At the February 15 meeting of the Swanton Board of Education, Quiz Bowl coach and English teacher Josh Eppert asked the Board members to help fund the Swanton High School’s Quiz Bowl team’s trip to a national competition in Chicago being held from April 28 to April 30.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have the equivalent of the athletic boosters or the band boosters or the choir boosters to fall back on to help us fund these ventures so we’re basically left to our own devices,” he said explaining his request.
The Board agreed to help and voted unanimously to donate $2500 toward the $8000 estimated cost of the trip. The team will be holding fund raisers and soliciting other donations to reach the money needed.
The Swanton Boys Soccer team was in attendance and received certificates from the Ohio House of Representatives recognizing them for winning the Bowling Green-Otsego Soccer Invitational this past season and a commendation from the Board as well.
Under new business the Board approved a new contract with Doug Keil to rent the 15.88 acres of farm land just north of the high school for $205 per acre for the years 2017 and 2018. The land will be used to grow corn and soy beans.
The Board also agreed to sell lost jewelry that was turned in in May of 2016 and never claimed. It will be sold to the Buffalo Pawn Shop on Airport Highway for under $1000.
Elementary Principal Paulette Baz and a team of elementary school teachers gave a presentation explaining an Early Literacy Grant from the Ohio Department of Education designed to teach educators new methods of improving literacy of students from kindergarten to third grade.
Superintendent Jeff Schlade gave a building project update to the Board and said the project is proceeding according to plan. “We are on schedule. In fact, we’re ahead of schedule, technically,” said Mr. Schlade. “We’ve been fortunate with the weather we’ve had.”
Some unfinished business was addressed with the recognition of commitment and contributions of the sitting Board members. January was actually School Board Appreciation Month but time ran short at the January meeting. Certificates of Appreciation were passed out to Board President Kris Oberheim, a member since 2010, Shannon Crow, a member since 2012, Steve Brehmer, a member since 2014, Chris Nijakowski, a member since 2014 and Dave Smith, a member since 2016.
Finally, the 2017-2018 school calendar was discussed and will be finalized at the March meeting. There was one notable change from previous years. The first day of class will begin after Labor Day instead of before to give a little more time for all the construction projects to be completed.
Bill O’Connell may be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com