SAFER STAIRS… Newly covered stairs on the bleachers in the gym at Stryker High School are not just better looking, but are much safer/slip free steps. Superintendent Nate Johnson, on the left went in, after the June 28, 2021 Board meeting, to look at the upgrade with board members President Jason Leupp and Brent Froelich. (PHOTO BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
The highlight of the June 28, 2021 Stryker School Board meeting was a visual presentation of the new website that is now up and running for Stryker Local Schools.
There is also an app that can be downloaded which will be connected to the website and will allow parents, students, teachers, administrators and Board members to stay atop all information concerning the school.
Tech Coordinator, Steven Peters, put a Chromebook in front of each one present for the meeting and walked them through each aspect of the new website. “You can portray yourself as big as you want to be. We have an opportunity with the new website to get a better image for the school,” Peters began.
“We found a company (Thrillshare) that will put both the website and the app into one coordinated effort. It is currently offline, but the intention is to go live the first week of July.”
Aspects of the new website, “which has a little more flash to it,” will include a scrolling display of pictures which will show different facets of school life; tabs for each area needed such as Staff, Sports, Students, Facilities, etc.; links to other necessary places such as PowerSchool; Contact information; Instructions for downloading the new app; and the School Calendar.
Other items included on the website with be the District’s Vision and Mission Statement, as well as a spotlight area for the students to be highlighted. He hopes the students will also put things in there.
The Superintendent and a few others will have access to put information on the website. School closures and other notifications will go out on the app for everyone and as the website and app are going to be coordinated, it will give parents a number of ways to get the notifications. It will eventually be linked (for information only) to Twitter and Facebook.
The Board members and a few other people will be used as a control group, or focus group, over the summer to work out the kinks. Peters asked them to please shoot him emails letting him know anything and everything that they have questions or comments about as they use it.
He hopes to have it “well oiled” by the Fall. He asked them to please spend some time on the app so they can get those mistakes worked out.
Peters had the Board members download the app, Stryker Local Schools, on their phones, so that he could show them the details on that as well.
The website is basically a mirror of the app, Peters said. It will cover the menu, delays, cancelations and everything that the school wants to share with parents and students.
Parents will have the opportunity to choose how they are notified from the seven different ways available. All changes made within the school district in the “Final Forms”, which will have a link, will automatically be updated for the system.
Any specific links such as the preschool link, will be set up to send notifications to just those who should get them, not a mass notification.
Superintendent Nate Johnson explained that Final Forms online will be taking them to a paperless system. Grades and Grade Cards will still be on Power School and there will no longer be a printed version that has to be pickup up at the school. It puts more into the hands of the parents.
“This is a move in the right direction,” he said. “There will be certain departments and individuals who will be allowed to post updates.” He also asked that if they think of something that should be available on the website, to let Mr. Peters know.
Board member Brent Froelich asked if there will be a gathering to which parents can come for an explanation for them. The answer to that is that there will be a few areas at the school on a specific night that will be open for them to come in and learn how to get the app and use the app and website.
As far as updates, like sports scores, Peters pointed out that someone will need to be responsible for updating them. He recommended possibly having a student at a game that could do updates. Getting involved in keeping the website updated will make it a better tool for the district.
In regular business, the School Board went on to approve the agenda, the minutes of the previous meeting and to hear and approve the Financial Reports and recommendations from Treasurer Jill Peters.
The General Fund activity for May 2021 had a General Fund Cash balance of $8,053,489.90, Total Revenue of $327 598.29 and Total Expenses of $453,843.64.
The Board accepted the following donations: two anonymous donations for Stryker FFA, one for $40 and one for $50; a donation from Visions Photography of $465.26 for the Yearbook Fund; $200 from Clubhouse Pizza for Stryker Football; and an anonymous donation of $200 for Stryker Football.
Other recommendations approved in the Treasurer’s report were:
-Temporary appropriations for FY22
-Establish the Change Funds for 21-22 school year
-Participation in all Federal Programs for 21-22 school year, including discussion regarding the spending of Title funds, IDEA and other monies
-Participation in the 21-22 Federal Lunch and Breakfast programs, which includes free and reduced lunches, breakfasts, and the commodity program. (Superintendent Johnson said it is very important that people still fill out the forms for free and reduced meals as if they are approved, that will pay for the student fees and it will keep the Title Funding coming for the school.)
-Property and liability insurance through SORSA for 7/1/21 through 6/30/22 in the amount of $31,873
-Personnel contract for Jackie Holsopple as Custodial Substitute
-Transfer of $10,000 from General Fund to Athletic Fund
-Create fund #584 for the Title IV grant
-Amended certificate of Estimated Resources
-Amendment to appropriations
-Application for Student Accident Insurance through Love Insurance Agency for 21-22 (This is the same every year as an option for student insurance.)
-Then and Now certificate
-Agreement with Julien and Grubb to provide Medicaid AUP services for the fiscal years ending 6/30/22 and 6/30/23
One recommendation was voted on separately from the list, being the personnel contract for Kent Holsopple as Athletic Director, with one board member voting against the approval.
Dean of Students, Beth Morr, reported that Preschool Graduation and Awards Day both went well this year. She said that she felt that it was a good year despite covid and thanked the Board for letting her be the Dean of Students. She is looking forward to next year.
Dave Schultz, in his Principal Report, informed the board that the new teacher evaluation system will be up and running for 21-22 and he is pleased that it does not put such a heavy emphasis on Student Test Scores.
The 20-21 Spring State Test Results were scheduled to arrive for grades 4-12 on Wednesday, June 30. Campus Branding with Decals, Mats and runners is taking place. The high school bleachers stair remodeling is underway and going well.
He thanked the spring sports coaches and players and recognized Brianna Breier for her performance at State in the long jump with a jump of 15 feet 10 ½ inches. He also thanked the parents, but especially the students for dealing so well with the changes that they went through this past year, especially wearing masks.
Mr. Johnson recommended the following, all of which were approved by the Board:
-Accept the resignation of Janet Smith, tutor
-Approve employment contracts and adjustments for Megan DeGroff, Darian Schnitkey and Shawn Glenn as tutors for 21-22 school year
-Supplemental contract for 21-22 school year, contingent upon viable season starts and school related openings/closings and participation levels: Varsity Cross Country, Track Assistant, Jr. High A.D., and Jr. High Cross Country Megan DeGroff; Taylor Haines Softball Assistnant; Blake Ruffer 7th Boys Basketball; Haley Williams 7th Girls Basketball; John Ruffer 8th Boys Basketball; Molly Kidston 8th Girls Basketball; Renee Hang Jr. High Track; Josh DeGroff Jr. High Golf; and Beth Morr Mentor as needed.
-Classified/Certified Substitutes and volunteers for 21-22 school year, contingent on background check: Volunteers – Ashley Haines and Brittney Haines for JH and HS Girls Basketball, Chase Glock for HS Boys Basketball and Tim Morr for HS Golf; C/C Chad Carrol and Larry Davis for Transportation and Mandy Oberlin, Lisa Frey, Elaine Aguilar and Chad Carroll for Custodial.
-21-22 Agreement with the Northwest Ohio Juvenile Detention, training and Rehabilitation Center for assigned JDC and JRC students
-Resolution to Proceed for the Renewal of the District’s Emergency levy as presented (NOT a new funding request)
-21-22 Agreement with Bryan City Schools for Speech Pathologist Services
The Board agreed to cancel the meeting for July and the next meeting is scheduled for August 16, 2021.
Rebecca can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
