The Lisbon school district honored school board members during their recent board meeting and at a basketball game last week as part of School Board Recognition Month in January. Lisbon board members include from left, Vice President Charles Bell, Jennifer Whitman, President TK Hiscox, Brittany Tyler and James Tsilimos. (Submitted photo)

LISBON — Lisbon school board members reorganized for the year and heard some good news about this school year’s first semester, with TK Hiscox re-elected president and Charles Bell re-elected vice president.

Superintendent Joe Siefke said he let the board know “we had a great first semester academically with our kids. We want to keep the ball rolling and keep progressing.”

To celebrate School Board Recognition Month in January, Siefke recognized the board members during their meeting and they were honored again at the basketball game last week. Their years of service include 12 years for Hiscox, four years for Bell, two and a half years for Jennifer Whitman, and two years each for Brittany Tyler and James Tsilimos.

Siefke also advised the board that the plan is for negotiations with the unions representing certified staff and classified staff to begin in the spring.

“I really expect it to go well,” he said.

In other matters, the board approved $11 per hour as the district minimum wage starting Jan. 1, 2026, approved Ohio School Boards Association membership dues for one subscription for virtual transportation supervisor for $250 for January through December 2026, accepted the memorandum of understanding for the College Credit Plus Dual Enrollment Program as per attached agreements with Kent State University and Youngstown State University, approved an agreement with the Lisbon Baseball/Softball Association for one year started March 1 until the baseball/softball season concludes in 2026 for $4,500, and approved “Mean Girls Jr.” as the 2026 spring musical.

In personnel matters, the board approved academic supplemental contracts for the 2026 spring musical, with Dominic Meyer as music director, Paul Dahman as drama director and Madeleine Schreffler as drama assistant director, amended the classified contract for Katrina Wallace to adjust salary, approved a $75 online instructor stipend per student per course for Meredith Dingey for one student, approved one-year limited contracts to Donna Cook, David Anderson High School secretary and Dan Helman, McKinley Elementary custodian, and approved $100 stipends for Leah DeSalvo, Matt Guarnieri and Linda DiIppolito for completing three gifted professional development hours.

The board also accepted and appropriated federal grant amounts for Fiscal Year 2026 and adjusted appropriations for several funds.

During the re-organizational meeting, the board agreed to keep the regular meetings on the second Thursday of the month at 5 p.m., with future meeting dates set on Feb. 12, March 12, April 9, May 14, June 18, July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Nov. 12 and Dec. 10.