The Regular Meeting of the Bryan City School District Board of Education was held on Monday April 10, 2023, at 6:00 PM at the Bryan Elementary Commons.
The Board Members present at roll call were Scott Benedict, Ben Camarillo, Deb Opdycke, Dustin Schlachter, and Caleb Turnbull.
Administrators present were Mark Rairigh, Kevin Schafer, Kacey Thormeier, Steve Alspaugh, Nate Keel, and Karen Cox. Guests present were Lucas Bechtol from The Bryan Times.
Caleb Turnbull moved and Ben Camarillo seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the March 13,
2023 regular board meeting minutes.
Student Spotlight: Mr. Knott talked about the high school ceramics program. Four County by Ben Camarillo: 13 students received All-State Top Five honors at the 2023 BPA State Leadership Conference and have qualified to compete at the 2023 National BPA Leadership Conference in Anaheim -qualifying from Bryan are Raven Dell in C# Programming and Ryan Street in Fundamental Accounting. Over 50 student athletes were recognized at Spring Sports Spirit Day.
The Annual Job & Career Fair was held with over 40 area employers on hand for over 500 seniors to meet with and discuss their career options.
HOSA – Future Health Professionals State Leadership Conference was held and 6 students placed in the top 10 in the state – Blayze Langenderfer from Bryan placed 6th in Personal Care and HOSA also sponsored the Red Cross Blood Drive where students donated 36 units of blood.
Law Enforcement & Security Tactics students welcomed Bryan Police Chief Gregory Ruskey, Captain Jamie Mendez & Officer Matthew Sammons with K9 Tyason to their class.
Forty-six new National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) juniors were tapped to be inducted into the FCCC NTHS in April – students from Bryan include Danae Booth, Lily Miller, Emily Shutts & Emily Sines. 2023 Spa Days at FCCC hosted over 100 patrons throughout the week who indulged themselves & enjoyed the day.
Three students qualified to compete in the 2023 FCCLA State Competition in Columbus – Qualifying from Bryan are Danae Booth (Repurpose/Redesign) and Anastasia Haas (Interior Design Scenario). March Student of the Month – Danae Booth (Interior Design); Gage Egner (Powersports).
MS/HS report by Steve Alspaugh: Spring musical, “Shrek” opens this week. Show times are April 14th & 15th at 7 p.m. & April 16th 2 p.m. Tickets are $10.
Student Council & Class officer campaigning is happening for grades 8-12. Testing for grades 6-12: English grades 6, 7, 8, 10 test is April 18 & 29. Math test 6, 7, 8, Algebra and Geometry is April 25 & 27. American History & Government tests for HS is April 28th.
The Science test (Biology & 8th grade) is May 2 & 3. April 17th & 24th annual government class trip to see county government in action at the Williams County Court House.
Wednesday, April 26th Juniors & Seniors will be attending the “ThinkFast” Interactive Program at Montpelier High School along with other schools in Williams County.
Program is designed to encourage safe teen driving not just because of prom but in relation to distracted driving too.
Friday, April 28th 8 a.m. Senior Class picture, breakfast and signing day. The start series of end year concerts and award nights starting April 30th and ending on May 21st. 8th grade Chicago trip is May 22nd & 23rd.
Elementary report by Kacey Thormeier: 4/11 and 4/12 – Kindergarten Screening. 4/11 – high school Musical Preview. 4/12 3rd Grade ELA testing and mid-terms of trimester 3. 4/13 – 3rd Grade ELA testing. 4/14 – CATCHER’S BIRTHDAY! 4/18 – 1st and 2nd music performance at the A&E. 4/20 – 3rd and 4th grade music performance at the A&E. 4/20-4/21 – 5th grade math testing. 4/21 – mid-terms go home.
Curriculum Report by Karen Cox: State testing is off to a very good start. Attendance has been excellent!
English language arts testing continues this week and math starts next week. May 10 begins Advanced Placement testing. We have students taking AP tests in biology, Spanish, statistics, and Calculus this year.
April 4 (5 BCS) seniors attended the Northwest State Community College Career Fair where over 80 local and regional employers attended.
Resumes were handed out and students experienced interviewing and having conversations with employers from various fields.
At today’s Teacher Inservice I continued “Writing Across the grade levels”- HS-2nd grade- teachers meeting with the grade below and grade above, discussing writing standards, sharing strategies, and communicating & sharing best practices in writing.
Also, today Staff from BMS/BHS went on a tour of the LE Smith Company. Thanks to Brian Smith and Tom Goodrich for their time today.
We look forward to sharing what we learned with our students. Update HB 436 Dyslexia Requirements- Today’s PD was the last of the 18 hours for our K-1 Teachers- Today our K-1 teachers culminated the dyslexia modules with a Post Test.
Once completed they print off a certificate that we keep on file. 2nd-3rd Grade teachers have until the start of the 24-25 school year to complete their 18 hours of dyslexia training.
ODE has not yet come out with the Dyslexia screeners for schools to look at. Should come out in May or June. April is the month of the Military Child. On Thursday, April 13 BCS will “purple up.”
