SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT … Stryker School Board members, Sharon Von Seggern, Brent Froelich and President Jason Leupp, listened to Superintendent Nate Johnson’s monthly report at the October 18, 2021, under the watchful eyes of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. (PHOTO BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
Stryker School Board held their monthly meeting on Monday evening, October 18, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. Regular items approved included the agenda, the minutes form the September 14, 2021 meeting, and the Treasurer Meeting minutes.
With no public participation, they moved on to the Treasurer/CFO’s financial reports and recommendations. Jill Peters reported the highlights of the general fund for September with the Cash balance of $8,630,21, Total Revenue of $362,200.27, and Total expenses of $46,860.25. Council voted to approve that report as well as the following recommendations:
-Donations – $100 from Colleen and Carl Henry for the Girls’ Basketball fund; $1,121 from Stryker Athletic Boosters for Stryker Football fund; and $774 from Stryker Athletic Boosters for Stryker Cheerleading fund.
-Updated 5-year forecast
-Amended Certificate of Estimated Resources
-Amendment to appropriations
As Dean of Students Beth Morr was not present for the meeting, Principal Dave Schultz gave the information from her report.
As of September 27, all cookie orders were delivered; October 1 – there were 40 students who got a limo ride and reward day for sales of Otis Spunkmeyer; October 8 was Fire Prevention day and classes walked over to the Fire Station; October 15 – end of first nine weeks; October 18 was no school for students and Professional Development for staff; October 22 – Family Fun Night held from 4:30-6:30 with all those who attend getting to go to the Football Game for free, and a Dance after the game for Stryker Students Only; October 25-29 is Right to Read week with the theme Reading Around the World; and October 29 is Grandparent’s Day 8:45-10:30 a.m.
In his own report, Mr. Schultz informed the board of the following:
– September Student of the Month was Haylee Fulk for the Core Value of Responsibility with the Sponsor being Vision Photography
-District Grade Card results were not typical as they have stopped using grades and there was not a lot of info due to covid
-October 21 3rd Grade Reading Test administration
-October 26 Williams County Elementary Quiz Bowl at 6:30 at Bryan Elementary
-October 28 Art and Spanish Clubs take trip to Chicago (every other year)
-October 29 1st visit for Grades 6-8 from Karuna House (unfunded mandate to supply mental health training for the students)
-November 9 High School Band Concert at 7 p.m.
-November 10 Winter Sports Pictures at 3:30 & Mid term Reports
-November 11 Veterans Day – Veterans are invited as guests to eat lunch with a student or simply stop in for lunch
-November 16 Christmas for Kids Day with Defiance radio 98.1
He also congratulated the fall sports teams on a fine season and wished the winter sports teams Good luck in the season.
Superintendent Nate Johnson received approval from the board for the following recommendations: Jenna Ramon as Cheer Volunteer for 21-22 school year; and Supplemental contracts for 21-22 for Brenda DeGroff as Elementary Quiz Advisor and Shawn Glenn as Weight Room Monitor.
Johnson also informed the board that he is working with the Athletic Director to come up with a recommendation for no Sunday contact for athletes and a July break for them all.
He said he hopes to present that at the next meeting. He also reminded Stryker residents to please vote for the levy on November 2, 2021 and stated that the next regular BOE meeting is scheduled for November 15, 2021 at 5:30 in the HS meeting room as usual.
Johnson also gave the Board a heads up on four new unfunded mandates coming down the pike from the state legislature.
He said this will go to the Policy Committee first but will ultimately come to the Board for approval. These will require the board to provide training or instruction to students in four different areas.
“The four of them are not what schools typically have personnel to do,” he stated, adding, “We don’t have the trained mental health professionals. We don’t have the X,Y and Z, so we are looking at some alternative organization to cover the requirements of those trainings and informational discussions with students to meet these policy requirements.”
“We are not the only one. All the districts in the state of Ohio are going to have to figure out how to deal with these four policies.”
He assured them that he will have a meeting with the policy committee to explain some information on these and then it will go to the Board at the next meeting for approval.
They will have the school year to get it up and rolling. Johnson also said that he feels they will be seeing a lot of things like this “because of the lack of trust of our legislators on the school districts. They don’t feel we can do our job. That’s my two cents on it, but we will comply.”
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
Rebecca can be reached at rebecca@thevillagereporter.com