SWANTON SCHOOL BOARD: Board Gets Update On Baseball, Softball Diamonds

By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com

Swanton Local School District Superintendent Chris Lake gave the board of education an update on the high school baseball/softball complex project when the board met Wednesday.

According to Lake’s report, Beilharz Architects Inc. submitted their preliminary plans and estimates for the project – $971,000 for the baseball field and scorer’s platform and $617,000 for the softball field and scorer’s platform, for a total price tag (after architect’s fees and permits) of roughly $1.71 million.

Estimates for optional features not included in the project estimate have also been submitted for changing rooms in the dugouts, turf infields, nine-inning scoreboards, and toilets.

“At this point the next step would be for [Treasurer] Sheila [Horseman] and I to kind of look at our numbers here and see what is the feasibility of that loan and how might that work and how much would we need,” Lake said.

The school has spent $89,655 with Beilharz Architects so far, and has $122,105.37 left in the bank, according to Horseman.

Lake said there is also another “couple hundred thousand dollars” pledged donations that have not yet been collected.

EQUESTRIAN CLUB PROPOSAL

High School Intervention Specialist Andrea Johns addressed the board in an attempt to bring back the high school’s equestrian club.

“As an alumni of the organization and a former coach I’ve seen the benefits it has to young student equestrians,” Johns said.

The sport is a fall activity according to Johns, and club competition would be limited to three shows (all on Sundays) and, if they qualify, a state competition.

Students would have to cover their own club costs of $100 in addition to owning or leasing their own horse, having their own location to keep it, and transporting it as necessary.

Johns pointed out that Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo both have equestrian clubs that scout for new team members. She said she was willing to volunteer as the club coach.

Lake agreed to look over all the information Johns brought from the Ohio Interscholastic Horsemanship Association, and Board President Steve Brehmer said the board would be prepared with an answer for her within “a month or two.”

Other local schools with equestrian programs include Anthony Wayne, Napoleon, Wauseon, and Sylvania.

NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY

Swanton Middle School language arts teacher Becky O’Shea was invited by Lake to present her proposal of starting a chapter of the National Junior Honor Society at the school.

“NJHS would allow students to receive recognition for their hard work, allow development for our student leaders, encourage community involvement as well as encourage this positive character building,” O’Shea said.

The high school already has a chapter of the National Honor Society. According to O’Shea, six or seven other people have volunteered to be on the faculty council.

She said the goal would be to maintain roughly 20 students in the program, but noted there was no actual limit.

The initial cost for the program is $385, while other ancillary costs add another $300. O’Shea said she has already applied for a Swanton Parents Club grant for the initial costs, but said she is willing to fundraise if the program is approved and the grant is denied.

After questions from council members on the subject, Lake confirmed the district pays the high school’s fees related to NHS and would be willing to do the same for the middle school’s NJHS fees. Lake said he would bring a recommendation for approval to vote on at a future meeting.

OTHER BUSINESS

The board approved the annual appropriation resolution for the Swanton Public Library, submitted by its board of library trustees. According to the resolution, the library currently has an estimated cash fund balance of just over $1.68 million, with $756,000 in revenue and expenditures expected in 2024.

The board approved the purchase of more than $245,000 in network switches and related equipment to upgrade the current units, which are several years past their recommended lifespan.

The school district will pay in full for the equipment and then receive 60 percent back through the federal E-Rate Technical Assistance Program. According to the Ohio Department of Education, the E-Rate program has provided more than $1 billion to schools and libraries in the state.

The board recognized High School Intervention Specialist Courtney Duncan for having received the Fulton 2023/2024 Outstanding Special Educator Award.

The board accepted just under $5,000 in donations including $2,095 in donations to the boys basketball program and $1,000 to the boys soccer program.

The board approved early graduation for Chase Miller. The board voted to renew the district’s membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association for the 2024-2025 school year.

The board approved a three-day trip for eighth grade students to Washington D.C., as well as authorizing specific staff and chaperones to manage any student medications. The board approved a high school quiz bowl team trip to the national quiz bowl tournament in April.

The board approved personnel changes submitted by Lake, including head football coach Eric Keller stepping down as a teacher and the retirement of longtime teacher Sara Moden.

The board approved its normal slate of financial and investment reports along with a variety of minor modifications to appropriations.

The board approved the tax rates and amounts set by the Fulton County Budget Commission. The board ended the public portion of the meeting by going into executive session with no action expected after.

The next meeting of the Swanton Local School District Board of Education will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13.