BELLAIRE — Derek Ault, director of special education, said Monday that the Bellaire Local School District is making changes to its special education program next year.

“Things are constantly changing, and we have to keep up on the guidelines and the rules and the routines and the processes that are required by the state,” he told the board of education during its regular monthly meeting.

Ault said he wants to see graduates go out and be successful.

“I would walk around town and I would see kids that graduated from our high school not doing anything, and it drove me insane,” he said.

The school implemented a new documentation system for individualized education programs (IEPs).

“It’s a big upgrade from the last one we had. It was a lot of work getting it up and running, but our staff did a tremendous job and they were very open-minded,” Ault said.

Ault said the district also trained all of its special education teachers on how to use a reading program designed to help children with special needs improve their reading comprehension.

“Our goal is to close the gap as soon as we possibly can and get them back into the general education curriculum,” Ault said.

Ault also said that Bellaire High School helps students with special needs find job training programs. The students are also working together to create an online business to sell items.

In other business, Jason Ayers, board member, discussed three new Ohio bills that, if passed, would affect student attendance.

The first bill Ayers discussed would allow students to have up to three unexcused absences to celebrate religious holidays and festivals each year. Ayers said this bill has already passed the House. This bill would require parents to give at least a 14-day notice to the principal before their child can take the holiday.

The second bill would allow students to have excused absences for Future Farmers of America and 4-H meetings and events. Ayers said that students would need to bring documentation from their group leader to be excused.

The third bill that Ayers discussed would allow students to take up to three mental health days a year.

Ayers said that the last two bills are still in the early stages of being passed.

Joshua Kernick, athletic director, discussed the success of last year’s athletic teams.

“We had a lot of great seasons. I can’t be thankful enough for the community and all of the people who have helped the athletic department,” he said.

Derrick McAfee, superintendent, recognized the hard work of the administrators and school staff.

“Everyone is tugging the same way on the rope. I am extraordinarily proud,” he said.

McAfee said that the school is fully staffed for the upcoming year. McAfee said he is especially grateful that he does not look for new teachers this year because of an ongoing teacher shortage.

Near the end of the meeting, Kernick discussed allowing student-athletes to play two sports a season if they had a minimum 3.0 grade point average the previous semester. All members — Jason Ayers, Jim LaRoche, William Marinelli, Jim Thoburn and Susie Rataiczak — voted in favor of the motion.

The Bellaire Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of each month in the Board of Education Room at 340 34th St. in Bellaire. The meetings are open to the public.