By: Amy Wendt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
amy@thevillagereporter.com
The Millcreek-West Unity School Board met on Monday, November 13 in the Hilltop High School Library with members Heather Jones, Brian Wieland, Sarah Carothers, Dave Chester, and Randy Mahlman all in attendance. Superintendent Jim Wyse, Treasurer Traci Thompson, High School Principal Steve Riley, and Elementary Principal Jason Mansfield were also present.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call, Mr. Wyse started the meeting off with the Superintendent’s report.
“I just wanted to make sure you are aware – our levy did go down. I was concerned as I spoke the previous month.”
“The wording on the ballot does not say the word “renewal” and you can’t have that word in there because it’s a substitute. I’m hoping if we put it back up next spring, we will have a lot better turnout for the yes votes,” Mr. Wyse shared.
“So, I think what we need to do is get our levy treasurer involved and really put out the word in the advertisement that it’s not new money, it’s been in place since about 2004 I think – something around there. I would recommend reducing it a little bit too – to try to get it under that 3-mill floor.”
Also in his report, Mr. Wyse pointed out the NEOLA policies before the Board for first reading. Looking forward to 2024, Mr. Wyse then shared with the Board the tentative 2024-2025 school calendar noting that it is very similar to the calendar for the current school year.
It will be brought back before the Board in December for an additional reading and the official vote accepting the proposed calendar will be held in January.
A list of tentative 2024 school board meetings was also discussed. The Board typically meets the second Monday of each month except for June and September.
In the High School Report, Principal Riley took a moment to congratulate the Students of the Month – Ellie Johnson, Aiden Stover, Nathaniel Waue, Savannah Westfall, Brennan Dempsey, Bryce Peters, Brayden Tyler, Jacob Haskell, Hannah Wilson, Kaselynn Deyo, Alaina Russell, Landyn Myers, Ainsley Severence, Arend Schuurman, Kason Rediger, Seeley Easley, Shealyn Brown, Alexandria Thompson, Luna Guijarro, Aiden Terrill, Aaden Judy, Carlee Schaffner and Jazmyn Castillo-Edelan.
Riley also shared those students taking Biology or Plant/Animal Science visited VanderMade Dairy and Goldie Newman Park on October 20th.
During the dairy farm tour, one student noted “I did not realize how much economics and critical thinking are involved in farming/dairy farming.”
During the second half of the field trip, students took the opportunity to work alongside experts from the Williams Co. Soil and Water Conservation District and the ODNR’s H2Ohio program.
The girls’ volleyball team and coaching staff were lauded for a third straight BBC championship. The varsity team concluded their season with a 21-3 record and a district appearance while the JV volleyball team took the title of league champs. Coach Janice Bruner also earned a milestone by achieving her 500th career win during the 2023 season.
Students receiving high marks at the National Agriscience Fair during the National FFA Convention were Joselyn Layman earning 5th place in the Animal Systems Division and Ingrid Hoffman receiving 6th place in the Food Systems Division.
Riley also noted that over 160 meetings were held with parents during Parent-Teacher conferences in early November. It was also shared that in grades 7 to 12, enrollment has dropped by five students with a total of 234.4 enrolled in the High School.
Mr. Jason Mansfield began the Elementary School Principal’s report by congratulating the 83 students who earned their names on the Elementary Honor Roll.
It was also noted that from October 9 through October 11, the elementary welcomed the Ohio Mobile Dentist program and 75 students were seen during that time.
Mansfield shared that the school nurse was very happy with the turnout, the number of sealants applied, and the restorative care given.
During an assembly on October 13, elementary students saw the character education program (NED – Never give up, Encourage others, Do your best). According to Mansfield’s report, “The ‘journey’ teaches the students to focus on positive attitude, believe in yourself, and the power of YET.”
Parent-Teacher Conferences brought many parents to the elementary school and 322 conferences were held with some 4th through 6th grade parents meeting multiple teachers.
For staff, October also saw another round of Response to Intervention (RTI) meetings that were very productive.
Fire, Rescue, and Police personnel visited the elementary with their equipment and vehicles on display for kindergarten through 2nd-grade students as they celebrated community helpers.
Fun was had by students during the month of October as they celebrated Halloween with a parade. Fall field trips included the Kindergarten and KinderCadets visiting the Toledo Zoo, the 3rd Grade exploring Sauder Village, and the 4th Grade visiting the Brady Township Fire Department.
Mr. Mansfield’s report also noted that total enrollment in the elementary is down 1 and sits at 322 students.
Following the presentation of administrative reports, the Board approved the November Consent Agenda as presented.
Accepted were the October 2023 financials and meeting minutes; the FY24 Fall Five-Year Forecast and Assumptions to be submitted to the Ohio Department of Education by November 30, 2023; the purchase of a 2014 Chevy Express Passenger Van in the amount of $25,277.50; the approval of a Special Education Waiver provided by the NwOESC to expand the age limit requirements for the NwOESC Special Education Unit at Edon Northwest Local Schools.
Also approved was a change in the current year’s school calendar to allow for an early release at 1:00 pm on April 8, 2024, to allow students and staff members to view the solar eclipse safely from their homes.
In personnel matters contained within the Consent Agenda, employment was granted for: Michelle Van Dam as Substitute Part-Time Multi-Task Aide and Bus Driver; Laura Rings as Full-time Cafeteria Worker; Patricia Hart as Tutor; Rick Custar as a part of the Intervention Assistance Team; Tony Gerig as Varsity Baseball Coach; Nate Meuschke as JV Baseball Coach; Jeremy Hartman as Assistant Baseball Coach; Nate Massie as Varsity Track Coach; Conner English as Assistant Track Coach; Corey Eisel as Assistant Track Coach; Desiree Arps as Volunteer Track Coach; Shawn Blaisdell as Jr. High Track Coach; Justin Wiyrick as Jr. High Track Coach; Tom Schaper as Varsity Softball Coach; Natalee Schaffner as JV Softball Coach; Maddie Schaper as Assistant Softball Coach; Kiley Nafziger as Driver Assistant Duties; and Vicki Rhodes as Resident Educator Mentor.
The Board also approved compensation to the following Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) team members at $28 per hour for hours worked outside of their regular schedule for FY 24: Angie Dunson, Elizabeth Horton, Johnnie Tule, Amy Welling, Jason Mansfield, Karen Cheezan, Amber Metzger, Jen Yoh, and Steve Riley.
Graduate Study reimbursements were approved for Damon Drewes for participating in a Resilient Teaching workshop through Augustana University.
The Board then approved a resolution declaring it necessary to provide for the substitution of a substitute tax levy in excess of the ten-mill limitation.
The next meeting of the Millcreek-West Unity Board of Education will be on December 11, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the library.
