Class of 2021 graduation set
Bellefontaine City Schools Board of Education members approved at their Monday evening board meeting acceptable use policies for students and staff related to the district’s upcoming receipt of a number of new Chromebooks to be utilized next school year.
Superintendent Brad Hall said staff members will receive their new Chromebooks next month so that they can go through training at the end of May and also in August prior to the start of the 2021-22 school year. The training will detail the Google platforms utilized by the devices, along with the Schoology program.
Next school year, pupils in grades six through 12 will each receive their own take-home Chromebook for the one-to-one student-to-device initiatve. In addition, students in kindergarten through fifth-grade each will each have access to a cart with Chromebooks in their respective classrooms.
Technology staff will be busy taking inventory of old devices and setting up the new computers over the summer, Hall related, and an introductory session for the board of education also is planned for an upcoming meeting.
To work alongside teaching staff as the new technology is implemented, the board also approved a job description for a technology coach. The superintendent said the district anticipates hiring a grades K-5 technology coach and a grades 6-12 technology coach.
Also at the meeting, members were informed of the Class of 2021 graduation plans. The district will be able to host an in-person commencement exercises this year, and the ceremony is slated for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 21, at the AcuSport Stadium.
A rain date also has been set for 10 a.m. Saturday, May 22, at the stadium.
Related to upcoming student graduates, the board also approved a resolution for Class of 2021 that incorporates House Bill 67 that was passed into law to allow school districts to modify graduation requirements for that class because of challenges presented by the pandemic, school shutdowns and remote learning.
The resolution allows a student’s principal, in consultation with teachers and counselors, to work with pupils who are working toward meeting either the regular or modified graduation requirements so that they can received their high school diplomas.
In other matters, members also approved a fundraiser by the Bellefontaine High School Academic Boosters to utilize the district’s logo for organizational state license plates.
BHS Academic Boosters representatives said there is no cost incurred by the district or the club for this program. Instead, individuals around Ohio who would like to purchase the Bellefontaine City Schools license plate would pay an additional $40 fee. The BHS Academic Boosters would receive $30 from each purchase.
Bellefontaine City Schools license plate would feature a block “B” on the left side and the words “Bellefontaine City Schools” centered at the bottom of the plate.
For the license plates proposal to be implemented, the next steps for the BHS Academic Boosters include preparing an affidavit for participation, collecting 150 signatures of people who are interested in getting the plate, and the passage of a bill in the Ohio Legislature supporting the plate.
Presenter Dr. Ryan Kauffman said through the group’s research, they have learned that a total of 18 other K-12 school districts around Ohio have the option to purchase specialty organizational license plates.
“This would be a neat way to show school pride and even bring together people across the state when they’re traveling in Ohio,” he said. “The money obtained from the sales of each plate would allow the BHS Academic Boosters to support academic achievement in the district.”
The board also approved school year calendars for 2021-22 and 2022-23, which incorporates Aug. 17 as the first day of school for 2021-22, and May 19 as the last day of school that year, as presented at the last meeting.
The proposed calendars will be available for public comment on the district’s website at www.bellefontaine.k12.oh.us.
In personnel matters, the board accepted the retirement resignation of Julie Dearwester, special education secretary, effective Sept. 30.
In other action, the board:
• accepted a $500 educational grant for the high school from Impact Teen Drivers that will be used to purchase signage;
• extended a one-year administrative contract to Matthew Heaston as technology coordinator, effective Aug. 1;
• extended a contract to Ellie Braidic, occupational therapist, for the 2021-22 school year; and extended one-year contracts to Martha Earick, high school secretary II, and Julia Pulfer, high school cook;
• approved Deborah Sheehan to serve as a home instruction/tutor at the rate of $18 per hour;
• approved the following summer school appointments for 2021: Gregg Johnson, administrator; along with Madeline Beck, Evie Belcher, Sandi Chervenak, Tammy Fowler, Carol Fultz, Tracy Huffman, Heather Johnson, Tyler Johnson, Sandy Meyer, Galen Miller, Mike Mosbarger, Cheryl Poppel, Jon Reminder, Karen Scott, Ryan Sawmiller and Geoff Styles; and
• recognized seniors of the month Meng Wang and Markus Brugler.
The next meeting is 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 17, at the BHS Distance Learning Center.