Spring athletes from Triad High, Middle schools honored at board meeting
Triad student-athletes whose teams went to their respective state finals this spring were recognized at the June 22 Triad School District Board of Education meeting, along with coaches and some of the board members. (Charles Bolinger photo)
By Charles Bolinger
Editor • Triad’s board room was livelier than usual on June 22 as the district recognized members from five spring sports teams who achieved success at the state level:
- Triad High School’s baseball team, which placed second at state
- Triad High School’s girls’ track team, which placed first at state for the first time
- Triad High School’s bass fishing team, which placed 11th out of 62 boats at the state finals and a Triad student caught the biggest bass, 5 pounds, 9 ounces at the tournament
- Triad Middle School seventh-grader Roman Schaefer finish in third place at state and he holds the school records for throws in the discus and shot put
After the student-athletes were excused, the board meeting continued. Superintendent Dr. Jason Henderson and Associate Superintendent Dr. Rodney Winslow discussed any new developments regarding the district’s ongoing construction projects. The board also approved changes to the student/parent handbooks for the upcoming school year.
Meal prices in the district will rise 10 cents after board approval, meaning that for the 2026-2027 school year, elementary breakfast will cost $1.90; elementary lunch will cost $3.25; secondary breakfast will cost $2; secondary lunch will cost $3.45 and adult breakfast will cost $2.40 while adult lunch will cost $3.90.
As a finance matter, the board approved an interfund transfer of $40,000 from the district’s working cash fund to the bond and interest fund for debt service. The debt service was in the red, according to district officials because Triad did not receive all of the levied taxes from Madison County for fiscal year 2025-2026. The loan will be paid back to the working cash fund later during this fiscal year.
The district also made the annual transfer of interest from the social security/Medicare portion of its retirement fund to its education fund. The final amount will be determined after the June 30 interest payment.
As part of new business, the district agreed to buy 40 Newline Interactive Flat Panel Boards, which will bring the district’s total to around 90, along with 55 projectors, according to Mike Wielgus, director of technology. He said a larger purchase of these boards will occur next year when they include middle school teachers who are not currently using them before they transfer to the new building.
The board also approved a new Internet firewall for the district ($69,212) from SHI International and renewed licensing for the district’s wireless infrastructure ($5,887). Wielgus said firewalls like these tend to last about eight years. The combined sum will be paid up front and the district will be eligible for $25,720 in reimbursement from the federal USAC E-rate program.
The board approved to buy property at 721 US 40, which is now occupied by a ranch-style, single-family house, immediately east of the varsity baseball/softball diamond on the high school’s northeast corner. Finally, Triad’s school fee balance continues to tumble:
- Dec. 15, 2025 – $248,802.62
- Jan. 15, 2026 – $194,156.39
- Feb. 15, 2026 – $128,134.89
- Mar. 15, 2026 – $86,817.19
- Apr. 15, 2026 – $59,892.95
- May 15, 2026 – $49,793,45
- Jun. 15, 2026 – $48,576.45
School board member Katy Little was absent. The next Triad Board of Education meeting is July 27, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in the district’s administration building, 203 E. Throp St. in Troy.
