OHIO STATE STRONG … Seen here at the January 11, 2021 Millcreek-West Unity School Board meeting, Randy Mahlman and Dave Chester were ready for the OSU/Alabama game later that evening. On the desks are the Certificates of Appreciation from Superintendent Jim Wyse and the personalized water bottles made for them by student, Erica Dennison. (PHOTO BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By; Rebecca Miller
Certificates of Appreciation were handed to each of the Hilltop Board members, at the January 11, 2021 meeting as January is School Board Appreciation month, stating “in sincere appreciation for exemplary leadership and service.”
Each board member was also given gifts from a couple students, one being a key chain and the other a water bottle with their own name on it. Board members expressed thanks and appreciation for all.
Area schools have all been required to have an Anti-Bullying policy and to report on it to the Board. Millcreek-West Unity Schools superintendent Jim Wyse reported, at the January 11, 2021 meeting, that there had been one bullying incident during the first semester of the 20-21 school year, off site which filtered into being onsite, and it was “handled very well at the High School level.” This report was given in compliance with the policy.
The following is an excerpt from the Millcreek-West Unity Local School District Policy: Harassment, intimidation, or bullying toward a student, whether by other students, staff, or third parties is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated.
This prohibition includes aggressive behavior, physical, verbal, and psychological abuse, and violence within a dating relationship. The Board of Education will not tolerate any gestures, comments, threats, or actions which cause or threaten to cause bodily harm or personal degradation.
This policy applies to all activities in the District, including activities on school property, on a school bus, or while enroute to or from school, and those occurring off school property if the student or employee is at any school-sponsored, school-approved or school-related activity or function, such as field trips or athletic events where students are under the school’s control, in a school vehicle, or where an employee is engaged in school business.
This policy has been developed in consultation with parents, District employees, volunteers, students, and community members as prescribed in R.C. 3313.666 and the State Board of Education’s Model Policy.
Harassment, intimidation, or bullying means:
A. Any intentional written, verbal, electronic, or physical act that a student or group of students exhibits toward another particular student(s) more than once and the behavior both causes mental or physical harm to the other student(s) and is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for the other student(s); or
B. Violence within a dating relationship. “Electronic act” means an act committed through the use of a cellular telephone, computer, pager, personal communication device, or other electronic communication device.
Aggressive behavior is defined as inappropriate conduct that is repeated enough, or serious enough, to negatively impact a student’s educational, physical, or emotional well being. This type of behavior is a form of intimidation and harassment, although it need not be based on any of the legally protected characteristics, such as sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, or disability.
It would include, but not be limited to, such behaviors as stalking, bullying/cyberbullying, intimidating, menacing, coercion, name calling, taunting, making threats, and hazing.
Harassment, intimidation, or bullying also means cyberbullying through electronically transmitted acts (i.e., internet, e-mail, cellular telephone, personal digital assistance (PDA), or wireless hand-held device) that a student(s) or a group of students exhibits toward another particular student(s) more than once and the behavior both causes mental and physical harm to the other student and is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for the other student(s).
In accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio and the definition of bullying listed above, it is reported that the administrators of the Millcreek-West Unity Local School District dealt with one incident of bullying during the first semester of the 2020 – 2021 school year)
During the organizational portion of the January 11 meeting, the board voted to re-elect President Heather Jones and Vice President Brian Wieland. Meeting dates, times and locations were approved as was the $100 salary per meeting for sixteen meetings to be held in 2021.
Interest earned in specific funds was designated to other funds and a Board of Education Service Fund was established in the amount of $3000. Randy Mahlman will again be the Legislative Liaison for 2021. Laurie Worline and Steve Riley were appointed as Superintendent Pro Team for 2021.
Facilities and Technology committee members will be Brian Wieland and Randy Mahlman, with Heather Jones and Sarah Carothers serving on the Audit Committee with the treasurer and superintendent. The Public Records Commission is made up of the board president, treasurer and superintendent.
Authorizations were given for:
•Treasurer to secure cash advances from the county auditor when funds become available and payable to the district
•Treasurer to pay all invoices within the limits of the appropriations as invoices are received
•Treasurer to invest active and inactive funds at the most productive rates, after consulting with the Superintendent
•Treasurer to serve as the public records designee and to attend public records training for newly appointed, elected, or re-elected Board Members
•Superintendent to empty personnel and accept resignations as needed. Such employment decisions will be presented for consideration at the next regular meeting of the Board of Education
•Superintendent as purchasing agent for the Millcreek-West Unity School District
•Superintendent to authorize attendance at conferences and meetings at staff member requests
•Superintendent to authorize graduate study requests
•Attendance at the following meetings: local, district, state and national meetings for Board of Education, For treasurer, for Superintendent including recruitment and certification meetings and for the Principals including recruitment meetings.
The Board voted, during Regular Session, to approve:
•agenda, with three additions
•Minutes, Financial Statements and Investments from December 2020 meeting
•2021-21 School Calendar
•Participation agreement with Bryan City Schools for Special Education Services for the 20-21 school year
•Appropriation modifications and revenue increases
•Advancement on salary schedule for Kaitlyn Kuhn to the 150 hour index
•Request for early completion of graduation requirements for Taylor Bleikamp
•The following donations: Book called Full of Beans, Henry Ford Grows a Car from Williams County Farm Bureau; clothing from Warm Hands Warm Heart; $500 to the food pantry from Pam and Gary Welling; and $1000 to the food pantry from the Van Vlerah family
•The following employments for 20-21: Maurice Zuver Substitute teacher; Todd Gerig JV Baseball Coach; Elizabeth Horton Saturday School Supervisor; Natalee Schaffner JV Softball Coach; Aubrey Wyse Assistant Softball Coach; Corey Eisel HS Track Assistant; and Mike Creamer JH Track Coach
•Overnight stay for the Varsity Softball team, pending pandemic conditions will allow, March 26-28, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio
•Graduate Study reimbursement for Steven Riley
The next meeting is scheduled for February 8, 2021 at 6 p.m. in the library.
Rebecca can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com