President Heather Jones called the regular board meeting of the Millcreek-West Unity Schools to order at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 19, 2021. All board members were present.
Superintendent Jim Wyse announced the first reading of the NEOLA policy updates and also informed the board that graduation will be held inside this year with adherence to COVID restrictions and social distancing.
Wyse also thanked the 5th and 6th grade Science teacher, Ruth Parrott for her 21 years of service to the district. Parrott’s resignation was approved in the consent agenda.
Treasurer, Traci Thompson gave a brief statement about the usage of the Title and IDEA-B funding for the current school year and for the coming school year. An opportunity is open for the public to suggest any alternative uses of these federal funds.
In her Elementary Principal’s Report, Laurie Worline informed the board of the following:
1. “Kindergarten Screening took place on Wednesday, April 21 and Thursday, April 22. Currently we have 43 students signed up and an additional 14 students that will be moving up to Kindergarten from Kinder Cadets. I am anticipating our numbers to be similar, but possibly slightly higher, for next year.
2. On Tuesday, April 20 we had the “Ned Kindness Show.” It will be held virtually this year in each classroom to avoid a large assembly. We continue to maintain our COVID protocol, yet give our students normal school experiences.
3. Right to Read week will be held May 3-7 throughout the entire building. In conjunction with this will be our Spring book fair. Students will shop in small numbers to avoid large gatherings, while the activities will be primarily in the classrooms.
4. During the month of March, we celebrated “Attentive” students! The following students were recognized: K-3 Attentive Students of the Month are Bristol-Lynn Mohler, MaddyLee Shumaker, Evelyn Pike, Nevaeh Sieradzki, Logan Gerig, Avelynn Frank, Dane King, Aria Fackler, Amelia Culbertson, Kendal Null and Alana Tressler; 4-6 Attentive Students of the Month are Caelan Nofziger, Braylee Smith, Adrianna Beaverson, Izaiah Richards and Mia Kuszmaul, Evan Siegel, Maggie Altman, Sophia Crossgrove and Halle Jones
5. We now have only 3 students in remote learning. Mrs. Horton will be moving into a classroom in May to substitute for a teacher having surgery.
6. There are presently 286 students enrolled in K-6”
JH/HS Principal Steven Riley reported the following:
1. The Students of the Month for March along with the teachers who named them were announced.
2. The Hilltop Drama Club’s production of Beauty and the Beast was held this past weekend. Congratulations to the entire cast and stage crew for the outstanding performances. A special thanks to Mr. Cooper, Musical Director, Miss Pendleton- Assistant Musical Director, and the Hilltop Music Boosters for their time and effort with the production.
3. Everything has gone smoothly with State testing that was conducted this past week. We had English/Language Arts testing on Tuesday and Wednesday, then American History/Government testing on Thursday and Friday. Based on teacher reports, our students are taking their time and appear to be giving maximum effort on the tests. We will resume the second round of testing next week. April 27-28 Math for grades 7-8, Algebra I and Geometry students and April 29-30 Science for 8th grade and Biology students
4. Our FFA students performed very well with State Agri-science fair project that was recently held. Hunter Leupp placed 2nd in division 5 food systems, Joe Reamsnyder placed 2nd in division 5 plant systems, Brooke Moreland placed 1st in division 1 environmental systems, and Ian Hoffman placed 1st in division 5 social systems. Brooke and Ian’s 1st place finishes qualify them for the National Agri-science fair competition.
5. April 24 is PROM and Post-PROM for Hilltop High School. Appropriate measures have been taken to allow this event to continue safely for students and chaperones. The PROM meal and dance will take place in the Kissell building and Post-PROM activities are scheduled afterwards here in the school. The Junior Class and Post- PROM parents are excited to stage this event for our seniors.
6.Total enrollment numbers for 7-12 in March was 233
The Board approved the following consent agenda:
-minutes, financial statements and investments for March
-Agreement with Optimal Health Initiatives to participate in its Charter Worker’s Compensation Program for the 2022 Policy year
– Agreement with Healthcare Process Consulting, Inc. for managing the district’s Ohio medicaid School Program from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024 at $4500 per year
-Agreement with NwOESC for Mentor Services for 21-22
-Revenue increase and Appropriation modifications
-Donations: For the Food Pantry – $20 from Patrick McAffey, $50 from Klinger Pharmacy, $25 from JR Jones and $300 from William Havelec; American Legion Post 669 donated an American Flag for the Ball Diamonds
-One-year contract for Lauren Freado for Family Consumer Science
-Certified Staff one year limited contract to Kristina Serna
-Certified Staff three year limited contract to Desiree Arps, Eric Cooper, Megan Dellinger, Elizabeth Elting, Tanner Gerken, Dan Hurd, Kaitlyn Kuhn and Jordan Rode
-Classified Staff continuing contract to Kiley Nafziger and Amy Welling
-Tutor positions effective May 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021 and commencing again on July 1, 2021 through June 30 2022 to: Wendy Hogrefe, Elizabeth Horton, Kaitlyn Kuhn, Nathan Massie, Amanda Nofziger and Jen Yoh
-One-year contract to Deb Ford as Part time Assistant Treasurer, August 1, 2021 – July 31, 2022
-One-year contract to Denise Leu for Part Time Fiscal Office duties, August 1, 2021-July 31,2022
-Two-year contract to Shari Stough as Food Service Manager, July 1, 2021-July 31, 2023
-Employments for 20-21: Substitute Paraprofessionals James Harris and Carol McInerney; Substitute Teachers Ronald Coles and Chelsea Hageman; Volunteer Assistant Track Coach Shawn Blaisdell
-Resignation for purposes of retirement of Ruth A. Parrott, 5th and 6th Grade Science Teacher, as of May 31, 2021
-Non-renewal of all 20-21 supplemental contracts at the end of the school year
-Resolution of Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2021
-2021 Senior Graduation Class
-Graduate Study Reimbursement for Steven Riley
-Overnight student stays, based on COVID-19 protocol to permit such trips: FFA Leadership Team to FFA Camp Muskingum, Carrollton, Ohio for July 12-16, 2021; and FFA Officer Training to Michigan City, Indiana for June 28 & 29, 2021
-Resignation of Nathan Siegel as Transportation/Mechanical Services Manager, effective June 30, 2021
In items from the Board, Mr. Randy Mahlman expressed to the Administration that he feels that students should be taught how to fold the American Flag.
The Board entered into an executive session “for the purpose of appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion or compensation of public employees or regulated individual, or investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee or regulated individual unless such person requests a public hearing.”
No action followed and the Board discussed facilities and possible upgrades before adjourning.
The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be on Monday, May 10, 2021 at 6 p.m. in the Library.