An emotional Mark Elliott thanked Hilltop’s Board of Education for approving FMLA leave for him at their Monday, September 17, 2012 monthly meeting. Elliott’s leave was effective September 17 and is open-ended, allowing Elliott to spend time with his wife who is gravely ill.
Kevin Bockrath was approved to serve as interim high school principal at a rate of $250 per day on an as needed basis.
In addition to leave time for Elliott, the board approved numerous items through their consent agenda. A participant agreement for special education services was approved with Bryan City Schools for the 2012-2013 school year. Coaching employments were approved for: Tom Schaper as JV Girls Basketball and Varsity Girls Softball coach; Steve Riley as JV boys basketball coach; Josiah Poletta as Freshman boys basketball coach; and Phil Fogle as 7th grade boys basketball coach. Sandy Carpenter was hired as a paraprofessional substitute and Kimberly Goosman, Sam Steffes, Shannon Swartz and Emily Yoh-Rodriguez were all hired as substitute teachers.
The board accepted donations of school supplies from Dollar General, Curves, First Presbyterian Church of West Unity and The Village Market. The board also approved the list of Ala Carte items offered in the Hilltop Cafeteria. Finally, the board approved the ongoing FIP(Formative Instructional Practices) training for the staff through Race to the Top and ongoing Bullying Committee stipends if meetings are held on non-scheduled work days or hours. Both of the last two items are paid from Race to the Top funding.
Elementary Principal Laura Springer updated the board concerning the reasons for adding a third kindergarten section this year. The classroom has already been implemented and was necessitated by higher enrollment numbers in the kindergarten this year. She also spoke about the Grade 4 Constitution program which was moved from its planned date due to a fog cancellation.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting of the Millcreek-West Unity Board of Education will be October 22 at 6 p.m. This meeting was moved back a week due to a conflict in Superintendent Robert Smith’s schedule with the original October 15th date.