Routine business topped the clear-cut agenda addressed by Edon Northwest Local Board of Education during its regular monthly session held Tuesday, March 8, 2016 in the school’s Media Center. President Jamie Schaffter called the meeting to order with members Cody Best, Erin Nester, Dave Wehrle and two guests in attendance; not answering roll was Aaron Hake.
Highlighted reports shared that evening included:
Superintendent John Granger
•Noted information on the school system would be available at the Edon Chamber booth during Bryan’s upcoming Business and Industry Show; he’d attended February’s Village Council meeting to describe Chief Tom Szymczak’s activities in school; the policy revision process with NEOLA is now underway with four sessions scheduled this month and the District is one of the few approved state-wide as safety compliant.
•Shared negotiations with Edon Northwest Teachers’ Association took place Thursday, March 3; recent review of the school lunch program by ODE/Food Services Division generated an excellent report; special thanks were extended to Bobbi Brown for her management of the District’s cafeteria services.
•Reviewed board members’ upcoming tour of the building and classroom visits on March 18; all will experience what goes on during regular school hours including lunch with students.
Grades 7-12 Principal Anthony Stevens
•Recognized seventh-grader Zachary Muehlfeld and sophomore Kailee Mitchell as February’s Junior High and High School Students of the Month, respectively.
•Shared District Report Card comparisons for the past three years. While students have consistently performed well, the area in Progress Measure has been a recent focus point, an area showing significant improvement; faculty and students have worked very hard to understand these measures, to tailor what they’re doing to improve them.
KK-6 Grade Principal Michelle Molargik
•Congratulated February’s Bomber Courtesy Club members.
•Noted District Report Card comparisons for the past two years; paper versus online testing performances yielded comparable results, even with usual anxieties associated with change.
•Shared opportunities for growth would not only focus on student intervention, but on addressing high-performing students as well.
Buildings/Grounds/Transportation
•Met February 16 to discuss improvement projects including Phase II of the Parking Lot Project. Set to begin this summer, further tiling to remove water from parking areas will be done by Fritch Construction and Excavation LLC as recommended by the committee; areas will also be crack-filled and new lines painted. Phase III will be completed in 2017.
•Noted Permanent Improvement monies will be used to resurface the track at Leanne Field at a cost of $7,505. (Addressing current repair issues at the track, this “good fix” should last five-seven years; more extensive work may be necessary later on.)
•Shared purchasing a new Bobcat for heavy work around campus (snow removal, etc.) would need to be reviewed shortly; estimated cost is twenty-one thousand dollars, with trade-in; current equipment attachments would be utilized.
•Agreed to try and maintain a minimum balance of one hundred thousand dollars in the District’s Permanent Improvement Fund for emergencies that may arise. Additionally, with two new bus purchases last year, replacements to the fleet (as well as the van) can be delayed until 2018; the Driver’s Education car is currently in good condition with no future upgrades expected at this time.
In other business brought forward, the Board:
•Accepted, with thanks, Cash Donations during February from: Williams County Beef Producers ($200/FFA Banquet); Williams County Pork Producers ($150/FFA Banquet); various individuals and businesses ($250/Junior Parent Post Prom); Schoola ($21.27/Elementary Fund); Edon Lions Club ($350/Music Department’s Washington DC Trip); Duane Schooley ($100/Music Department’s Washington DC Trip) and Edon Athletic Boosters ($6,000/Bleacher Fund).
•Heard Treasurer Nester’s standard SM2 Report indicating revenues were up $705,916 and expenses up $79,171 for the same eight-month period as last year. The District is tracking $626,745 better than last year with roughly sixty-five days of cash in the general fund to operate, a slight increase from January.
•Approved establishing a new fund for the Butterfly Project.
•Approved 2015-2016 supplemental contracts with Seth Bidlack (fifty percent Assistant High School Track Coach), Alex Kirkingburg (fifty percent Assistant High School Track Coach), Steve Stamper (Assistant Junior High Track Coach) and Brittany Herr (Softball Volunteer Coach).
•Accepted the retirement resignation of Judy Flegal as cafeteria worker effective June 1, 2016.
•Accepted the resignation of Lisa Heslop as teacher effective June 30, 2016, the end of her current contract.
•Approved a three-year contract with Northern Buckeye Education Council/Northwest Ohio Computer Association (NBEC/NWOCA) for internet services.
•Learned head coaches (junior high and high school) would be evaluated by the Athletic Director; the AD by Principal Stevens and assistant and volunteer coaches by their respective head coach. All records will be kept on file for future reference.
•Approved minutes of the regular meeting held Tuesday, February 9 as well as February 2016 Financial Reports; February 2016 Then and Now Certificate and Amended Certificate request from the County Auditor.
•Voted to enter into executive session for the expressed purpose of discussing personnel and negotiations; no action was taken.
The Edon Northwest Local Board of Education will next meet Tuesday, April 12, 2016 in the Edon Schools Media Center beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Lucinda Held-Faulhaber
May be reached at
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
