(PHOTO BY JESSIE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
A NEW AROMA … New Swanton Local School District Director of Food and Nutrition Dustin Klopping shares pizza from his department with attendees at the meeting of the Swanton Local School District Board of Education Wednesday night.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
An increasingly stretched thin grounds and maintenance department was the subject of long discussion by the Swanton Local School District Board of Education at its meeting Monday night.
Grounds and Maintenance Director Glenn Dominique said he is obtaining quotes from an outside company for mowing and trimming services, which he said was going to run a minimum of $5,000, if not more once other services were added.
Upon questioning by board members, he said he can get the quote broken out by property so they could potentially pick and choose which properties to include. This led to him being asked whether or not he needed more staff.
The department currently consists of Dominique and three other part-time employees – two retirees and one younger employee who is still learning the ropes, each working between 25 and 30 hours per week with no interest in going full time.
Dominique eventually agreed that he could use one additional employee, but that he will definitely need two more once the baseball/softball complex is completed as they already spend up to 25 hours each week just lining sports fields.
Upon being prompted by council members, Superintendent Chris Lake said he would post a job opening for another employee.
In his report, Dominique also mentioned that the Swanton Band Boosters had painted the concession stand, with extra work completed by its president.
NEW NUTRITION DIRECTOR
New Director of Food and Nutrition Dustin Klopping introduced himself to the board with a stack of pizzas from his department while also giving an update during the meeting.
Klopping has already begun work at the high school, where he said reviews from the student body have already been positive.
“Appropriate seasoning on vegetables goes a long way,” Klopping said. His work will soon extend into the middle school as well.
According to Klopping, both the high school and middle school will have the same menu, but they will not serve the same items on the same days.
He hopes the offset will help encourage discussion among friends and siblings across the two schools and create excitement for the offerings.
Klopping is looking to employ up to four people total, counting one he already hired who started work on Tuesday.
OTHER BUSINESS
The board approved adjustments from the temporary appropriations to complete permanent appropriations, including an additional $343,632.89 to the general fund, $9,000 to the principal’s account, $1,622.29 to food service, $2,587.54 to student managed, and $700 to athletics.
The board approved an agreement with the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center to provide a clearer, more concise breakdown of the district’s state testing data which will also include historical trends, item analysis, and diagnostics, as well as a two-hour presentation on the findings to help teachers and staff better understand and utilize the results.
The board voted to submit a career-technical expansion (CTE) waiver to the Ohio Department of Education superintendent of public instruction for the 2024-2025 school year.
The board approved early graduation for William Oesterwind in December 2024 and Autumn Pelland in May 2025, both pending completion of all credits.
The board approved the resignations of Carrie Kruse and high school football/basketball cheerleading coach Ashley Stambaugh. Stambaugh will still be involved with the program while her assistant coach will now be taking the lead role.
The middle school fall festival has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 2, and the high school homecoming parade has been scheduled for 6:30 on Thursday, October 3.
The board approved payments in lieu of transportation for two district students attending a local private school.
Lake reported applications are open for the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame class of 2024.
The board reauthorized a program offering a $500 incentive payment for school bus drivers who successfully complete all training and licensing required to drive a bus and drive at least 40 hours for the district.
The board accepted donations of, $10,844.32 for Swanton Elementary School, $5,000 from F&M Bank for the baseball/softball complex, $200 for football, $75 for Swanton Middle School, $1,000 for cheerleading warm-up gear, $575 for a football hog roast, $250 for team meals, $500 for Swanton High School, and $879.12 from Kroger rewards.
The public portion of the meeting ended with the board voting to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing compensation. No action was expected as a result.
The next regular meeting of the Swanton Local School District Board of Education is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9 at 108 N. Main Street.
