SOCIALLY DISTANCED BOARD MEETING…Spread across the large performance sized stage, to achieve at least six feet from each other, Superintendent Nate Johnson, Principal Dave Shultz, Treasurer Jill Peters and all of Stryker’s School Board members: Brent Froelich, Ben Woolace, Sharon VonSeggern, Dan Hughes and Jason Leupp had to speak a little louder than normal to be heard during their April 20, 2020 Board Meeting which was held in their brand new auditorium. (PHOTO BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
Clarity of purpose keeps the school systems of Northwest Ohio going and Stryker Local Schools is definitely no exception. Holding their April 20, 2020 Board meeting in the brand new auditorium, Board members and administrators met to keep the ball rolling.
Even as new rulings are passed down from Federal and State, Stryker students continue to have their educational needs met during this time of COVID-19 Quarantine.
Stryker continues to care for all of their students appropriately with all of their services. “Even though it is home instruction for our students,” Mr. Johnson said, “we still continue all our services to the best of our ability, with the students and parents our priority.” The teachers are staying connected in creative ways and materials and resources are provided both online and in other ways as needed.
Concerning the use of the building, Johnson explained that “necessary staff are called in at random times for specific things. The cafeteria staff is in four days a week to make lunches for the students.”
Of course, Graduation is a big topic in social media these days and Stryker seniors are high on the list of priorities for the Board and administrators. When the school calendar was made last year, the date for Graduation was set for May 17, 2020. Now, with the canceling of school for the rest of the school year by the Governor, all events on the calendar have been cancelled.
“We are going to try to figure out some type of graduation ceremony,” Johnson said. “We are not sure what it will look like or the time frame but, even though at this point it is shut down, we are holding the 17th as the date and hoping we will be able to do that. We will know more as the date gets closer and we can make decisions based on newer information concerning this whole situation.”
Other events that have been CANCELED, which were shared in the Principal’s report given by Mr. Dave Shultz include:
- (newly announced) Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSA) has cancelled all spring sports
- Computerized State Testing
- Kindergarten Screenings (moved to the beginning of next school year)
- Jr./Sr. Prom which was supposed to be on April 25
- Kindergarten Conferences
- Festival of the Arts for JH and HS
- Grades 4-6 Band and Choir Show
- Academic Awards Night
- Rest of the school year in physical format
Also in his report, Mr. Shultz recommended the Board’s approval for the 2020 Graduating Class. The Board voted to approve his report and the recommendation.
Treasurer Jill Peters reported that the General fund cash balance for March was $7,389,985.14; Total Revenue was $1,621,247.18 and Total Expenses were $457,419.00.
She recommended and received approval of that report as well as the Amended Certificate of Estimated Resources; the amendment to the appropriations as presented and the updated 5-year forecast as presented.
Approved with gratitude were the following donations: $600.00 for Stryker Golf Fund from Kent Wolff Golf Scramble; For Post Prom – $100 from Oberlin Farms Demolition and Recycling, $250 from Montpelier Eagles, $200 from Montpelier Lodge No. 312, $100 from R&S Lines, Inc., $100 from NW Ohio Drivers Training School, Inc., $200 from Woolace Electric Corp., and $200 from Stryker Farmer’s Exchange; Anonymous donation of $1,370 for the Art/Spanish Club; Anonymous donation of $380 for the general fund; and $50 for FFA Fund from Yoder & Frey.
Approval was given for Superintendent Nate Johnson’s recommendations to approve the class of 2020 for Graduation contingent on meeting all current and modified state and local requirements, and the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center Agreement for the 2020-21 school year as presented.
The Board went into Executive Session to consider the employment of a public employee or official; to consider the compensation of a public employee or official; to consider the evaluation and/or review of a public employee or official; and to prepare for negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment. There was no action taken and the board came out of Executive sessional at 6:59, adjourning the full board meeting at 7:00 p.m.
The next Board meeting is scheduled for May 18, 2020 at 5:30 in the Auditorium, unless things have changed and they are free to meet in the High School meeting room.
Rebecca can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
