(PHOTO BY BRIANNA BALOGH / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
STUDENT GROUPS … Mackenzie Frame, member of both SOAR and SADD, presents slideshow on SADD activities.
By: Brianna Balogh
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
Called to order at 6 pm, the North Central Board of Education meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance led by 6th grade students.
Roll call followed with President Kati Burt, Vice President Tim Livengood, Chuck Haynes, John Huffman, and Dustin Meyers in attendance as well as Superintendent Michael Bute and Treasurer Eric Smeltzer.
First was a motion to amend the agenda, presented by Chuck Haynes, which was approved by all members. Board members shared a few comments of gratitude to the staff for all the work put into the Veterans Day program and the assistance in getting the FFA crop taken off.
President Burt shared some comments on the recently attended Ohio School Board Association Capital Conference.
Public comments followed with a heartfelt thank you on behalf of the levy committee to the residents and the school board for all their work on presenting information and answering questions regarding the tax levy.
The treasurer’s report presented by Eric Smeltzer followed. The first item was to waive the reading and approve the minutes from the October 15th meeting. Second was the financial statements and investments from October, which had been provided.
The third item was the acceptance of a donation of $150 from the Williams County Beef Producers to the FFA. The final item was to approve appropriation additions of $8146.43. The motion to approve the treasurer’s report was approved by all members.
Superintendent Bute followed by first introducing two student groups. SOAR, Students Offering Acceptance and Respect, spans grades 5-12 and currently has around 30 members.
Members in attendance each took turns explaining what made them want to join and the activities they have done. Most students credited a desire to help people and make a difference in the community as their reasons for joining.
Activities include and August team building camp, two monthly meeting to improve communication skills, Thursday morning welcome and passing out stickers, post it and thank you notes with positive messages for both students and staff, community service through helping with the backpack program, and 5th and 6th grade members read to younger classes 3 times a year.
SADD was introduced next. Students Against Destructive Decisions presented a slide show highlighting activities they have participated in and helped facilitate within the school.
Projects include attending summer conference in June and July, participating in Chalk the Walk for suicide prevention inn Bryan by relabeling water bottles, facilitating Chalk the Walk at the school with decorated sidewalk messages, suicide prevention breakfast, planning dress up days for red ribbon week, four members attended the Camp Palmer retreat in early November, and a World Kindness Day challenge of being kind to at least three people. Member Mackenzie Frame represents SADD serving on the CADCA National Youth Advisory Council.
Bute followed with several thanks to both groups as well as the parent organizations that support the students. He emphasized the completion of the culture playbook.
He reminded the board of the ideas of discipline driven behavior versus default driven behavior, emphasizing that behavior is a personal choice and growth is built on working in discomfort.
Next was the first reading of NEOLA Volume 43, No. 1 and Volume 43, No. 1 UGG/Edgar Revisions, which was provided to the board for review and will have a second reading at the upcoming meeting.
Discussion of the annual presentation of food and nutrition standards followed with Bute listing the correlating board policy numbers to review if desired.
Moving on to the school calendar option, Bute explained that three school calendar options would be devised and reviewed prior to going to the board for a determination.
Bute briefly touched on the Hometown ticketing option, which would be further explained in the athletic director’s report. Bute provided enrollment numbers to the board, total enrollment being 525 students.
The final two items were the next work session scheduled for December 17th at 5:00pm and the next meeting scheduled the same day at 6:00pm, both taking place in the High School Eagle room due to a band and choir concert on the same evening.
The administrators report followed starting with Elementary Principal Brent Saneholtz. Starting off Saneholtz updated the board on the recent parent teacher conferences and thanked both groups, Pioneer Church of the Nazarene and the PTO, for providing dinner for staff on both nights. It was greatly appreciated.
Saneholtz also informed of several other recent activities including the Eagle Hero assemblies where staff play games with students, the implementation of a new ELA program, and the recent Veteran’s Day program and projects.
Upcoming events include Elementary band and holiday program on December 16 and the spelling bee on December 6th at 1:45.
The next report was from 7-12 Principal Martha Hasselbusch who started with the student attendance and staff attendance percentages.
Continuing with bullying reports which are currently at 0 and disciplinary reports of 133 disciplinary referrals. Hasselbusch explained reporting had changed and was now broken down by grade level.
Recent activities included a visit for Juniors and Seniors to Bryan on October 23rd for the elevated explore career fair which resulted in a lot of excitement from the students.
October 31st started remediation for Algebra 1 and English 2 for students who have to retake the end of course exams.
On November 4th, sophomores selected specific programs at Four County to tour in December. November 22nd curriculum guide updates are due.
December 11th 8th grade has a Four County meeting and December 20th is the end of the second quarter.
Moving along to CCP, college credit plus, current students registered for spring classes with their advisor on November 1st.
November 21st will be an informational meeting with Northwest State Advisor. Students and parents must attend if they are new CCP students.
December 12th is placement testing. December 11th during college and career day will be a meeting with students to begin the scheduling process.
Fall end of course state testing will take place between December 4th and 13th. Semester exams taking place December 18th-19th.
