Board approves open lunch option for juniors, seniors
Bellefontaine City Schools Superintendent Brad Hall provided an update about the district’s first day back to school for full-time, in-person classes Monday evening during the board of education meeting.
He was pleased with how the day went, and said the only setback was regarding the afternoon transportation, with traffic delays in the area of the elementary school and the intermediate school.
An all-call notification was relayed to district families Monday afternoon, advising elementary school families to take a different route – entering district grounds through the middle school’s main entrance off Ludlow Road and then taking Beth Harman Way to the roadway leading up the hill and to the school.
Intermediate school families also were asked to refrain from blocking traffic on Madriver Street, since it is an access route for emergency traffic to Mary Rutan Hospital. Instead, families are asked to travel around to Allison Road and over to east Williams Avenue, passing through the park.
District officials said they expect some of the traffic issues to lessen next week, as all of the nine previously quarantined bus drivers will be able to resume their routes and fewer parents will need to drive their students to school. This week, three of the bus routes are not running – Bus 3 (Jaguars), Bus 9 (Kangaroos), and Bus 11 (Elephants), as previously reported in the Examiner.
About two weeks ago, the district announced its return-to-school plans for five days a week from its previous blended learning model, where students attended in-person two days a week and the remaining days completed online assignments.
Hall said the district worked closely with Logan County Health District officials on the plans, including closely monitoring carbon dioxide levels. One of the determining factors for reopening included healthy carbon dioxide readings at each of the buildings, an indicator of how often fresh air is being introduced into a given space.
At the newer elementary school and middle school, modifications can be made to the computer systems that control HVAC operations to allow for outdoor air to enter the buildings more frequently.
For the older intermediate school and middle school buildings, Roger Ely, executive director of administrative service and transportation, said maintenance staff installed 96 individual ionization units in classrooms Thursday and Friday to prepare for the full-time return of students.
The ionization units were purchased with Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funds received by the district.
Other modifications made to return students to five-days-a-week learning included having elementary students eat in both the cafeteria and in the elementary school music room to space out for lunch time.
At the high school, directional cues have been provided in each of the hallways so that students and staff are only walking in one direction in between classes.
Bellefontaine High School Dean of Students Cliff Core said one remaining concern at the high school is the difficulty of social distancing in the cafeteria and overflow area in the gymnasium – with up to 181 students in one particular lunch period. Having enough staff to monitor the two areas is a challenge as well.
As a result of this issue, the board approved a new open lunch option for junior and senior students. Pupils in good academic standing and with good attendance have the opportunity chance to sign themselves out for their 40-minute lunch period.
Board members added that parental permission will be required for open lunches if a student is under the age 18.
Also relating to this unusual school year and the district’s delayed start, the board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Bellefontaine Education Association regarding inclement weather days for 2020-21. Any days missed because of inclement weather, from fog days to snow/ice days, will be required remote learning days for students, since the district already delayed the start of the school year by 15 days, Hall explained.
Members also approved three new graduation seals for BHS students, including community service, fine arts and student engagement, as proposed by BHS Principal Dr. Pam Noeth.
The board also met in executive session to discuss the evaluation of Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer Joshua Wasson, with no action taken after the session. The board will detail the evaluation at the next meeting, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at the Bellefontaine High School Distance Learning Center.
In other action, the board:
• accepted the retirement resignation of Kenneth Shank, intermediate school physical education, effective May 24, following 33 years of service to the district and 35 years in education;
• approved a change in assignment for Laurie Showalter, from high school secretary to superintendent’s secretary, effective Oct. 26, upon the retirement of Apryl Burtchin;
• approved the appointment of Ellie Braidic, occupational therapist, for three days a week, effective Sept. 28;
• accepted the resignation of Kathy Anderson, intermediate school food service, effective Oct. 2;
• approved Lori Arledge as a three-hour cook at the high school;
• authorized extended time to meet the requirements for the 21st Century Grant at the middle school, and approved the following assignments to be paid by grant funds: Natalie Collins and Julie Kurtz, program managers; and Cheryl Poppel, site manager;
• approved a memorandum of understanding with the BEA regarding an update of donations of personal days, sick days, vacation time from BCS employees to provide extra sick leave for fellow employees who have catastrophic personal illness/injury or are caring for a family member with a catastrophic illness/injury, including quarantine time during the pandemic;
• recognized seniors of the month Connor Rose and Samantha Starkey;
• approved Kim Cayot as a mentor teacher for a $500 stipend; and
• approved Amber Newkirk and Rick Reed as virtual classroom/Success Center graders.