LAND TO FARM … Superintendent Jim Wyse (pictured), as part of his report, said that the Village of West Unity has provided some ground (1.5 acres) for the FFA to farm, and they can start farming it in the fall.
By: Daniel Cooley
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
The Millcreek – West Unity School Board meeting, held on June 26, began with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by roll call.
All five board members, Sarah Carothers, Dave Chester, Heather Jones, Randy Mahlman and Brian Wieland, were in attendance.
Superintendent Jim Wyse then gave a report. He stated that the Village of West Unity has provided the FFA with 1.5 acres to farm and they can start farming it in the fall.
Wyse also gave board members attachment reports for the annual cafeteria report, the March 14 business advisory council meeting and the second semester bully report.
In addition, the board discussed what time to hold the next board meeting on July 10 and they will meet at 7 a.m. Wyse stated that the meeting will be a short one, about 15 minutes in length, because there will be just one Resolution to vote on.
Principal Steve Riley then gave the seventh grade through 12th grade report. Riley stated that the “senior send-off, senior breakfast and graduation were a smashing success.”
However, there was an issue with the Senior Trip to Louisville. The students were able to receive a refund from the transportation company and many students took an alternate trip to Kalahari, an African themed waterpark in Sandusky, Ohio.
This year’s graduating class is the first one to take all of their classes in the new building. Wyse thanked Cathie Batt, Amber Metzger, and Jennifer Yoh for their help with graduation.
Summer school was held June 5-June 22 for students with credit deficiencies. Ten students participated and every one earned at least one-half credit and six students earned one or more credit hours.
Overall, the students earned 10 additional credits for graduation. Thanks to Nathan Massie for running the program.
Summer intervention for junior high students also took place from June 5-22. Students who failed a full year of a course or a semester of two courses were given the opportunity to attend.
Students who were in jeopardy of being detained had to complete the program, in order to move on to the next level.
Four students took advantage of the opportunity. Thanks to Karen Cheezan for running the program.
Cristin Hagans and James Bell, who placed second at the International Science Fair in Dallas, Texas, talked about Bell’s experience. They thanked the school board for their support.
Also, Joscelyn Layman and Ingrid Hoffman accompanied the pair on the trip and were selected as student observers.
In student enrollment, 245.6 students in grades 7-12 were enrolled this year.
Jason Mansfield then gave the elementary school report. Mansfield said that the students had a blast at the annual field day.
He thanked Mr. Drewes for organizing the day and thanked parents Julie Thompson, Jay and Lindsay Moore, Heather and J.R. Jones, Lindsay Drewes, and staff, of making the day a success.
Third through sixth grade students who met goals in math and ELA got to participate in rewards activities.
Math winners went to Bryan Lanes and then to the park for lunch and recess. ELA winners went to the Roller Skating Center in West Unity.
The Elementary Awards Assembly took place on the last day of school. After Mrs. Tanner gave her awards and it was announced that she was retiring, the students gave her a standing ovation.
Thanks to Mrs. Tanner and all the work she has done for the students and the school over her many years of teaching.
Congrats to all the fourth quarter Honor Roll students and they were listed on the school’s Facebook page.
Congrats to the following students who were on the Honor Roll all four quarters: Brett Neely, Brayden Hatfield, Samantha Grimm, Cole Gerig, Zia Siegel, Ainsley Severence and Dezirae Hahn.
Also, Accelerated Reader Award winners who earned over 200 points were Isabella Hoffman, Bryton Miller, Gerig, Neely, Grimm and Kasie Deyo.
The following students were winners of the Williams County Soil and Water Conservation “One Water” Poster Contest.
In the fifth and sixth grade division, Siegel earned first place and Tina Dickinson finished in second place. In first grade, Kinzi Clark earned first place. The winners will be displayed at the Williams County Fair. In August, Clark’s poster will be judged at state competition, in the K-1 Division.
Siegel, who will be entering seventh grade in the fall, in Science Fair Competition, earned a superior rating, was in the top 10% at the 5-8 Division at the state science fair. This fall, Siegel will advance to the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovator’s Challenge. Siegel also received $100 for the Elfner Young Scientist Award and received the OTTA Scholarship for $1,000.
Kindergarten graduation took place on May 23. Thanks to the parent volunteers and to Mrs. Perna, Mrs. Ward, Mrs. Rupp and Mrs. Patten, for helping to make the graduation a huge success.
