During the Monday evening, March 22, 2021 Evergreen Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Eric Smola gave a presentation on whether Evergreen should leave the NWOAL, of which they have been members for 45 years.  A complete report on his presentation may be seen  below.

Under the Recommendation of the school treasurer,  Brian Carrol, the board voted to approve the minutes of the February 18 meeting, the meeting agenda, and financial Reports.

The following donations were accepted with gratitude:  $1000 for Evergreen Prom from Fulton County Ohio Means Jobs;  $200 anonymous to Student Assistance Fund;  $20 from Mary Ellen Zmorowski to Elementary Principal Account and $30 from Thomas and Jennifer Herr to Class of 20222 Account.

The Board approved a transfer of $500,000 from the general fund to the Athletic Facilities Capital Project Fund, and a resolution to accept the amount and rates determined by the Budget Commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the County Auditor for FY 22.

In other business, it was moved, supported and approved to commence with the first  reading of updates to the current Board Policy, which includes new, revised and replacement policies. (Reading of NEOLA Policy updates) .

Also approved was a motion to authorize the Treasurer Brian Carrol to advertise for bids and set the day and time for bid openings as this relates to the renovation and expansion of the existing high school locker rooms, with room, and athletic offices and any other related work associated with this project.  An overnight trip was approved for the Evergreen High School Cheerleaders to participate in the Universal Cheerleading Association Camp at Great Wolr Lodge in Mason, Ohio.

The Board was informed by Superintendent Smola that three position changes are happening, those being Jennie Blain-Fisher moved to a 6.5 hour a day cook position in the HS kitchen on March 8, 2021;  Lindsey Piskac came off the recall list and filled a 2.5 hour cook position in the HS kitchen on March 8 and filled a 2 hour bus route on March 17,2021; and Ashley Ricker moved to a 4 hour bus route on March 10, 2021.  Mr. Smola also shared a few points about how the locker room renovation and expansion will be getting done soon after being put on hold when the pandemic began last year.

Administrative Reports were given by Elementary Principal Mrs. Jane Draheim, Middle School Principal Brady Ruffer, High School Principal Mr. Daniel Curtis, and Technology Coordinator Mrs. Angela Infante.  Mrs. Draheim informed the board of the following:

• Lifetouch yearbook orders have been extended until March 29
• Lifetouch Spring Picture Day has been scheduled for March 31 and flyers were sent home on March 22
• MVP (Mini Viking Parents) will be making a donation to the Elementary Principal Account to fund teachers’ requests for materials to enhance student learning.  Teachers submitted proposals and MVP voted to approve new items for classrooms such as flexible seating, classroom library books and STEM materials.
• A discussion has begun about plans for the 21-22 school year. Teachers will begin creating class lists and the Master Schedule will be revised to meet the needs for Gifted and for Co-teaching, which will be part of grades 1-5.  A full time Kinderstart teacher with dual licensure will be hired to teach Kinderstart and provide Specially Designed Instruction for one identified student transitioning from Preschool with an IEP for academic goals.  Staffing for next year will be four sections each in grades K-4 and three sections in 5th grade.
• Grades 3-5 will begin AIR Testing from the ODE starting April 5 and ending May 5.  Third and fourth grade students will be tested in ELA and Math only. Fifth graders will be tested in ELA, Math, and Science.  Each content area will have two days of testing, with no tests on Mondays.

Mr. Ruffer reported that in the Middle School:

●  On Friday, March 19th, the middle school operated on a two-hour delay schedule. During that time the students watched a movie in their ROW groups. The students have done an amazing job this year dealing with all of the challenges, so this was a great opportunity for our students to relax as they prepare for the last quarter of the school year.
●  During state testing the middle school students will not have any homework assigned. We want to ensure students are focused on performing well on state tests and not worried about completing homework. Also during NNI, we will be providing the students with targeted interventions.
●  On February 23, the middle school quiz bowl team competed against the staff in the annual staff versus student challenge. The quiz bowl team also wrapped up their season with the tournament at the NWOESC on March 11.
●  On March 11, the student council under the leadership of Lori Cobb, organized an activity period. During NNI the students were able to sign up to go to different classrooms to engage in a wide range of activities. Those activities included: board games, card games, movie, bingo, etc. Thank you Mrs. Cobb for organizing this for our students!
●  The middle school will begin the scheduling process in order to prepare for next year. We are excited to offer new courses for our 8th grade students, including French I, Introduction to Agriculture, STEAM, and 8th grade honors ELA.
●  Grade cards will be going home with students on Friday, March 26.

