Written with the help of AI from the Kettering Board of Education minutes, October 20, 2026.
Meeting at a glance
This recap is based on the approved minutes of the Kettering Board of Education’s regular session on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, held at Fairmont High School, 3301 Shroyer Road. Board President Mark Martin called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Four of the five members were present: Martin, Chrissie Richards, Jennifer Kane and William Lautar. Toby Henderson was absent.
Every motion recorded in the minutes passed on a roll call of four ayes and zero nays. That includes adopting the agenda and approving minutes from the September 15 regular session, the September 29 joint session, the October 6 work session and the October 14 special meeting.
Fire panel replacement at Fairmont High School
Under Resolution 131-26, the board approved the Business Services agenda, which included replacing the fire panel at Kettering Fairmont High School. The resolution declares an urgent necessity and waives competitive bidding. Competitive bidding is the usual process in which a district collects price offers from several companies before choosing one. It authorizes an agreement with Andrew Casey Integration for fire detection equipment.
According to the resolution, district administrators found an immediate need for work on the fire detection system. It says that failing to replace the equipment as soon as possible would significantly disrupt district operations, and that scheduling constraints left too little time for the formal bidding process. The resolution relies on the urgent-necessity exception in Ohio Revised Code 3313.46.
The contractor’s proposal was for an amount not to exceed $120,000, which the superintendent and treasurer believe is appropriately competitive. The resolution authorizes them, with the help of legal counsel, to negotiate and sign the agreement. It also lets them sign change orders and contract amendments, meaning changes to the scope or price of the work, totaling up to 10 percent of the contract sum. Anything above that combined amount must come back to the board for approval. The resolution passed 4-0.
Superintendent’s contract
In Motion 129-26, the board approved an addendum to the contract for Superintendent Mindy McCarty-Stewart, effective August 1, 2026, as presented. The minutes do not describe the terms of the addendum. The vote was 4-0.
Human Capital agenda
Motion 130-26 approved the district’s personnel items as presented, after Superintendent McCarty-Stewart recommended them. The vote was 4-0.
Among the certificated (licensed teaching) staff, the board accepted eight retirements, all effective at the end of the 2026-27 school year. The retiring employees have between 24 and 33 years in Kettering. They work at Kettering Fairmont Middle School, John F. Kennedy Elementary, Greenmont Elementary, Kettering Fairmont High School and across the district in speech-language pathology. Two other resignations were accepted, one effective at the end of the 2026-27 school year and one effective at the end of the day October 30, 2026.
Other certificated items included a transfer for a Fairmont High School teacher from 85.7 percent business teacher to 100 percent KAP ELA teacher, effective September 15, 2026. The board also approved revisions to the Local Professional Development Committee guidelines and procedures, and payment to two cooperative teachers according to compensation received from Western Governors University.
The board also approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kettering Education Association. It adjusts high school and middle school supplemental pay because of a realignment of underutilized programs and the middle school merger for 2026-27. Supplemental contracts cover extra duties such as coaching or advising. The board approved athletic supplemental contracts for the high school and middle school, along with some resignations and new supplemental contracts.
In the support administrator category, Jared Dean Feltner moves from fiscal analyst (Pay Grade 6, Step 4) to fiscal budget analyst (Pay Grade 8, Step 4), 260 days, from August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2028. The board also approved five hours of departmental training for a Transportation Department employee at $252.78, effective July 17, 2026.
Among classified (non-teaching) staff, the board accepted one retirement, that of a John F. Kennedy Elementary secretary with 28 years in Kettering, effective at the end of the day October 30, 2026. It also accepted several resignations, approved eight new 2026-27 employees, and approved a series of schedule and job changes, including longer daily hours for several food service workers. It also approved two students as part-time videographers for recording and editing board meetings at $25 per meeting, with no benefits. One of the two later resigned as of the end of the day October 5, 2026.
Treasurer and Teaching & Learning agendas
Under Motion 132-26, the board accepted the September 2026 Financial and Investment Report and approved the amended appropriations for October 2026. Appropriations are the amounts the board authorizes the district to spend. The vote was 4-0.
Under Motion 133-26, the board approved five Teaching and Learning items for the 2026-2027 school year after the superintendent recommended them. They are two agreements with the Warren County Education Service Center for an additional student to attend, an agreement with Applied Behavioral Services, and an agreement with the Greene County Educational Service Center for an additional student. The fifth is an agreement with Sunbelt for additional COTA coverage until the end of 2026. The minutes do not spell out COTA. The vote was 4-0.
Public comment
The minutes record no items under either public comment period. The first, for agenda items, reads "No Items." The second, for non-agenda items, also reads "No Items."
Reports and presentations
Mrs. Stickel explained the purpose of the Kettering Forward Foundation, which includes supporting the schools, students and alumni engagement, and presented grant awards to recipients.
Architect Mike Ruetschle and representatives of his firm updated the board on the design of the new middle school and on additional work under the Future-Ready Facilities Master Plan. The educational visioning work was summarized for the board.
In member reports, Mr. Martin said he attended the University of Dayton versus Notre Dame basketball game, where a $10,000 grant was awarded to the district to help with mental health. Mr. Lautar spoke about the Kettering backpack fundraiser and asked residents to donate if the chance arises.
Routine items and closing
Business Services Director Jeff Johnson gave a first reading of revisions to board policies and bylaws from NEOLA of Ohio. A first reading is an initial presentation, and the minutes record no vote on it. Mr. Martin shared information about upcoming meetings and matters to be discussed, and Mrs. Kane shared information about the upcoming induction ceremony for the academic hall of fame.
The board also approved a long list of substitute and temporary staffing items. These included 15 substitute teachers, seven substitute teacher resignations, two long-term substitute teachers, and 14 substitutes placed on the teacher salary schedule after 30 working days in the same assignment. They also covered a substitute nurse, a home instructor, classified substitutes and changes to transportation employees’ daily hours.
In Motion 134-26, the board voted 4-0 to enter executive session, a closed portion of a meeting, to consider the compensation of a public employee or official and to discuss matters kept confidential according to law. The board entered executive session at 7:05 p.m. and returned to regular session at 8:56 p.m. The minutes record no action taken afterward other than adjournment. Motion 135-26 adjourned the meeting at 8:57 p.m., on a 4-0 vote.
Source: Kettering Board of Education minutes, Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
