The generosity of the Benjamin Logan community was highlighted at Monday evening’s board of education meeting, along with a detailed review of the district’s five-year financial forecast presented by Treasurer Jennifer Sudhoff.
Superintendent John Scheu reported that Monday’s Benjamin Logan Middle School Rally for A Cure Survivor Walk generated $25,000 for the Logan County Cancer Society.
Last week, the Benjamin Logan High School’s Raider Relay generated $13,360 for the same cause, which provides financial assistance and support to Logan County residents with a cancer diagnosis or cancer-related illness through the Mary Rutan Foundation.
Financial assistance is available for cancer patients for needed medications, supplies, wigs, transportation and in special circumstances emergency assistance.
BLMS teacher Marge Jenkins has been a leader in planning and organizing the BLMS Rally for a Cure for many years. She rallies the troops as needed such as Mr. Seeley, Ms. Inskeep, Mr. Hunt, and the many eighth-graders who moved all the Relay supplies to the track Monday morning.
“It takes a village to carry out a day like today,” BLMS representatives said. “ From painting faces, ordering T-shirts, keep the pizzas coming, making snow cones and cotton candy, running the games, supervising students, making announcements, etc. it takes ‘all staff’ to make it happen.
“Every BLMS student participated in today’s Rally for a Cure and each and every student should be proud of what they have accomplished.”
There were 31 middle school student who each donated $100 or more dollar to the cause, school officials noted.
During the forecast presentation, the treasurer reported that positive cash balances are predicted for the first four years of the forecast, through June 30, 2025. Benjamin Logan is projected to end this fiscal year with a cash balance of $4,113,179, and next fiscal year 2023 with a balance of $3,048,533.
Also calculated into the forecast is the current rate of $5 per gallon that the district is paying for diesel fuel for its buses, a much higher rate than the beginning of the school year.
Sudhoff cautioned that the district only knows its state funding levels for this current fiscal year and next year, based on the House Bill 110. After that point in the forecast, she can only make a best guess regarding state funding, which currently accounts for about 44 percent of the district’s revenue.
The treasurer also relayed to the board her concerns regarding a deficit spending pattern that continues through each year of the forecast, despite recent expenditure reductions by the district, including not replacing certain positions of retired staff and other cost-savings measures.
However, Sudhoff said the district will be finding out more definite numbers this week relating to funding it will receive from the wind turbine project in Logan and Hardin counties. District staff will be meeting with the Hardin County auditor to learn more specific details, and they estimate that Benjamin Logan should receive its first payment from the project in March of 2023.
Also during the superintendent’s report, Scheu highlighted the district’s receipt of the Ohio School Breakfast Challenge Award for the second year in a row. Benjamin Logan was one of 21 school districts in the state to receive the recognition.
A district survey found that 50 percent of students eat breakfast at school, including 72 percent of elementary pupils, 45 percent of middle school students and 18 percent of high school students.
Food Service Director Sonja Frederick was recognized for her efforts to make breakfast an accessible option for students.
Tara Bair, Community Health and Wellness Partners president/CEO, provided an end-of the year update regarding school-based health clinic services in the district.
The health center officially opened Jan. 3 at the elementary school, with Paula Strebig, Certified Nurse Practitioner, serving as the primary care provider. In addition, the district also partnered with CHWP in the fall to open a behavioral health clinic at Benjamin Logan Middle School, which is available to district students, staff and parents as well. Emily Pool, LISW-S, a therapist with CHWP, provides behavioral health services there.
A total of 208 patients were served by the health clinic for a variety of issues, from migraines to respiratory issues, gingivitis, pink eye and other ailments, and to complete sports physicals. The behavioral health side has completed 542 visits with patients this school year.
In personnel matters, the board extended three-year administrative contracts to
Brian Hunt, elementary school principal, and Tim Scheiderer, building/grounds supervisor. The contracts are effective Aug. 1 through July 31, 2025.
Members also recognized all of the Benjamin Logan High School seniors of the month from the second half of the school year: January: Jordan Sexstone and Brice Shump; February: Olivia Hahn and Brady Burrey; March: Jennifer Naragon and Briggs Defibaugh; April: Taylor Lafferty and James Buffington; and May: Maya Maxwell and Jacob Mitchell.
In other action, the board:
• accepted the retirement resignation of Jana Mitchell, middle school math, effective May 31;
• accepted the following resignations: Raechel Noble, middle school intervention specialist; Thomas Gonzales, maintenance; and Zach Newcomb, educational assistant, all effective July 31;
• approved the following one-year contracts for new classified staff: Hannah Olsen, educational assistant; Kari Ricketts, Ashley Robinson, Carie McCullough, food service; Jill Rowe, bus driver;
• approved the following certified staff contracts: continuing — Morgan Dixon, Marice Furlong, Michael Kettler, Stephenie Jordan; three-year — Ryan Kerns, Tara King, Brooke Rodriguez, Kyle Seeley, Melody Wishin; two-year — Jaclyn Atherton, Carli Henman; one-year — Sage Caughenbaugh, Michael Dove, Amy Evans, Kara Gillman, Marleen Godsey, Megan Hastings, Natalie Hays, Summer Huston, Laurie Kimmel, Laura Mobley, Victoria Purk, Nichole Terrill, and one-year retire/rehire contract for Bruce Smith;
• extended the following classified contracts: two-year — Holly Bair, Kyle Boylan, Diane Chamberlin, Ashley Chrencik, Jonathon Clark, Jennifer Hammer, Yasmyn Inskeep, Janice Kennaw, Barb Kensler, Jessica McCoy, Carie McCullough, Jordon McDonald, Julie McManus, Vickie Neeld, Larry Parmer, Cedar Schneider, Brooke Smith, Lisa Stover, Teresa Stratton, Louella Vermillion and Kara Wenger;
• approved two-year contract re-assignments for: Kyle Boylan, head custodian; Jonathon Clark, maintenance; Cedar Schneider, middle school secretary; and Holly Bair, middle school educational assistant;
• approved school fees for 2022-23 school year, with no increase: elementary school $50middle school $60; and high school $100;
• approved the meal prices for 2022-23: elementary lunch $2.70; middle school/high school lunch $2.95; reduced lunch 50 cents; adult lunch $3.25; breakfast, $1.60 for all grade levels; reduced breakfast, 40 cents; extra milk, 40 cents; and
• approved the overnight trip for FFA students, chaperones, and advisors as listed National FFA Convention in Indianapolis from Oct. 26 to 29.
The next meeting has been moved to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 30, to enable the treasurer to present fiscal year-end financial numbers for 2022 at that meeting.