s financial report as written, and payment of listed bills totaling $1,078,352.22. The board also set the next regular meeting for Jan. 15.