Mr. Curtis, for HS, shared:

• The Prom and After-Prom committees have met several times over the past month. Several fundraising events have been scheduled and/or are in-process to generate funds for a Prom/After Prom opportunity for students. While we’re still awaiting formal direction and guidance from our local health department, we’re hopeful that the Governor’s words a week ago pave the way for a traditional Prom for our students including dinner, dancing, photos, and facial coverings.
  ●  Plans for 2021 Commencement are well underway. Senior Highlight informational packets and surveys have gone out and are slowly making their way back. This year’s keynote speaker at graduation has confirmed their plans to attend.
  ●  Graduation this year is scheduled for Sunday, May 23r d ; however, final grades for students taking coursework outside the walls of Evergreen High School will not be received until after the graduation ceremony. During the graduation ceremony, each senior will be handed a diploma jacket on the stage; however, the jacket will not contain a diploma. Scheduling an after graduation pickup not only offers students a one-stop-shop to pick up all remaining items, but also saves the district the costs of mailing final transcripts and graduation photos. Students may pick up their diploma along with their Chromebook, graduation photo, and final High School transcript during the week of June 7.
  ●  Students picked up their caps, gowns, tassels, and graduation announcements here at EHS when Jostens visited on Wednesday March 10t h.
  ●  On March 1s t , a letter was sent electronically to all seniors and senior parents detaining plans for the remainder of the school year. A physical version of the letter followed via US Mail coining information on graduation, academic awards, student obligations, and important need-to-know dates.
  ●  On Tuesday, March 2n d all EHS Seniors met with Mr. Curtis during enrichment to discuss plans for the remainder of the school year. Seniors reviewed information sent out in the senior mailer, but also discussed plans for Prom and Graduation.
  ●  While it’s been customary for EHS graduating seniors to receive their Graduate yard signs during Graduation practice a few days before the formal Commencement Ceremony, feedback received from families last year show that families appreciate displaying signs earlier rather than later. EHS Senior Graduate Yard signs were distributed this year to students during the March Senior Class meeting.
  ●  AP Yard signs have been ordered and received. EHS staff are finalizing plans to distribute AP Scholar Yard signs in the yards of EHS students taking Advanced Placement coursework here at Evergreen.
  ●  Alivia Eisel, grade 11 was chosen as the Evergreen representative to attend the Buckeye Girls State Conference at the University of Mount Union from June 13-19t h . Buckeye Girls State is a week-long program designed to educate Ohio’s young women in the duties, privileges, rights, and responsibilities of good citizenship.
  ●  Ben Saunders, grade 11, recently represented EHS in two separate programs sponsored by the American Legion. In the Americanism in Government Test competition, Ben earned first place in both the Fulton County and district contests, earning him the grand prize of an all-expense paid trip to Gettysburg and Washington DC. Ben also participated in the American Legion Oratorical Contest where he placed first in both the local and county contests, and advanced to the state level where he placed fifth overall.
  ●  Ahrianna McCabe, grade 10 is completing the final few weeks of her year-long exchange in Logrono, Spain. Ahrianna has been motivated to pursue an exchange opportunity for quite some time and has worked through the FLAG Organization ( www.flag-intl.org ) to secure an opportunity for the current school year. Ahrianna has been taking classes in Spain since August 2020, and intends to return to Evergreen next school year to complete her Junior year.
  ●  Dr. Swineford, Mrs. Lumbrezer, and Mrs. Brehm visited all 8th grade students during their no-new-instruction period to finalize the scheduling process for High School registration. All student course requests for next school year have been collected and entered into Powerscheduler. Dr. Swineford has led the high school scheduling process with the assistance of our school counselor, Mrs. Lumbrezer. Dr. Swineford has been working closely with NWOCA to finalize the formal build process for next year’s master schedule as we work to finalize decisions regarding staffing, teaching assignments, and course offerings for the 2021/2022 school year.
  ●  Mr. Curtis has been meeting with EHS Staff to discuss furnishing needs for the upcoming school year so as to prepare for upcoming budgetary meetings. Many student desks are beginning to show their age and have already been repaired several times. Many student desks were used at the old high school building before the new EHS building opened approximately 20 years ago. Mr. Carroll and Mr. Curtis will be working to develop a plan and timeline for replacing aging student furniture in the high school.
  ●  Four County Career Center has finalized their initial admission process for the 2021/2022 school year. Students and families will soon be receiving notification of the status of their application unto Four County as they begin to prepare for next school year.
  ●  On February 23r d and March 9t h (makeup day), all EHS Juniors took the ACT test here at Evergreen High School.

