MIDDLE SCHOOL … The Evergreen School Board discusses the possibility of moving 5th grade to the middle school building. (PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER, STAFF)
By: Jacob Kessler
The Evergreen Board of Education held their meeting on Tuesday, February 22nd. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
The board first moved to approve the agenda as presented as well as the minutes from the Organizational meeting and regular meeting that both took place on January 10th.
Board members then informed everyone present that Elementary Principal Jane Draheim will be retiring at the end of this school year for the purpose of retirement.
The meeting then shifted to finance with it being stated that the school year is now 58% complete. The cash balance is pretty much where it was last year at the same time but, income tax amounts received are down by 3% compared to January in 2021.
Board members then voted to approve the financial report as given as well as all donations made to the district and appropriation modifications.
Moving to personnel, the board moved to approve the following changes/additions. A supplemental contract for Madyson Zoltowski – Volunteer Softball Coach, Nelson Holiday – Baseball Assistant Coach, Dylan Hendricks – Baseball JV Coach, and Trevor Shindorf – Baseball Freshman Coach.
The resignation for Jane Draheim, for the purpose of retirement effective July 1st, was then accepted followed by a request for non-paid leave from Rosalie Koch beginning on January 31st and ending on April 14th.
The following agenda items were then approved by the board. A service agreement with New Horizons Virtual Academy at Sara’s Garden Center for Educational Advancement to provide educational services to a special education student for the 2021-2022 school year at a cost of $15,750.00 per student.
Authorized membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association for Evergreen High School and Evergreen Middle School for the 2022-2023 school year.
Authorized the Evergreen Board of Education to advertise and receive bids for the purchase of one or more school buses.
The school has received a grant that will be applied to the cost of school buses. In order to receive this grant, the school must purchase three buses.
Approved an overnight trip for the Evergreen Wrestling Team to participate in the OHSAA State Wrestling Tournament at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio on March 11th to the 13th. This is approved in case any wrestlers advance to the State Tournament.
An overnight trip for the Evergreen Softball Team to participate in the PREBIS Memorial Tournament in Lagrange, Ohio on April 29th-30th.
The board then commended the Evergreen High School Quiz Bowl members for qualifying for the National Competition. It also approved an overnight field trip for six members,
Advisor Bill Blanchong, and other parent chaperones to attend the National Academic Quiz Bowl Tournament to be held in Chicago, Illinois on April 22nd to the 24th.
An update on the athletic construction project was then given with it being stated that phase one is complete and that phase two began the week prior.
The current expected completion date for phase two is May 1st. Strategic planning surveys have been received with it looking overall that students feel safe at school, feel their teachers care, and that students believe areas of improvement are for there to be more respect for differences.
A discussion also took place regarding the ongoing traffic issue at the Elementary school. Currently, options are still being discussed including work being done with the county.
It was stated however that the county did not seem receptive to making any changes such as adding an additional turn lane.
Changes are also being looked at for the Middle School building with a discussion taking place regarding 5th grade students no longer being located at the elementary building.
The idea is being entertained to move the 5th graders to the middle school sometime in the future. This may provide students with more learning opportunities for 5th grade that they may otherwise not have access to.
A number of factors will need to be looked at in order to move 80 to 100 students to a new building.
Board members were then given updates from the previous month from building administrators before moving to enter into executive session at 6:47 p.m.
Upon their return, members of the board voted to adjourn the meeting for the evening.
Jacob can be reached at jacob@thevillagereporter.com