By: Rebecca Miller
Edon School Board met via Zoom meeting on the evening of May 11, 2020, and the meeting was posted on YouTube for anyone interested. Superintendent Anthony Stevens led board members in approval of:
- minutes and financial reports for April
- List of graduating seniors pending satisfactory completion of present course work and EOC results.
- Northern Buckeye Health Plan Workers’s compensation group rating program for calendar year 2021
- Amended certificate request from county auditor
In the Treasurer’s report, Deb Nestor informed the board that revenue was up by $63,960 over a year ago. She needed approval for the five-year forecast and for a new company that will be used to help with preparation of analytics for FY2021. Board voted to approve her recommendations.
They received a check for a little over $15,000 as a refund for calendar year premiums. Income tax for Jan – Mar. 2020 with spreadsheets were included for the board to see. Board President Cody Best asked if “we can see at some point some of the savings we have taken on in regards to the building being closed.”He said he was curious to know that in the future. There was a short discussion concerning that topic and Nestor said she will do that. She asked to schedule a Finance Committee meeting soon.
Jr. High/High School Principal Kayla Lapham reported
- She has Academic Awards for 7-11 that will be mailed to the students. She is asking parents to take a picture of their child with the award and send it to the school so they can make a slide show of all the students who got awards.
- Seniors will receive their awards when they come for their Cap and Gown pictures which have been scheduled for May 20 – 22 at the Football Field
- Fine Arts Awards are being emailed and the request is the same as for Academic Awards
- A video is being made to be put online on May 15
- Career Path will be given to seniors at the ceremony
- Virtual summer school will be held for English and Math
- A committee for next school year has begun to begin planning for three different possible options of what returning might look like
- Graduation has been figured out and she thanked Mr. Stevens for that
- 85 to 90% of the students are ready to graduate at this point in time
Elementary Principal Jen Ripke reported
- Students were given two weeks to complete any missed assignments
- Celebrating Right to Read week
- Have decided not to have elementary summer school this year.
- A follow-up letter will be sent to the parents of the eight third graders who have not met the reading promotion score for the Third Grade Reading Guarantee. These students will be promoted to fourth grade, but we will continue to provide reading services in fourth grade. This guidance is coming from the ODE.
- Preschool screening in August
- Plan to use staggered start days for Kindergarten
Superintendent’s report included:
- Funding update – On Tuesday Funding Update – On Tuesday of last week Governor DeWine announced that $300 million would be cut from state foundation payments to K-12 school districts. Since then, we have received updates that estimate our district will be cut $96,005 through the fiscal year end.
- At this point, we haven’t been provided information as to what to expect for next fiscal year, but obviously we are anticipating that our earned income tax revenue will be significantly less than is normal, particularly since unemployment compensation is not included in an earned income tax.
- On the brighter side, we received information that estimates our district will receive $77,000 in federal funding through CARES Act. The dollar amount for this award is determined in part based off our annual allocation of Title I funds. We are reviewing how this will be able to be utilized.
- Summer School – his comment was that he felt the parents might feel overwhelmed by having to do summer school at home. They will transition the funding to purchase some additional technology.
- LED lighting update – have completed the purchase of the LED lights for the exterior of the building and two gymnasiums. The maintenance crew will be working throughout the remainder of spring and early summer to complete the installation. The total cost for this project is $20,920.55 for materials. These were purchased from the Permanent Improvement fund before the shutdown came.
- Music Trip to Washington D.C. – They are working to finalize the refund from the canceled trip. “Since we were inside of the 60 day no cancellation window, there was no guarantee that a refund would be possible. However, based upon conversations with the travel company that we worked with it appears that we will be able to recoup 75% of the funds that were paid for the trip. While we are still awaiting some documentation from the travel company, our intention is to refund our families the full 100% of their cost and for the remainder of the refund to be split between the Music Fund and the Music Boosters in an amount that is proportional to what they paid for the trip. We are working with our attorneys to ensure that this money all flows through the proper channels and I would expect that you will see a resolution prior to finalizing any refund.”
- Building Update – The maintenance staff has been busy with cleaning and upkeep of the building during the mandated closure. The main hallway is being stripped of wax and cleaned thoroughly. They have also been busy with getting buses around for inspection, as well as ensuring that the building is sanitized daily using an electrostatic sprayer that we were able to borrow from Montpelier Exempted Village Schools and a disinfectant that has been determined to be effective against SARS related coronaviruses. They currently have two backpack sprayers on order and he has been assured that they will ship out on June 1, although they have already been pushed back multiple times since ordered in March. Will be transitioning our maintenance crew to their summer hours in the next week or so.
- Personnel Update – “We have received resignations from Mrs. Hilary Staten for her softball coaching supplemental and the junior class (homecoming) supplemental. I want to thanks her for her service. As these supplementals were completed for the 2019-2020 academic year and the Board already took action to non-renew them there is no need to act on the resignation. We will be posting them in the future. Additionally, we have interviewed and are recommending Elizabeth Smithmyer for our open Spanish position, and we are in the process of identifying a replacement for Mrs. Ashlyn Killion currently.”`
- The refinishing of the gym floor has been moved to June
- Recommended a special meeting after graduation to wrap up some other business.
- Enrollment has held steady at 514
New Business –
Letters have gone out to the parents and graduation is being planned. Edon will be having a Drive Up Graduation for their 56 graduates. They will have it set up that the graduates will get out and go get their diploma, allowing their car to be the closest and able to get pictures. “I think it is the best option available considering the situation,” Stevens said.
One-piece not in the letter, this plan has been sent to and ok’d by the Williams County Health Department. They will be using an FM transmitter on 88.1 so that everyone can hear. They are working out a few other details. He said he is extremely appreciative of the staff and all their creative ideas and great support of the kids. Cars will be parked by Fire Departments as well as police and a few others. There will be a practice on Monday, May 18. There are possibilities of live-streaming and recording it. The student speeches will be given live on the stage.
Also Approved by the board:
- Five-Year Forecast and Assumptions for Fiscal Years 2020-2024 (May 2020 update which was done in a way that is based on the little that is known at this time)
- Customer Service Agreement with Forecast5 Analytics for FY21
- New fund for Class of 2024
- Recommendation to approve a Resolution establishing a contingency plan for the 2019-20 school year in the event school is closed for more than the hours permitted under Board policy and state law
- Resolution to maintain employment and compensation of employees, supplemental contract holders, contracted service providers and consultants for the remainder of the fiscal year 2020 to support continued operations.
- Contracts for summer intervention teachers (Jennifer Radabaugh, Christy Howard, Pam Rupp, and Danielle Wolfe)
- contracts effective August 17,2020
- Non-teaching contracts
- Employ Elizabeth Smithmeyer as Spanish teacher for the 20-21 school year pending successful completion of licensure requirements
- Purchased service agreement with Montpelier EVSD for School Psychologist Services for $40,400.97 effective for the 20-21 school year
- A Resolution to participate in META Solutions Cooperative Advertising and Receiving bids for school bus chassis and bodies
Rebecca can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com