MINUTES BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT JANUARY 12, 2026
The regular meeting of the Board of Education was held on January 12, 2026. This meeting was advertised in the January 7th edition of the Battle Creek Enterprise. President Jeremy Pochop called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. Members present were Tammy Bierman, Tom Leathers, Bo Brummels, and Paul Kuchar. Members absent were Toby Thompson. Also present were Superintendent Jake Luhr, Principal Jeff Heimes, Principal Curtis Childers, and one senior. The open meeting law poster was discussed and posted and will be followed at every Board meeting. To start the Board meeting, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Mr. Luhr, Secretary of the Board of Education, assumed the chair from President Jeremy Pochop for the purpose of presiding during the election of the Board President. Secretary Jake Luhr then asked for nominations for Board President. Bo Brummels made a motion to nominate Jeremy Pochop for Board President. There were no other nominations. Tom Leathers seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with four ayes. Jeremy Pochop abstained.
President Jeremy Pochop then assumed the chair from Secretary Jake Luhr and asked for nominations for Vice President. Tom Leathers made a motion to nominate Tammy Bierman for Vice President. There were no other nominations. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with four ayes. Tammy Bierman abstained.
The following Board positions were appointed:
Secretary - Jake Luhr
Treasurer - Jean Unkel
Recording Secretary - Abbie Freudenburg, Childers/Heimes (Alternates)
Attorney - Perry, Guthery, Haase & Gessford, P.C., L.L.O.
Newspaper - Battle Creek Enterprise, Norfolk Daily News (Secondary)
Depository - Battle Creek State Bank
Committee on American Civics - Leathers, Bierman, Kuchar
Building & Grounds Committee - Bierman, Thompson, Brummels
Finance Committee - Pochop, Kuchar, Leathers
Negotiations Committee - Pochop, Thompson, Brummels
Tom Leathers made a motion to approve the appointed positions. Bo Brummels seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Tammy Bierman made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, which included the January general fund bills that totaled $100,309.88. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board the Internal Board Policies which included:
Policy 8110 Purpose and Role of the Board
Policy 8120 Duties and Functions of the Board
Policy 8272 Code of Ethics
Policy 8300 Methods of Operation
Policy 9010 Limits of Authority
Policy 9127 Individual Members
The board reviewed these policies.
Mr. Luhr informed the Board that the contract for the Daikin project had not yet been finalized. The contract is currently being reviewed by our school attorney, Derek Aldridge of Perry Law.
Mr. Luhr discussed financing options for the Mechanical/HVAC project with Daikin. The final proposal for financing will be presented for approval at the February 2026 board meeting.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board policy updates for Policy 3131 and Policy 3132. Bo Brummels made a motion to approve the updates to Policy 3131 and Policy 3132. Tammy Bierman seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Tammy Bierman made a motion to approve the new teaching contract for Joseph Sexe, Instrumental Music Teacher, for the 2026-27 school year. Tom Leathers seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Bo Brummels made a motion to approve the Principal contracts for the 2026-27 school year for Curtis Childers, Elementary Principal with a salary of $104,536.14 and Jeff Heimes, 7-12 Principal with a salary of $128,738.16. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Tammy Bierman made a motion to approve the three-year Superintendent contract for Jake Luhr, with a 2026-27 salary of $164,807.85. Bo Brummels seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Comments were heard from the Principals and Superintendent.
With no further business, Board President Jeremy Pochop adjourned the meeting at 6:36 PM.
Submitted by,
Jake Luhr, Secretary Board of Education