Bellefontaine City Schools Board of Education members met Monday evening via the online Zoom platform during a session that was made available to the public, and provided a virtual applause to its staff members who are helping to lead students through their remote learning lessons during the coronavirus crisis.
Pupils have options for completing assignments utilizing various online tools or through traditional pencil and paper assignments. Their instructors have been quick to adapt to this change and have been busy keeping up with their pupils in a variety of communication methods.
“The staff has done an incredible job meeting the needs of their students,” Superintendent Brad Hall said. “I’m very grateful the work they’re doing and the way they stepped up during this time.”
The board also commended food service members and transportation staff for their efforts to ensure that students are still receiving nutritious meals Monday through Friday throughout the state-mandated school shutdown.
Individuals recognized for their part for the meal program included Food Service Supervisor Winnie Jacks, cooks Karen Deer, Sandy Horn, Glenna Seeley, Tammy Cooper, Teresa George, Lori Peterson, Karen Croston and Brenda Moon; Transportation Supervisor Tammie Garman, and bus drivers Penny Smith, Tracy Cline, Paula Blair, Jennifer Lynch, Joyce Barthauer, Brenda Mitchell, Kaitlyn Welch, Steve Funderburgh and bus aides Hellyn Parker and Tina Norton.
Continuing through May 21, the district will deliver lunches to five drop-off locations between 11 a.m. and noon Monday through Friday. The meal sites are: Brookstone Apartments, Heritage Court, Red Bud Apartments, Southern Meadows and Union Station.
Lutheran Community Services, 223 Oakland Square, Bellefontaine, also provides a daily hot meals for students living in the vicinity, along with a sack lunch is available between 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Also during the meeting, the board approved several measures to extend the contracts of administrators, supervisors and teaching staff whose contracts would have ended in 2020. As a result of the school shutdown, Hall explained that for a number of these individuals, the task of completing needed evaluations for new contracts is not possible at this time, so the extension of contracts was needed.
Members noted that House Bill 197 passed by the Ohio Legislature March 27 modified the requirements for the evaluation of teachers and other school district employees as a result of the pandemic.
Members approved the extension of contracts through July 31, 2021, for the following administrators, at the current rate of pay: Krista Adelsberger, Bellefontaine Intermediate School principal, $91,869; Angela Horvath, coordinator of gifted services, $73,416; Patricia Martz, Bellefontaine Elementary School principal, $91,869; and Selena Spencer, school psychologist, $73,767.
Classified supervisors whose contracts also were extended through July 31, 2021, included: Maria Borba, district technologist; Katherine Buffkin, district nurse; Max Earick, supervisor of grounds and maintenance; Roger Ely, executive director of administration; Tammie Garman, supervisor of transportation; Winifred Jacks, supervisor of food services; and Christina Prine, assistant treasurer.
The board also approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bellefontaine Education Association regarding the extension of one year for teaching contracts that expired in 2020.
In other action, the board:
• accepted the retirement resignation of Wayne Fahnestock, Bellefontaine Intermediate head custodian, effective Aug. 31, following 22 years of service to the district;
• appointed Bradley Carnes as the coordinator of bus maintenance, effective Aug. 1 through July 31, 2021;
• approved the rehire of the following retired staff members on a one-year contract for the 2020-21 school year: Kristine Mount, chemistry, physics; Cheryl Poppel, middle school physical education/health; and Karen Scott, middle school special education;
• accepted the resignation of Amy Van Horn, sixth-grade language arts, effective May 22;
• appointed the following new professional staff members for the 2020-21 school year: Nathan Arbogast, high school math; Kenna Davis, fourth grade; Makenna Geise, high school math; Jennifer Staugler, sixth-grade English language arts; and Shelby Williams, FCCLA;
• approved long-term substitute pay status for Michelle Fosnaugh and April Jameson, effective March 9 and March 6, respectively, after they have completed 60 days in their current assignments;
• appointed Robin Butler as a middle school educational aide, effective March 30;
• approved Tonya Mallory for the 22+ Adult Diploma Program that follows her successful completion of program requirements;
• extended the following supplemental contracts: Bob Core, head girls cross country; Benjamin Davis, Galen Miller, head boys cross country; Bri Frazier, head volleyball; Sara High, head football and basketball cheerleading; Alysia Kuba, Rebecca O’Rielley, assistant football and basketball cheerleading; Cheryl Poppel, head girls tennis; Ric Prine, assistant junior varsity volleyball; Ryan Sawmiller, head boys golf; Aaron Shumaker, assistant girls soccer; Kate Smith, head girls soccer; Henry Stolly, head boys basketball; Darin Vermillion, head girls golf;
• approved Karen Deer for summer technology maintenance at the rate of $10 per hour;
• authorized the treasurer/CFO to advance up to $500,000 from the General Fund to the Insurance Fund for cash flow purposes, pending available cash reserves in said insurance fund, and with the intent to repay the advance within five years;
• approved membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association; and
• approved the disposal of between 30 to 60 M100 laptop computers that have been deemed no longer of use to the district.
The next meeting is 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 11.