Buckeye Local School District Superintendent Kim Leonard speaks at a meeting on Monday. The school board approved an additional year contract for Leonard at Monday’s meeting. T-L Photo/DYLAN McKENZIE

DILLONVALE — The Buckeye Local Board of Education approved a new, one-year contract for the superintendent on Monday, as some board members reflected on their time at the table.

Board member Naomi Kolkedy brought up a resolution to extend the contract for Superintendent Kim Leonard to a five- year contract. Kolkedy failed to get a second for her motion, and fellow board member April Ogden pointed out that she “did not believe in five years” for a contract length. She did agree that Leonard — whom members noted as doing a great deal behind the scenes to improve the school district — would need longer than her original one year, and proposed a resolution for an additional year contract.

The resolution was opposed by board member Joe Zelek, who said that he believed the incumbent board members, who will take their seats in January, should have some input on the situation. All other members of the board voted in favor of the resolution, passing it. Leonard acknowledged that the new board members should have a chance to work alongside her and form their own opinions on such matters, and said she looks forward to working to improve the district with the incumbent board members.

Board President Dirk Pielech, who was defeated in the recent election for the board, spoke about his time on the board coming to a close. Pielech said he has loved his time as a member of the board of education, and that he did everything for the benefit of the children in the district. He said he tried his best to help leave the board in a better place than when he first came on.

“It’s been a pleasure working with you,” Pielech said. “I appreciate the opportunity. Kolkedy, who also was defeated in the election, agreed with the sentiment, saying that she was “honored and humbled” from her time on the board.

William Luther, assistant superintendent and director of curriculum, instruction and professional development for the district, spoke briefly about changes to the district’s gifted student policy, as changes required by the state take effect. The second and fifth grades will now administer the test for the program, doing so for the first time this school year; next year, the testing will be for those grades only. The board approved the policy change, with Pielech, Zelek, Ogden and Russell Cominsky voting for, and Kolkedy against.

The board spent a short time in executive session watching a presentation from the state auditor’s office regarding the financial future of the district after failing to pass a 4.9-mill levy for emergency requirements in the school district in the recent election. Pielech said the presentation was for advisement purposes and the future planning of finances. He added that the auditor’s office will be making another presentation to the new board in January.

The next meeting of the Buckeye Local School District Board of Education will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 18 at the administrative offices in Dillonvale.