COMMENDATION… Natalie Roth and Nick Kline from Sullivan’s Restaurant stand with Treasurer David Fleming after being recognized by Wauseon Schools for their receiving of the OSBA Busines Honor Roll Award for 2021. (PHOTO BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Jacob Kessler
The Wauseon Board of Education held their meeting on Monday, December 13th. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. followed by a moment of silence for David A. Armstrong and the Pledge of Allegiance.
First approved were the minutes from the previous meeting that took place on November 4th. The board then recognized and commended Sullivan’s Restaurant in Wauseon for being chosen as a 2021 OSBA Honor Roll recipient.
The board then also recognized and commended Mrs. Katie Black. Mrs. Black is a Wauseon High School Ag teacher and was recognized for serving as a National Teacher Ambassador for FFA for the 2021-2022 school year.
Ms. Martha Rothey from the OSBA was then welcomed by the board. Ms. Rothey is the NW Regional Manager for the OSBA, and she came to the meeting to present the OSBA All-Ohio School Board award to Mrs. Sandy Griggs.
Mrs. Griggs is an outgoing Board of Education member and has been serving the Wauseon school district for 36 years.
The board then moved to approve the bills and financial reports as presented. Numerous donations were then approved followed by personnel recommendations submitted by the superintendent who was not present.
The second reading for the NEOLA Bylaw Policy revisions took place next and was approved by the board.
The board next approved the school calendar for upcoming years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024.Board members then moved to oppose Ohio State H.B. 290, otherwise known as the “Backpack Bill.”
The bill would establish a statewide universal voucher program that would allow $5,500 for K-8 and $7,500 for 9-12 students to be deposited into an education savings account to be used for private school tuition, tutoring, textbooks and other uses. The bill would also repeal EdChoice and will likely cost several billion dollars.
A discussion was then held regarding the need for a resolution to put the tax levy back on the ballot. It was stated that, in the interest of trying to get the levy passed, it could be taken down from 2% to 1.75% but that doing so will only allow for everything to continue as is and will not give any funding to permanent improvement.
It was decided to approve a resolution for the Earned Income Tax Levy to be put on the ballot for 1.75%.
The board then scheduled the Organizational Board of Education meeting for January 10th at 5:30 p.m. with President Pro-Tempore Stacia Radabaugh presiding. The board then moved to adjourn at 6:01 p.m.
Jacob can be reached at jacob@thevillagereporter.com