Fostoria school board hears from security firm

FOSTORIA — A security company representative left the Fostoria City Schools Board of Education with some food for thought at Monday night's meeting.In light of school shootings continuing across the United States and Fostoria board member Nichole Jones requesting security-related information at the August meeting, Steve Mollmann, Midwest Account executive for MIS Security, of Tallahassee, Florida, addressed the board about his company's product for, essentially, metal detection, and a problem that occurs in the U.S. far more often than anywhere else in the world."People don't think that they have a problem," Mollman, who is based in Columbus, told those in attendance Monday night. "But I've been to so many schools, my heart breaks. I have a lot of parents' cell phone numbers in my phone who have lost a kid to school violence. And I always say if anybody feels a need to talk about this, feel free to give them my number. So, this is a passion for me. But, whatever you choose to do, I really hope you look at doing something because it's happening everywhere. Anywhere, it's not 'if,' it's 'when.'"Superintendent Jason Longbrake said price proposals have been received from MIS and Bright Light Technologies, a North Carolina firm."I learned some things about his product that I think would be useful for our safety and security at the schools," Jones said of Mollmann's presentation. "It's something that I'm passionate about, especially with the environment that we're living in these days," added Jones, who has a daughter attending Fostoria schools. I just think that with everything that's going on, I want to make sure that I'm on the side of doing the most that we can to ensure the safety and security of our children."Among board actions Monday night was its approval of total appropriations for fiscal year 2026 of $38,666,562.14. It also approved a 2025-26 agreement with the Seneca County Board of Developmental Disabilities for the provision of special education and related services for Fostoria students; agreements with the Tiffin and Fremont districts for the pooling of Title I non-public allocations for Calvert and Bishop Hoffman Catholic schools for the purposes of servicing Fostoria students attending those private schools; an agreement with Patrick Henry Local Schools for the transportation of homeless students; and a technology-service agreement with Perry proTech.The school board accepted six donations with a total value of $4,874.20 and approved the Redmen Club, Fostoria Elementary Parent Lighthouse Team, Redmen Music Club and Fostoria Athletic Boosters as support organizations for the 2025-26 school year.Certified-position hirings approved included those of school social worker Tonya Hinke, after-school detention supervisors Grace Kaltenbach, Christine Mullens and Chelsea Pletcher and after-school interventionists Allison Ahrns, Annette Griffin, Amy Masterson, Ashley Miller, Jessica Rogers Farrell, Brian Shaver and Amy Stultz.Certified substitute teachers hired were Grace Booher, Jennifer Brough, Linda Dye, Emily Foster, Robert Green, Ashley Lee, Carol LeForge, Damaris Luna, Taylor Reinhart, Elliott Shaffer, Jenna Siegert and Nicole Stewart. Classified paraprofessionals hired were Jamel Fant, Danielle Lee and Shyanne Struble.Classified substitute hirings were those of bus driver Robert Brookman and paraprofessionals Jennifer Brough, Linda Dye, Emily Foster, Brittany Loomis and Taylor Reinhart.Teacher Stephanie Haack's resignation was accepted along with those of maintenance worker/bus driver Michael Cheavalier, school psychologists secretary Gina Johnson and bus mechanic Joshua Walters.Supplemental contracts were approved for computer coordinator Katie Bennett, junior high and high school annual advisor Jennifer Henderson, local professional development committee chair Sara Kaltenbach, high school student council advisor Amy Kooman, junior high volleyball coach Cierra Medina, boys strength and conditioning coach Clayton Moore and vocal music instructor Lila Wolfe.Bowling Green State University student teacher placements were accepted for Paityn Clouse, Madison Eley, Joseph Folk and Ashley Kelly in the elementary school and Kendra Crist, Skylar Roy, Jenna Siegert and Samuel Tarsitano in the junior/senior high school.Anthony Smith and Teresa Stosio were approved for advancement on the salary schedule due to additional coursework completed.Individuals approved for $50-per-month cell phone stipends were approved for Sheryl St. Clair, Tonia Groves, Daniel Huffman, Cindy Myers, Jonathan Sander and Joshua Walters.Dr. Thomas Guernsey, president of Fostoria's school board, appointed board member Thomas Wade as delegate to the Ohio School Boards Association meeting in November, with Jones serving as alternate.Junior/senior high school principal Jodi Gaietto recognized freshman Juelz Poole and seventh-grader A.J. Green as high school and junior high students of the month for September, and also recognized the contributions Behavior Support Provider Alizah Wright. Elementary School Principal Matt Szyndler recognized the achievements of students Bryn Hutchinson and Aria Long, and Fostoria Academy Director Erika Hossler recognized student Bobby Dubose for his effort, participation and consistency in meeting his goals.