Two separate bond resolutions gained the approval during the September 14 meeting of the Wauseon Board of Education. The first is a resolution providing for the issuance and sale of bonds in the maximum principal amount of $3,915,000 for the purpose of refunding at a lower interest cost certain of the school district’s outstanding classroom facilities and school improvement bonds, series 2007, dated March 7, 2007. The second is a resolution providing for the issuance and sale of bonds in the maximum principal amount of $7,165,000 for the purpose of refunding at a lower interest cost certain of the school district’s outstanding classroom facilities and school improvement bonds, series 2007, dated March 7, 2007.
Also approved during the meeting were the bills, financial reports, and investments as presented.
Donations approved by the board included:
•$3025 from the Wauseon Athletic Boosters to the WHS Athletic Department to be used towards Boys Soccer uniforms.
•$50 from the Target ThanksaBillion teacher appreciation program to the WES Student Activity fund.
•6 back packs with school supplies from United Way of Fulton County to Wauseon Primary School.
•$75 from Wauseon Class of 1960 to the WHS Library in memory of Marilyn Shock Kagels, Barbara Shull Martel, and Carol Kinder Wenner to be used towards the purchase of books, DVDs, or equipment.
•$250 from the The American Public Works Association Northwest Ohio Chapter/Ohio Department of Transportation District 2 to WHS Art Department for placing second in the paint the plow contest and first in the Patriotism category.
•Several Then and Now certificates were also approved along with transfers of funds from the Class of 2014 and Class of 2015 funds to the WHS Student Council funds.
•Personnel items gaining approval during the meeting included:
•A one year limited non-athletic supplemental contract to Don Clark as the Orchestra Director.
•A one year limited non-athletic supplemental contract to Amanda Aniolowski as the Assistant Instrumental for the 2015-16 school year
•A one year limited classified contract to Karen Cheezan as a WES Teacher Aide for the 2015-16 school year.
•A one year limited classified contract to Tammy Cochrane as a WHS 2 hour cook for the 2015-16 school year.
•The reassignment of Elizabeth Shannon from a WHS 2 hour cook to a WHS 3 hour cook.
•Shannon Storrer as a Title 1 Substitute Teacher for the 2015-16 school year.
•Volunteer coaches for the 2015 school year: Terry Lind (Wrestling), Dalton Nicely (Wrestling), Lynelle Nofziger (Varsity Assistant Basketball), Jordan Smith (Wrestling), and Jacob Whitcomb (Wrestling).
•Classified Substitutes for the 2015-16 school year: Pat Gype, Molly Pfund, Ronna Rice, Peggy Sullivan, Heather Waldron, and Chelsea Wiley.
•Parental leave for Brenda Waldvogel, retroactive to August 17, 2015 and through December 18, 2015.
•Student pool workers for the 2015-16 school year: Tammy Ankney, Brittany Schroeder, and John Zuchowski.
•Student Athletic Department workers for the 2015-16 school year retroactive to August 14, 2015: Derek Anderson, Jana Armstrong, Halle Floss, Logan Hines, Olivia Leininger, Payton Lovins, and Ally Teft.
In reports given by building principals, the board learned that:
The primary teachers have begun implementing the new Houghton Mifflin’s Journey ELA curriculum.
All of the Kindergarten students will be administered the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment, KRA, prior to November 1.
The primary school will continue working with Junior Achievement to continue the program started last year for all classrooms.
100% of all of the 2014-15 third graders (currently fourth graders) achieved 394 or better on the OAA or Alternate Assessment. As a result, all students avoided retention.
The third grade teachers put tremendous time into intervention/acceleration programs for all students, which was proven in the results.
A Title Night was held by the Elementary School on September 1. The evening included information items for parents, academic games and activities, and healthy snacks. Though it was poorly attended, those who came had a great time.
The Special Ed/Intervention staff is now meeting twice per month to review procedures, discuss intervention programs, and brainstorm.
The first STAR window was September 1 through September 11. The data will be used to determine which students are on track, on watch, require invention, or require urgent intervention.
The RTI meetings are set for the year. Each meeting provided individual data for every student and will track progress and growth. The level of progress will determine the level of intervention.
A meeting with the new Curriculum Director, Michelle Leatherman, showed that WES will focus on literacy.
United Way and the Fulton County Health Center will join together to pilot a health program for one of the elementary grade levels (to be determined). The health segments will focus on the new “My Plate” system which replaces the old Food Pyramid. Each student will perform experiments, take part in taste tests and receive a voucher for fresh fruit and vegetables from Chief Supermarket.
The Climate Committee is implementing a new initiative called “Indians Expect…” Each week, the elementary school will focus on specific goals related to manners, school community, anti-bullying, and citizenship. The goal is to create student ownership of the school community. The initiative is patterned after Ron Clark’s “Essential 55”.
All third graders will attend Ag-Fest on Tuesday, September 22 at the Fulton County Fairgrounds.
The first teacher inservice meeting on September 28 will see the elementary teachers focusing on curriculum maps, vocab and literary, teacher evaluations/student growth, technology, and Public School Works (safety).
The Middle School has been selected to participate in a program that will involve our hosting a member of the Ohio Department of Education. They are being teamed with Julia Summerer, the Executive Director of the Center for the Teaching Profession. The purpose of the program is to provide an opportunity for the executives of the ODE to witness the firsthand “goings on” in a school building. Later, Middle School Principal Joe Friess will be given the opportunity to go to the ODE to shadow Julia. WMS is one of only 20 school buildings in the State of Ohio to participate in the exchange. Summerer will be at WMS on either October 5 or October 6.
Sheryl Gurzynski and Sheila Gurenhagen will serve as site coordinators for the 21st Century Grant again this year. This is the fourth year of the grant. The after school program will continue to focus on academic time, enrichment time, service learning, and family involvement.
High School English teachers have been utilizing the new SpringBoard English Language Arts curriculum materials. These materials are all accessed online by students using their Chromebooks. These new updated materials offer a variety of teaching and learning strategies that meet the needs of the increased rigor of the common core. The online format provides varying methods to engage students in different ways. Freshman and Sophomore students will also be using the STAR Reader this year. The online assessment tool will assist in identifying reading levels of students and allow teachers to develop plans to meet individual needs.
Wauseon High School ACT score results for 2015 indicated an increase in all areas as well as the overall composite. WHS students also scored higher than the state average in all tested areas. Average scores were: English – 22.7, Mathematics – 22.9, Reading – 23.8, Science – 22.9, Composite – 23.2.
The board entered into executive session to discuss personnel. No action was taken.
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