Benjamin Logan Elementary School closed April 15, the day after the storm relating to roof damage and interior flooding. (BENJAMIN LOGAN PHOTO)
It looked like just another spring storm. And that’s why no one was prepared for the over 70-mile-per-hour winds roaring across the county on Tuesday, April 14. The severe, straight-line blasts hit Benjamin Logan Local Schools (BL) particularly hard, leading to widespread structural damage, especially to the elementary school, athletic facilities and sports track.
The track and surrounding area, in particular, bore the brunt of the storm.
At the elementary school, high winds led to significant destruction to the roof, which caused interior flooding to the office area. The results were so extensive, classes in that building were canceled for the following day.
In addition, a parked, empty school bus was overturned, utility and stadium light poles snapped or were bent, and two outbuildings sustained damage as well.
With all this in mind, the school’s board of education took an important step in paying for repairs at their regular meeting on Monday, May 18.
“This is as close to a no-brainer as a resolution can be,” Superintendent John Scheu told the board as he presented a proposal to waive competitive bidding based on an urgent necessity exception. With this option, the district can bypass the time-consuming process of seeking competitive bids.
Completing repairs as soon as possible will help prevent additional damage and minimize disruption to student programs. The district will work with the property insurance company to gather estimates for all wind-related repairs.
“We’ve estimated about $750,000 in damages,” Scheu pointed out. “We have to negotiate, but I feel good about where we are.”
He added that damage to the athletic track alone is in the $100,000 range.
After paying the deductible, the school will receive $250,000 toward the total from a pool fund. They will then have to pay the difference, which will be turned in for reimbursement.
The Benjamin Logan Local Schools Board of Education address wind damage repairs and employee contracts at their regular meeting Monday. (SHARYN KOPF | THE CHRONICLE)
Later, Scheu said they hope to have everything completed by the beginning of the school year, which was the purpose of going with the urgent necessity instead of competitive bidding. Heiberger Paving and Musco Sports Lighting will handle track repairs.
“Considering the damage that was done, we feel very fortunate students and staff weren’t on site when the storm hit so there weren’t injuries to people,” Scheu later admitted. “It made a believer out of me of what straight-line winds at 70 miles per hour can do.”
During the audience participation part of the meeting, Michelle Inskeep, assistant cook and cashier at the middle school, asked the board to reconsider their decision to not renew her employment contract. She requested a one-year renewal, saying she was committed to personal development and to “improving any areas of concern.”
Shortly after, the board members adjourned for a lengthy executive session to consider Inskeep’s along with Jane Foreman’s contracts. When they returned to open session, they voted to not renew the employment of Inskeep or Foreman, who serves as transportation director, effective July 31, 2026.
Treasurer Leah Baker’s three-year employment contract, however, was unanimously approved. Comparing Baker to the district’s previous treasurer, Mark Himmeger, board president, said, “I think we’ve taken a step up. She’s doing a fantastic job.”
Baker’s contract runs from Aug. 1, 2026 through July 31, 2029. The treasurer’s annual salary was set at $114,860.00, with 4 percent increases in base salary at the beginning of the 2027-28 contract year and 2028-29 contract year.
The board also agreed to adopt the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, version 2.0. According to Nic George, BL director of information technology services, having a cybersecurity program is required by Ohio House Bill 96, and, he told the board, this program is a national standard for security.
“It’s a 10-month process to analyze where we are and where we want to go,” he added.
“Most districts score pretty low in the great scheme of things. No one is 100 percent. We won’t be perfect tomorrow, but we want to see continual improvement.”
This framework is intended to strengthen protections for sensitive data, improve resilience against cyberattacks and disruptions, and support compliance with Ohio law.
In other action:
Annette Ramga-Alatorre, high school principal, recognized the seniors of the month for April—Avery Carmer and Ashton Whitt, and for May—Natalie Chapman and Cayden Brown.
Resignations were accepted for Jason Smith, teacher; Laura Smith, school psychologist, Sally Stolly, Tyler Young and Kimbalyn Smith. Stolly will retire on June 30, then seek reemployment with the district. A public meeting in this regard is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 17, at 5:45 p.m. at the central office.
School fees for the 2026-27 school year will be $50 for elementary students, $60 for middle schoolers, and $100 for those in high school.
Lunch and breakfast prices for the 2026-27 school year are: ES lunch: $3.05; MS/HS lunch: $3.30; reduced lunch: 40 cents; adult lunch: $4.50; ES/MS/HS breakfast: $1.95; reduced breakfast: 30 cents; extra milk: 50 cents.
The board accepted a $4,000 donation from the James Forsythe Milroy Foundation for the FFA program, to further enhance livestock facilities at the Land Lab. A $50 anonymous donation for student lunches was also accepted.
Benjamin Logan High School’s Class of 2026 commencement ceremony is slated for 7 p.m. Friday, May 22. Doors open at 6 p.m.
The next board of education meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, June 29, at 6 p.m.
