A Bellefontaine Middle School educational aide received an honor during the Monday evening Bellefontaine City Schools Board of Education meeting bestowed on her by her peers, who recognized her ability to build up and promote in her students “what’s good within each of them.”
Susan Gleason was named the 2020 Classified Employee of the Year. BMS guidance counselor Julie Kurtz presented Gleason with the accolade, stating that they have worked together for about seven years.
“Susan is a beam of sunshine,” Kurtz said. “She took charge of a virtual sign language program a few years ago at the school that became a really successful program. She doesn’t just do what’s asked of her — that wouldn’t qualify her for the award.
“She makes her students’ needs her priority. Her genuine care makes a difference in the lives of some of the most vulnerable students in our school.”
Roger Ely, executive director of administrative services and transportation who helps to spearhead the process, said he looks forward to the chance to highlight dedicated classified staff members each year. This is the fourth year for the award.
“It’s a really neat time that enables our non-teaching staff the time to nominate their peers. We’ve had nominations for individuals from a variety of departments, from food service to maintenance, custodial and transportation.”
Monday’s meeting and Gleason’s award presentation took place in the Bellefontaine High School Distance Learning Center, where all board members and individuals in attendance followed social distancing protocol and wore masks in accordance with guidelines provided by Logan County Health Commissioner Dr. Boyd Hoddinott.
In financial matters, the board approved the district’s five-year forecast, which Treasurer Joshua Wasson said includes the state budget cuts announced last week by Governor Mike DeWine’s Office, which were detailed in the Examiner.
Bellefontaine City Schools’ funding for this fiscal year was cut by $380,361. For future state foundation funding, Wasson said he has incorporated cuts amounting to 3.5 percent in the district’s forecast.
“That’s the amount that they’re predicting, but it is subject to change,” he said, relating that the districts still do not know the exact amount of state funding they’ll be receiving, even in fiscal year 2021.
According to the five-year forecast, BCS is projected to end fiscal year 2020 with a balance of $6,630,046, and the following year with a balance of $6,548,773. Despite the predicted cut to state funds built into the forecast, the remainder of the five years all show positive-year end balances. Wasson said the district will be keeping an eye on projected deficit spending toward the ending years of the forecast.
With the recent economic downturn related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the treasurer said some of the district’s other revenue, including real estate taxes, could be impacted.
“The full effect is hard to determine right now. With businesses being able to gradually open back up, we’re hopeful that the economy will improve.”
Also related to the pandemic, the board approved two Memorandums of Understanding, including one with the Ohio Association of Public School Employees to extend classified staff contracts for one year that previously were set to expire in 2020 because of difficulty completing required evaluations.
A Memorandum of Understanding also was approved with the Bellefontaine Education Association to prorate spring supplemental contracts as a result of the recent school shutdown, which provides for a 66 percent of the supplemental contracts to be paid to head varsity coaches, and 50 percent to all other spring supplemental contracts.
In other action, the board:
• accepted a change in time status for Susan Steffen, Title I, from 50 percent to 100 percent, effective Aug. 13, and also approved her retirement resignation, effective Dec. 1, for the 18-year district employee;
• accepted the following resignations: Emily Boyne, psychologist, effective June 5; Makenna Geise, high school math, effective April 23; Tobin Smith, high school physical education, effective May 22; and Selena Spencer, psychologist, effective June 5;
• approved the following staff appointments for 2020-21: Michele Rohrer, high school math, and Eli de Nijs, middle school English language arts;
• extended the following supplemental contracts: Meghan Ashcraft, head girls basketball; Art Caudill, Jeremy Clifton, Sean Egler, Joshua Jones, Rick Reed, Henry Stolly, Jeremiah Vigansky, assistant football;
• approved the following volunteer coaches: Gail Clark, Jake Kennedy, Daulton Mosbarger and Luke Varner, assistant football; and
• approved Landon Earick and Steve Funderburgh as summer maintenance employees at the rate of $10 per hour.
The next meeting is 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 8.