Mrs. Infante updated the board on the State Testing; Chromebooks purchased; Interactive Board Purchases and where they will be placed; MacBooks for Elementary are purchased; twenty eight retired iPads have been wiped and sent to Tech Defenders for purchase; recycling chrome books with Tech Defenders; sent out a survey for High School seniors regarding chrome books; and she met with DataServe/NWOCA to do a walkthrough and prepare for a wireless upgrade.

Before adjourning for the evening, the Board went into an Executive Session “to prepare for negotiations or bargaining sessions with employees concerning compensation and other terms and conditions of employment; and to consider the employment and/or compensation of a public employee or official.”

The winds of possible change continue to swirl around the NWOAL as Evergreen became the latest school to consider a move. Last month, the Swanton School Board was presented with a plan for the Bulldogs to exit the NWOAL and form a new league.

Archbold, Bryan, Liberty Center, Patrick Henry, and Wauseon have all reaffirmed their commitment to the league in recent weeks.

On Monday night at the monthly meeting of the Evergreen School Board, Superintendent Eric Smola detailed the reasoning for the proposed move to members of the board.

The NWOAL was established in 1926 with Evergreen joining in 1969 while also competing in the Northern Border League (NBL) before leaving the NWOAL entirely in 1971.

The NBL was dissolved entirely in 1978 at which point Evergreen was absorbed back into the NWOAL.

“A few years ago, we changed our mission statement to: Building on Tradition; Committed to Excellence; Cultivating the Future”. I think it’s time to apply these to our athletics”, said Smola has he began his presentation.

“There are three reasons we need to consider a move at this time with those being Evergreen’s NWOAL history, student athlete success, and current league movement.”

“We want our athletes to have a chance at success on the athletic field. They should have a 50% chance of winning their contests.”

Currently we have a 3.6% success rate with 22 league titles in our 45-year history in the NWOAL”, he stated.

“That is the fewest in the league and we have developed a reputation of not being competitive.”

Enrollment numbers are also a factor. Evergreen’s 2020-21 K-12 total enrollment is 1100, which is sixth among league schools. Smola went on to point out that the district is seeing declining numbers in lower grades.

“The obvious question is why now”, Smola continued. “There are membership changes in area leagues that will have a significant impact on the NWOAL.”

“Swanton is seeking approval to leave the NWOAL, creating an opening. It is very likely the opening would be filled with a school larger than Evergreen.”

Smola mentioned that Napoleon and Bowling Green of the Northern Lakes League have inquired about possible joining the league.

“This may be Evergreen’s only chance to make a move before being locked in on the bottom for another 45 years. We are looking into this to be proactive, not reactive”, he added.

“Evergreen has the ability to control its own destiny, compete against comparable sized schools with equivalent athletic programs, and have more evenly matched athletic competitions”, explained Smola.

Evergreen has currently had discussions with Swanton, Delta, Ottawa Hills, Northwood, Montpelier, and Edon (football only) about the formation of a new league. Smola stated that everything is in the discussion phase and no decisions have been made.

Evergreen’s enrollment of 1100 would place them third with the a forementioned schools with Swanton having the largest at 1135.

“By making this move we improve the potential for winning contests and league championships for our athletes.”

“Winning equals positive attitudes and improved climate; increased student and spectator participation; instill Viking Pride among student athletes, student body and community; create a more competitive and winning culture throughout the district while continuing to play neighboring districts through non-league contests.”

“We have to weigh tradition vs. reality when it comes to doing what’s best for our students”, Smola closed.

There will be a NWOAL Community Forum on Monday, March 29^th, 2021 at 7pm in the high school gym for community members to share their opinions.

Questions and comments to be addressed in the forum can be sent to submit@evgvikings.org.

Nate can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com