December 5th sophomores will visit Four County and December 11th will be college and career day for grades 7-12, with plans to invite 11-12 graders from all districts within the county.
January 6th will be a meeting with Seniors to provide local scholarship information. Also, in January a practice ACT test will be provided for Juniors, coordinating with Sylvan Learning Center to facilitate.
ABO, academic booster organization, held their last meeting on October 22nd with the next meeting scheduled for December 16th. ABO has provided dinner for both PT conference nights.
November 26th through December 16th will be a student fundraiser, with the grade raising the most money receiving an incentive on December 20th.
A teacher survey was distributed for a teacher supply wish list and end of the year celebrations are in the beginning stages of planning.
Lindsay Eckley was introduced to provide an update on BLT. Eckley went over some recent challenges with smart passes and students not receiving tickets, with both being addressed with students and staff.
The upcoming professional development session will focus on state report card and challenges in instructional strategies.
Upcoming activities include an Ohio State versus Michigan day, Eckley offering Michigan gear to any board member wanting some, 14 days of school spirit in December with an ugly sweater day for the staff being voted on by students, students will create some kind of artistic project such as poem, dance, etc. around the holiday theme voted on by students, secret Santa and staff holiday party.
All six R-factors will be introduced by the end of the week to students, with great feedback from the students on prizes. Eckley went over several ways students could earn tickets. A Kahoot trivia game will be presented on November 26th in correlation with the R-factors.
A shirt design contest will be introduced as well in December. Also, in December there will be a student versus staff minute to win it competition.
Principal Hasselbusch continued with Student of the Month and Rising Eagle updates, outlining that every parent for Student of the Month and Rising Eagle are contacted. The ceremony has continued to be a big hit, with standing room only.
Students are recognized individually, and all attendees enjoy an ice cream sundae. Two additional professional development days are scheduled for the remainder of the school year. Teachers are encouraged to provide suggestions for professional development, upcoming topics include AI.
Increasing academic achievement has been a main focus. Individual teacher meeting for each teacher administering the state testing in the spring.
Teachers are shown data and explained thoroughly as well as offering whatever support the teacher and students need to succeed.
Each student is informed of their growth goal and provided with instruction on how to interpret the data provided to them.
Parents will be contacted and provided with information to help assist each student in reaching their goals. This provides a clear and collaborative team to help students achieve their growth goals.
The readiness test will be administered twice a year, once before the end of the calendar year and once in the spring a month prior to state testing. This will provide data for both teachers and students to help close the gaps prior to state testing.
Each grade level has been and will continue to hold quarterly meetings with Principal Hasselbusch. This provides students with data on historical state testing and challenges to meet their personal growth goals. If met, the students will plan a special celebration.
Disciplinary referral data is shared with the students and another challenge was presented to reduce referrals by 50%.
If achieved, every student in that grade level that does not have a disciplinary referral will plan a celebration for that accomplishment. The final point discussed in the student meetings is culture, comparing the school system to a family.
A celebration will be planned for the end of the year, celebrating every student as a part of the Eagle family.
Parent teacher conferences were held on the 24th and 28th with details provided to the board in the printed report. Upcoming activities are December 6th American Red Cross Blood Drive and December 17th is the Student of the Month and Rising Eagle Ice Cream Social awards at 2pm in the Eagle room.
Athletic Director Michael Babin started by recognizing students who had received awards at the fall sports ceremony. Students in attendance represented golf, volleyball, and cross country.
Babin highlighted students’ stats from their respective sports season, including several records set by Maddie Zimmerman in volleyball as well as leadership and teamwork qualities each athlete has displayed. Babin highlighted the Soaring Eagle recipients who have the highest unweighted GPA.
Babin expanded on the Hometown ticketing program which is used by OHSAA. This would provide an online option to purchase tickets.
Babin explained the many benefits of the ticketing system. Providing data on the use of season tickets could provide guidance on pricing.
Data would also show the number of students attending sporting events. Some fees associated with the system would be $1 per regular ticket, $3 per season pass, and a 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee.
This would expand the reach to spectators from the visiting team, which could increase revenue. The digital tickets also offer three free ad spaces.
The final item Babin discussed was his visit to the OIAA, Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, conference in Columbus.
His highlight was the Ohio State Athletic Director Ross Bjork who spoke about the importance of relationships, accountability, and character. Consistent branding and culture expectation were a focus. This was Babin’s first time attending the conference and he hopes to return in the future.
Superintendent recommendations followed starting with snow removal for the 2024-2025 school year by Huffman and Sons Electric at $120 an hour per truck.
Motioned by Haynes and seconded by Meyer, the motion passed with all members voting yes except Huffman who abstained.
Following was the consent agenda, including retirement for Geoff Gilmore at the end of the school year and junior class sponsor.
Employment for a new van driver and extra duty positions for High School Cheerleading Advisor and Junior High Cheerleading Advisor.
The final item being the cardiac emergency response plan. All approved motion. The final agenda item was the Senior class trip, which was voted yes by all members except Haynes who made it clear it was not the trip itself but the location.
The meeting adjourned at 7:08 to go into executive session.