Four Benjamin Logan Schools staff members were honored during the Monday evening board of education meeting for their recent actions that saved a fellow co-worker’s life.
District Transportation Director Brenda Fahle also was present during the meeting to thank those who assisted her in the face of a medical crisis Sept. 29.
Employees Lisa Adams, Leslie Everett, Amanda Siefring and Kevin Smith each received a “Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action” from Interim Superintendent John Scheu to express appreciation for their efforts.
Smith, a bus driver, was among the first to notice that Fahle was in distress and he immediately alerted help and also secured an automated external defibrillator device.
Everett, an intervention specialist, applied the AED, and district nurse Amanda Siefring, “rose to her calling,” executing CPR with help from Lisa Adams, an educational aide, district officials reported in a previous Examiner article.
“We are grateful for the staff members who were in the right place at the right time to help,” school officials related.
Fahle was transported by Robinaugh EMS to the Ross Heart Hospital. Bokescreek EMS and Rushcreek EMS each assisted. She recovered in the Columbus hospital after the incident.
The district also expressed its gratitude to, “the entire elementary school” for its cooperation during the medical emergency.
School officials lauded the quick-thinking of the district staff for saving the life of their peer, and also pointed to the incident as an example of the importance of learning both CPR, as well as proper applications of AEDs.
Also during the meeting, members recognized Treasurer/CFO Jennifer Sudhoff, Treasurer/CFO for attaining her Five-Year School Business Manager License from the State of Ohio Department of Education. The license was issued Oct. 13, and is effective through June 30, 2025.
Sudhoff’s field experience requirements were met through completion of a 300-hour internship which included a series of experiences related to the role, functions, and responsibilities of a business manager.
The 300 hours were distributed over the following topics: overview of business office responsibilities; supervision and management of district business affairs; budget development and long-range financial planning; management of district real estate and insurance programs; supervision of support services in the areas of purchasing, food services and transportation; personnel management of all clerical, business and support staff; supervision of facility maintenance, construction and alteration; coordination of safety programs including fire inspection and prevention, weather alerts, energy conservation and school bus safety inspection.
The board also recognized high school senior Jacob McKenrick as a National Merit Commended Student, as previously detailed in the Examiner.
About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation have been recognized through the program. Although they will not continue in the 2021 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2021 competition by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
District officials also reported that school lunches and breakfast will be free for the remainder of the school year.
Members also authorized advertising and receiving bids for the purchase of a 77-passenger conventional school bus through META Solutions.
The board also approved an addendum to Scheu’s contract to include a term life insurance policy in the amount of $105,625.
In other action, the board:
• appointed Carli Henman as a high school Spanish teacher, effective Sept. 22;
• acccepted the supplemental contract resignation of Cadan Goldstein, middle school girls basketball, and approved Goldstein as a volunteer middle school assistant girls basketball coach;
• approved the following athletic supplemental contracts: Scott Vermillion, middle school boys basketball; Carli Henman, middle school girls basketball; Mark Campbell, freshman boys basketball; Andrea Schmidt, high school swimming; Matt Marshall, middle school wrestling; Tony Grant, high school wrestling; Kasey Copeland, middle school basketball cheerleading;
• approved the following non-athletic supplemental contracts: Shelly Lane, junior class adviser; Trisha Hemmelgarn, student council adviser; Jason Smith, elementary school technology assistant, Susan Ridge and Brian Hunt, elementary school testing coordinators;
• approved the following volunteer coaches:Mike Coder, Kevin Butler, indoor track and field; Jason Butcher, assistant girls basketball; Renee Simovart, Sarah Glinski assistant swimming; Deb Ward, Barry Warne, assistant girls bowling;
• approved the following employees to assist with detention or Saturday school: Brooke Rodriguez, Tabetha Lewis, detention; Deepika Scheiderer, Kevin Penwell, detention, Saturday school; Holly Mays, Saturday school;
• approved the early graduation in January 2021 for Sierra Baker;
• approved the service agreement between the district and the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center to provide Equitable Title I Services for 2020-21; and
• accepted a $5,000 Century Link grant, Making Your Mark on Your Community Project, written by teacher Gretchen Powell.
The next regular meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at the central office.