Deep Dive: Winter Business Operations Hot Topics 2024-2025

Megan is a partner with Weston Hurd in the Education and Labor & Employment groups located in Columbus, Ohio. She focuses her practice on providing general counsel to public school districts in board governance, personnel, and student matters. Megan advises education law clients on complex issues including discipline, due process, public records, Title IX, board policies and procedures, collective bargaining, arbitration, parliamentary procedure, residency and custody disputes, social media, Constitutional rights, and discrimination concerns. Megan also assists districts with collective bargaining needs, including contract review, negotiation, and interpretation and enforcement of collective bargaining agreements. Megan has successfully represented clients in arbitrations and in unfair labor practice charges before the State Employment Relations Board (SERB). Megan has represented clients before the U.S. Department of Education office for civil rights in matters involving claims of discrimination involving students, and has defended employers against complaints of discrimination filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC). Megan frequently provides training to clients on a variety of employment and education related matters including human resources, Title IX, board governance, sunshine laws, and personnel-related matters.

William Andexler is a transportation consultant at North Coast Shared Services Alliance (NCSSA), a division of the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio. He has more than 25 years of experience in school transportation. His primary areas of expertise include ensuring transportation compliance, optimizing efficiency, managing routes, generating reports, and maintaining a fleet, all while prioritizing student safety.

Chad Welker has almost two decades of experience working with schools for business services.  In addition to his work as business manager, he has held several leadership positions with Ohio Association of School Business Officials, including his most recent appointment to their board of directors.

Jennifer is a Fiscal Operations Coordinator with Shared Services Alliance (SSA) where she provides fiscal support to school districts and governmental agencies across Ohio. Jennifer also serves as the CFO for Spencerville Local Schools. Prior, she was the Treasurer/CFO of Benjamin Logan. Before public service, she worked in the financial industry for 10 years. Jennifer also currently serves on the OASBO Board as the At Large Director of Transportation.

Tom Dreiling has overseen the business and operations of Independence Local Schools since 2017. District operations include maintenance, facility management, special projects, transportation, food services, and security. He also handles the Human Resources operations for classified employees.

Tom previously served as middle school principal in the North Olmsted City Schools. He has an extensive background and a successful track record in facilities planning, instructional programming, and district operations. Tom earned his yellow belt in Lean Six Sigma in 2015. He received his Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education and Teaching from Ohio Northern University and his Masters of Educational Administration from the University of Akron. In addition to working for North Olmsted City Schools, he was a principal at Woodford Elementary in Barberton, an assistant principal in Twinsburg, and began his career as a 3rd and 6th grade teacher. Tom is also part of a team that provides leadership training throughout the country for teachers who are implementing grade transition programs. 

Tom lives in Hinckley, Ohio with his wife (Jodi) and two daughters (Camden-Freshman and Peyton-7th Grade).

Thomas Strup is the Executive Director of Schools of Ohio Risk Sharing Authority (SORSA) and has over 30 years of insurance industry experience.  Prior to joining SORSA, Tom was the Deputy Director of Operations with the County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO).  His experience includes being an elected County Commissioner in Williams County Ohio, a Board member and Past President of County Risk Sharing Authority (CORSA), Board member and Interim Managing Director of County Employee Benefit Consortium of Ohio (CEBCO), a member of a local school board of education, and he also co-owned and operated an independent insurance agency.