The first order of business was to hold a public meeting on the issue of re-employment of Barb Oyer and Larry bunting who had retired. Speakers were to have been allowed to comment for up to five minutes each, but there were no visitors to the meeting in regard to this matter.
[emember_protected custom_msg=”Full content protected for online subscribers. Purchase a one week subscription from the top menu bar for just $1.99 to read all online content (full access). Longer subscription plans are also available. Subscriptions cover our costs to attend local events; bringing forth Hometown News Coverage to our communities.”]
The board approved the consent agenda which included minutes from the March 2013 meeting, financial statements and investments, the employment contracts of the following employees:
- Amy Beck – Grade K Instructor
- Amanda Bloehm – Grade 3 Instructor
- Mary Boots – Junior High Reading and Language Instructor
- Dustin Campbell – Grade 2 Instructor
- Melinda Fugate – High School Intervention
- Nicole Geiser – PreK Instructor/Reading Intervention
- Moreland House – Music Instructor
- Corey Kreinbrink – Elementary Intervention
- Brady Ruffer – Junior High/Senior High Social Studies
- Nathan Shamp – High School Social Studies
- Jane Thompson – CBI and CBI Lab
- Ashley Thurn – Grade K Instructor
- Jessica Tracy – High School Vo Ag Instructor
- Pauline Goble – Crossing Guard
- Kathleen Hellard –Cafeteria
- Rene Roesner – Cafeteria
- David Thompson – Bus Driver
The board approved one year supplemental contracts held by twenty-four classified employees. An Open Enrollment Policy for 2013 – 2014 was approved. Nine students will be attending the FFA (Future Farmers of America) State Convention on May 1st, 2nd and 3rd, and will be using school vans for transportation. The board renewed membership in the Northwestern Ohio Educational Research Council for 2013-2014 for $200. The Junior High/High School Student Handbook for 2013-2014 was discussed and approved, and the board approved US Government and History end-of-course exams. Those were further discussed in High School Principal Tim Rettig’s report.
In his report, Elementary/Middle School Principal Paul Jones the kindergarten clinic had been completed in last week with 29 children screened. Last year there had been 35 children screened, but he expected that there would still be some moving into the area before the next school year begins. Overall, the feedback on the screen was positive. Achievement testing will be held April 23, 25, and 26. The school is gathering information for implementing co-teaching for the 2013-2014 school year. Special education teachers will be co-teaching in classrooms to give extra assistance in math and reading. Orders have been placed for student retentions regarding students who will be retained in their grade level. Jones also announced that the Fifth and Sixth Grade Band Concert will be held on May 7.
For his report, High School/Junior High Principal Tim Rettig said that the exam schedule had been set at the high school. It will be similar to the scheduling that was done in December, but with different dates. The seniors will have graduation practice on May 31 at 8:00 a.m., and graduation will be held June 2 at 2:00 p.m. in the varsity gymnasium. Prom is scheduled for April 27.
Superintendent Ken Boyer discussed enrollment history over the last 10 years. North Central, along with many other schools in the area, has decreased their number of students. Although North Central was not hit as hard as some other William’s County school districts, they had lost 83 students over the last decade, with a decrease of 803 in Williams County. Defiance County showed the only increases. Boyer noted that the number of free or reduced school lunches had increased. Ten years ago, the percentage of students receiving subsidized lunches was 12-13 percent, and it is now 52-53 percent.
Regarding the state budget, the governor has submitted his proposed budget, but the budget proposed by the House gives school districts less than what the governor proposes. The Senate bill comes up in May, and Boyer said that he hopes that between the governor, House, and Senate, they will come up with a budget that will benefit schools. It has yet to be detailed on where the budgeted money will go concerning school funding.
Boyer said that grades given to school districts by the state will be assigned a letter grade, rather then the current ratings such as “excellent.” The state’s goal is that each child will move up one grade level, such as a C to a B. It will reflect how the average child is doing. Boyer cautioned that the interpretation may look different than we expect.
When it comes to end-of-course exams, students will earn points for each course exam, and will have to reach certain levels of each end-of-course exam to graduate. These exams will eventually replace the current OGT (Ohio Graduation Test) exams. Locally, the North Central School District is trying to stay ahead of the curve, even though they don’t yet know what the state will do.
There will be a number of projects to be completed over the summer. Boyer has prioritized projects on a list, and if all are to be done, $340,000 will be spent, leaving a balance of over $300,000 for the rest of the year. First on the list will be the maintenance of the bus fleets. He noted that these are routine projects, many done annually. Protective film has been installed on all of the schools entrances, and they are still waiting on security cameras. An A.L.I.C.E. training will be scheduled for staff in the fall. This is at no cost to the schools as it will be taught by a police department. A.L.I.C.E. stands for Alert-Lockdown-Inform-Counter-Evacuate, and is a program designed to decrease harm in the case of crisis.
Eric Smeltzer, District Treasurer, distributed figures on the schools Five Year Forecast. Thought the district has lost state money in the last year, conservative spending and restructuring of staff has allowed the district to stay on track with a positive forecast for through 2017. Smeltzer said that they planned to “keep the conservative spending going.” The board, after hearing the report, approved the Five Year Forecast for the May Fiscal Year 2013 as presented.
In the treasurer’s report, the board approved the following:
General Fund________________________Amount
Supplies and Materials__________________$13,885.65
Total General Fund____________________$13,885.65
Other Funds__________________________Amount
Principals Fund________________________$12,864.68
Title II-A Improving Teach Quality___________$ 1,777.52
Total Other Funds______________________$14,642.20
The board went into executive session to discuss appointment of personnel. No action was taken, and the meeting was adjourned upon their return to open session.[/emember_protected]