Students and staff are asked to wear purple in honor of the Military child. Purple is a combination of Army Green, Marine Corp Red, Coast Guard, Air Force, Space Force and Navy which are Blue.
It is the appropriate color to represent military children from all branches. On April 17 both Bryan Elementary and Bryan MS/HS will learn if our applications were accepted to be considered Purple Star Designated schools.
The Purple Star Award recognizes schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military.
Our BCS’s Military Resources Page has been recognized and is being used as an example for other schools in TX who are starting to complete the application process of being designated a Purple Star Designated school.
Athletics report by Nate Keel: Update on softball, baseball, boys tennis, HS track, JH track. Spencer Woodward breaking the 400m record in JH track.
Elijah Cummins, Spencer Woodward, Malachi Nielson, and Jeremiah Taylor breaking the JH record in the 4×800 relay.
May 2 is Strikeout Diabetes baseball game vs Fairview. May 3 is the last athletic signing day of the year. Taysen Deckrosh will be attending Bluffton University and playing baseball.
Evan Cox is attending Terra State Community College and is playing basketball.
Deb Opdycke moved and Dustin Schlachter seconded a motion to approve the following
recommendations: March Financial Reports; Permanent Appropriations for FY23; OFCC Certificate of Completion; OHI Charter Group for BWC for 2024 policy year; Substitute Pay Rate Change to $15.50, effective 8/1/2023; OSC Governance Policy Change Resolution; FY24 SF200 for St. Patrick’s Auxiliary Funds; Then & Now; Corrigan Mechanical Contractors – $17,235.
The following donations were approved: $250 for Girls Basketball travel from F&M Bank; $340.07 for CEO Wednesday Luncheon from Keller Freight Solutions.
The board then approved the following recommendations: 2024-2025 School Year Calendar Approval; College Credit Plus Agreements with University of Toledo, Owens State Community College, Northwest State Community College, Lourdes University.
Deb Opdycke moved and Caleb Turnbull seconded a motion to approve the following personnel recommendations: John Robarge – Assistant Softball Coach, effective 3/27/2023; One-Year Limited Teacher Contracts effective for the 2023-2024 School Year to Lindsey Bever, Mackenzie Fisette, Joshua Neilson, Marjory Snyder, Hilary Staten. Two-Year Limited Teacher Contracts effective for the 2023-2024 School Year to Brock Homier, Jordan D Brown, Jacqueline Hake, Delaney Miley. Three-Year Limited Teacher Contracts effective for the 2023-2024 School Year to Alesha Bowers, Tyler Davie, Stephanie DePauw, Garret Gleckler, Danielle McQuillen, Aimee Wulff.
Five-Year Limited Teacher Contracts effective for the 2023-2024 School Year to Brandon Gordon, Spencer Graber, Jeffrey Inselmann, Jamie Kittle, Andrea Sims, Christine Alt.
Continuing Teacher Contracts effective for the 2023-2024 School Year to Jason Brown, Ben Lupo, Melanie Reinhart, Eric Ruffer, Chelsea Cordy, Brooke Inselmann, Rebecca Kuhn, Nicole Manahan.
Auxiliary Services Personnel at St. Patrick School for the 2023-2024 School Year to Adriana Dockery, Full-Time Intervention Specialist, 2-year contract.
New Hire Certified Retire/Rehire effective 2023-2024 School Year to Ron Kauffman, MS/HS Business Teacher, Employment of a Retired Teacher, One Year Teaching Contract Experience – 0 Years, Pay Scale – MA +20, Effective 8/1/2023l New Classified Hire: Thomas Johns, 3rd Shift MS/HS Custodial Staff, Effective 4/3/2023. Parenting Leave 2023-2024 School Year: Leah Sturt, 2nd year; Medical Leave 2023-2024 School Year: Amy VonDeylen, 2nd year.
Resignation Due to Disability Confirmed: Lori Poynter – effective 4/13/2023.
Classified Resignation: Trisha Rath – Bus Driver, effective 3/25/2023; Extended Time Contracts for 2023-2024 School Year: 10 Days – Karen Meister, Kim Bassett, Courtney Ruffer, Sara Huard, Amber Franzdorf, Jamie Morris, Sarah Vashaw, Angelle Reineck, Rachael Mann, Garret Gleckler, Stephanie DePauw; 5 Days – Andrea Oliver; 3 Days – Christine Alt, Rebecca Kuhn; 2024 – 2025 School Calendar.
Upcoming Dates: Board of Education Meeting – May 15, 2023 – 6:00 pm – Bryan Elementary Commons; 2022-2023 Business Advisory Council Meeting – May 10, 2023; Staff Appreciation Week – May 8 – May 12, 2023; Prom – Saturday, May 6, 2023; Academic Booster Club Awards – Monday, May 8, 2023; Senior Scholarship Night – Monday, May 15, 2023; Graduation – Sunday, May 28, 2023
The board entered executive session at 6:57 p.m. to discuss the community athletics capital improvement project. The board exited executive session at 7:53 p.m.