The Technology Committee, rebooted from the past, held its first meeting in late May. Led by Alex Cummins, NWOESC Technology Coach Eric West and the Administrative Team, the group discussed how they want to move forward, including using applications and devices.
A total of 20 Hilltop students are involved in a summer learning program, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, in June and August.
The first to third graders meet in the morning and fourth through sixth graders meet in the afternoon. Thanks to Mrs. Ward, Ms. Roth and Ms. McCann, for working with the students.
Last week, Hilltop elementary student Cameron Marvin traveled to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and placed fifth nationally out of 428 boys. His score of 281 was just four points behind the national champion.
Marvin finished ranked first in Ohio and 20th nationally, for his elementary school career.
The week of June 12, all of the new elementary hires attended Orton Gillingham Training. The rest of the teachers attended in December at the NWOESC in Archbold. All of Hilltop’s K-3 teachers are now fully trained in the program, in the Ohio Dyslexia Law.
Through a grant program, which is worth $15,000 of PAX Training, is now available for all Hilltop Elementary teachers.
According to Mansfield, PAX is an evidence-based, tauma-informed, prevention intervention program that is based on strategies implemented as part of students’ daily routines and helps with attention…limiting problematic behavior and reinforcing pro-social behavior.”
Next, the board approved the following 28 different areas of the consent agenda: the minutes, financial statements and investments from the May 2023 meeting; to participate in NOVA, a digital curriculum; to participate in all federal programs for the 23-24 fiscal year, including CCIP grants and breakfast and lunch programs; the proposal with Hylant Administrative Services for District’s Liability, Violence, Automobile and Property Insurance; the NWOCA membership fees for fiscal year 2024; the participation in Early Childhood Education Consortium with NwOESC for 2024; the technical services/costs agreement with NWOCA for 2024; the agreement with the N.W. Ohio Juvenile Detention Training and Rehabilitation Center for educational services for July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024; an agreement with North Central Local Schools for School Nurse Services for 2024; the fiscal year 2023 final appropriations; temporary appropriations for fiscal year 2024 at 75% of 2023 actual expenditures; the resolution authorizing the treasurer to purchase and Employee Dishonesty and Faithful Performance Policy in lieu of a bond; for treasurer to act as the Board Appointed Public Records Training Designee; to dispose of/sell texts/workbooks, old weight room equipment and obsolete/out of date Chromebooks; the following additions, revenue increases and appropriation modifications for the general fund, bond, permanent improvement, food services, maintenance fund, principal’s fund and early childhood; donations for $1,000 from North Star Bluescope Steel, to the Food Service fund and Baby Grand Piano from Rob and Dawn Layman to the Music Department; accept resignations for Marion Allen, science teacher and yearbook advisor (effective July 31, 2023), Jerry Heer, full time bus driver (effective December 31, 2023) and Destiny Stockburger as JV girls basketball coach; salary changes for Danile Hurd to the Master’s Salary Schedule and rescind the contract to Richard Custar for six years of teaching experience to five years of teaching experience; to Kim Warner, advanced psychology through Miami University, spring 2023, six semester hours and educational research practicum through Miami University, online, for summer 2023 and six semester hours; a Memorandum of Understanding with Defiance College for the hosting of Defiance College teacher education candidates; an overnight stay for the Big E FFA Agriscience Fair in West Springfield, Massachusetts for September 14-17, 2023; the transfer of $1,635.31 from the general fund to the cafeteria fund, to cover negative lunch balances; the Instructional Coaching Services Agreement with NWOCA for 2024; the parent/student handbook for grades 7-12; the student/parent handbook for grades K-6; the purchase of sound equipment from Harter Sound for the new junior high gym and weight room addition; employments for Daniel Baumgartner, vocal music director K-12, one year limited contract and supplemental contract, Bryce Cooley, environmental and physical science teacher and yearbook advisor, one year limited contract and supplemental contract as yearbook advisor; Kara Custar, multi-task aide, one year limited contract, Jamie Engler, junior high football coach and Steve Bernard, volunteer varsity assistant football coach.
Next, the board approved a resolution for a substitute tax levy, in excess of the ten-mill limitation.
In board comments, on behalf of his daughter Noelle Chester, who is the summer rec director and oversees the meal program, Chester thanked Hilltop students and people in the village who have helped her. She wouldn’t succeed, without their help. The board then voted to adjourn the meeting.
Dan can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
