Pictured from left are Warren County School District board meeting solicitor Rachael Glasoe, board president Robert Cook, district superintendent Gary Weber, and board members Daniel Sullivan, Bridget Schwab, Kevin Lindvay, Misty Moore and John Wortman.

The Warren County School District will keep meeting at the central administrative in Russell.

A motion was made during Monday’s meeting for the school board to rescind its Dec. 4, 2025, approval of the Committee of the Whole dates and locations and approve a revised schedule of board meetings that would be scheduled at 6 p.m. at various locations around the district. After discussion, it was decided to table the motion. Only board member Misty Moore voted against tabling the motion.

Board member John Wortman asked for the average number of citizens that attend the school board meetings via Zoom.

Taylor Trisket, board secretary, said the average number is 35 but that can be as high as 100 depending on what is being discussed by the board. Mileage reimbursement paid to staff if meetings are moved is still a topic of discussion for board members as well.

Board member Stephanie Snell asked if the idea to move meetings was acting responsibly, saying she isn’t sure taking away the ability for people to attend via Zoom is the best idea.

“I just feel there’s so many ways that most people communicate with us with emails, phone calls, and what not, as opposed to costing the district money and taking away the availability to do the Zoom,” Snell said. “I just think we really need to think about it.”

Moore asked if the other buildings were equipped for Zoom. Superintendent Gary Weber said microphone issues were an issue while operating Zoom in some buildings in the district, making hearing discussions difficult.

Attorney Rachael Glasoe, who the board unanimously approved Monday to serve as the district’s solicitor, answered a question brought up by Wortman in regards to board members and remote participation.

“Board members can participate remotely if they are able to hear everything that’s going on in the room and if everybody is able to hear them when they speak,” Glasoe said.

Lack of technology at the different buildings would then cause an inability for any board member who would need to attend remotely to participate in a meeting and Wortman wanted to be sure to stay in compliance. It was mentioned that the speakerphone has been the solution to the problem in the past.

The central office meeting location has the technology for the public to access the meetings by Zoom. Board members said cost is a factor to consider if meetings are going to be moved or if more audio/visual equipment is needed to make the other locations suitable for remote viewing of meetings. Additional costs to be considered include mileage and publication costs as well.

Wortman said there are better ways to spend that money, for example, reducing the cost to attend district sporting events. Wortman said he also prefers spending money on students rather than the costs to move meetings around the district.

“I think that would be a better use of taxpayer dollars,” Wortman said.

Board Director Kevin Lindvay brought up that the COVID pandemic had brought out that things like Zoom that can add convenience to in-person meetings, but said it was also “awful to manage 250 people.”

Schwab and Lindvay agreed that if an issue came up that pertained to a particular attendance area, the board could move the meeting there to allow for more public attendance.

Wortman motioned to indefinitely postpone the motion regarding moving meetings. Board member Tammy Holden asked if public comment on Zoom were to be allowed if people signed up to comment by emailing the secretary in advance. Weber responded by saying the ability to manage mute on the Zoom meeting was needed but extremely difficult due to public comments that became disruptive and inappropriate.

School board committee meetings will be held March 23 at 6 p.m. at the central office building in Russell with the next full board meeting scheduled for April 6 at 6 p.m.

In other business:

– The board approved a resolution regarding amendments to public meeting agendas with votes against from Robert Cook, board president, and Schwab. The revision to Policy Number 2310, which governs meeting notices, posting of meeting agendas and additions to the meeting agenda after the agenda is posted was passed unanimously.

– Main characters from the Warren All County Musical performed a song to open the meeting.

– The girls wrestling team was also present for the meeting and shared the success of their season.

– An additional recognition went to the gifted support students that participated in a Minecraft competition for the first time in which they brought home a first place trophy.

– The district robotics team took second place at states, and brought home awards for skills champion as well as an excellence award.