PHOTO BY LEAH SINGER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
BOARD OF EDUCATION … Pictured from left to right are Board of Education members Sharon VonSeggern, Brent Froelich, Jason Leupp, Dan Hughes and Emily Clemens as they prepare for the September 16, 2024 meeting.
By: Leigha Singer
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
Stryker Local Schools Board of Education held their monthly meeting on Monday, September 16th, 2024 at 4:00 pm in the community room.
Present for the meeting were: Dean of Students Beth Morr, Principal Dave Schultz, Treasurer Jill Peters, Superintendent Nate Johnson, and board members Sharon VonSeggern, Brent Froelich, Jason Leupp, Dan Hughes and Emily Clemens.
The meeting began with a roll call, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The board then approved their meeting agenda for their August 19th, 2024 meeting.
At this time the board asked if there were any public comments, and since there were none, it was announced that they move on to the Treasurer/CFO’s Financial Report and Recommendations.
Treasurer Jill Peters stated that the board could read through the Financial Report for August 2024 as follows: There was a General fund cash balance of $9,057,122.86 and a Total revenue of $1,320,897.40, Real Estate tax of $596,415.81, Personal property tax of $317,228.13, Unrestricted Grants in Aide of $268,352.83, Restricted Grants in Aide of $30,964.36, All other Operating Revenue $107,936.27, Total expenses of $570,628.56, Personnel services of $275,232.13, Retirement/insurances of $135,687.13, Purchased services of $93,235.13, Supplies of $46,424.20, Capital Outlay of $819.55 & All other objects of $19,230.34.
Once the board had a moment to review the number, the board then made a recommendation to accept the following donations: Truland Equipment-donation on $100 to Stryker FFA.
The next order on the agenda was the elementary principal’s report to superintendent: Beth Morr briefly discussed the fantastic displays at the Williams County Fair that were from various Art class, FFA & Panther Tech students.
She also stated he the high school’s band show at the fair was amazing.
Morr then shared that Karuna House came on September 13th and will be back again on October 11th. October 4th will mark the school’s first Family Fun Night of the year, which will have a camping theme with the slogan ‘Adventure Awaits.’ Every child, preschool through sixth grade will get a camping themed shirt. At Family Fun Night, a camping themed dinner will be served from 4:30 to 5:30 pm, followed by a parent presentation led by Scott Urban, which is a different organization for the night’s events from the past.
Any parent of a preschool aged child through twelfth grades are invited to attend the presentation, although the activities remain only for preschool through sixth grades. Also, there will be huge prize giveaways, and the faculty is looking forward to the event.
Morr said there will even be a real camper in the parking lot, serving as the ticket booth. Family Fun Night will run from 4:30-5:30 pm on October 4, 2024.
Moving on to the high school principal’s report to the superintendent, High School Principal David Schultz stated first that the Government teacher Mrs. Taylor will have her students wear red, white & blue on September 17 for Constitution Day.
Schultz went on to state the September 18 marks the date for mid-terms, and September 27 & October 4 will be no school days for the students and will be a professional development day for staff. On October 18, the school will host a Fall Halloween Dance for high school students.
October 18 is also the end of the first nine weeks, and picture re-take day for the entire school. Mr. Shultz then took a moment to wish good luck to the fall sports teams that will be participating in tournaments.
At this time, the meeting moved forward with the Superintendent’s Personnel Recommendations. Superintendent Mr. Nate Johnson recommended that the board approve the following resignations: effective for the 2024-2025 school year, as presented: Misty Fultz in Transportation (8/26), junior high baseball coach Zach Julliard (8/26), Maintenance/Transportation worker Sam Speiser (8/30) and teacher Tim Morr (9/3).
Johnson went on to state the board make a recommendation to approve the following employment and reassignment for the 2024-2025 school year: Reassign Isreal Aguilar to Maintenance and Transportation, with conditions [bus endorsement] and employ Forrest Burke [Micah] one year as a Maintenance/Transportation & Custodian, with conditions [bus endorsement]. Johnson went on to state that the board make a recommendation to approve the following classified/certified substitutes and volunteers, contingent upon required BCI/FBI background check and all required documents: Chad Carrol as a Classified/Certified Personnel, Custodial, Food Service, Maintenance & Transportation Sub.
Johnson also stated that Morr and Schultz have been working diligently to fill a teaching position at the school, and then he reminded all present that the next school board meeting will be held at 5:30 pm on October 21, 2024. The time has a potential to change based on possible tournament games.