By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
The Evergreen Local Board of Education handled a bevy of personnel items during its meeting last Monday. Among the items were six contract offers, a hiring, and three resignations.
Two-year administrative contracts were offered to Evergreen Elementary School Principal Sherrie Grown and Evergreen Middle School Principal Lucas Burkholder and a five-year to Superintendent Eric Smola, all effective August 1. A one-year, limited teaching contract for the 2024-2025 school year was also offered to gifted teacher Eleanor Shuder.
Janice Smith was offered a pair of non-teaching continuing contracts as a cook at the elementary school and dishwasher at the middle and high schools, both effective March 22, while her resignation as a custodian was simultaneously accepted. A summer custodial worker, Joe Blystone, was approved effective May 1 until September 30.
The board also accepted the resignations of world language teacher Natalie Mendez effective August 31, and elementary school teacher Elizabeth Batt effective May 31.
In other personnel-related items, the board added Jamie Goedde to the approved district substitute list pending completion of certification requirements and background checks, as well as approving professional leave for elementary school music teacher Jonathan Torrence from April 25 through May 14, during which time he will travel, perform, and teach with the U.S. Embassy Goodwill Tours delegation in Indonesia.
OTHER BUSINESS
The board approved the purchase of a new K-12 social studies curriculum from TCI, SAVVAS, Studies Weekly, and McGraw-Hill.
“The new programs align better with Ohio’s Learning Standards and includes textbooks, workbooks, web-based software for five years, teacher materials, and initial and ongoing professional development for implementation.” Cost of the materials is roughly $130,000.
The board approved the granting of diplomas to the members of the Class of 2024 on May 19, pending their successful completion of all graduation requirements.
The board approved a three-year preventative maintenance agreement with Dunbar Mechanical, Inc.
The board approved a three-year contract beginning July 1 between Healthcare Process Consulting and Evergreen Local School District. HPC will help manage the district’s Ohio Medicaid School Program, through which the district gets reimbursed for Medicare eligible services provided.
The board authorized the treasurer to advertise for bids and set the bid opening date for the resurfacing and expansion of district parking lots.
The board approved a two-year agreement with Brandon Wood Educational Consulting, LLC, “to support and oversee the implementation of universal mental health and/or social, emotional, behavioral screenings.”
The board approved payment of stipends as delineated by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, to district staff who completed Science of Reading Professional Development Modules. Payments are reimbursed to the district by the ODEW.
The board approved a variety of revisions to the Evergreen Local Schools Board Policy and approved an overnight trip for the track team to the OHSAA State Track and Field Tournament at Welcome Stadium in Dayton from May 30-31. Coach Alex Lutheran will supervise the trip. Evergreen will host a Northwest Ohio Athletic League track meet on May 7 and 10.
The board heard information on several summer projects, including parking lot resurfacing, adding a service drive at the elementary school, upgrading the HVAC system at the high school, and annual facility cleaning and floor waxing.
The board accepted a $100 donation to the Student Assistance Fund and a $469.61 Title III grant. The board approved items for disposal from Holy Trinity.
The next regular meeting of the board will be held at 6 p.m. on May 20 in the Loren Pennington Learning Center.