The Benjamin Logan Local School District Board of Education kept their regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 18, short and simple. Of particular note was the school’s rating in the 2023 Ohio School Report Card.
“Benjamin Logan fared quite well,” Superintendent John Scheu told the board. “Receiving four out of five stars means we exceeded state standards, including a 98.5 percent graduation rate.”
The middle school was especially strong, earning an overall score of 4.5 out of five. They continue to see an increased performance index and have now surpassed their pre-covid level.
In reviewing the report, the middle school’s first-year principal, Holly Barr, was particularly grateful to her staff. Her message to them stated, “It is evident that all of you work extremely hard each day. … Your dedication and drive to make students better has paid off.”
Annette Ramga-Alatorre, the new high school principal, was equally pleased with the results, emphasizing their four out of five score. She saw only one area of concern—progress—which received a two out of five, and promised to work on bringing that to three or higher this year.
Elementary School Principal Colleen Bodin noted only 12.8 percent of students were considered chronically absent. She told her teachers, “Students want to come to school, and that’s because of the excellent environment everyone works to provide for our students.”
Scheu plans to concentrate on increasing the progress component of the report.
“Dealing with the pandemic for the past two years resulted in some students falling behind,” he said in a statement. “We feel keeping our schools open during this time with direct teacher instruction significantly reduced this learning loss.”
Some discussion was given to board policy and administrative guidelines related to donations from booster organizations. After approving the annual booster bar fundraiser purchase from Nectar Candy in the amount of $40,000, Scheu explained any donations accepted by the board must be considered as gifts to the district. This has the advantage of keeping donated items under school insurance. In addition, the board cannot legally store anything they don’t own.
Belle Center resident Tracy Baker expressed her interest in an open board position during the audience participation time. A 1986 graduate, Baker has worked at AGC Automotive for 37 years, is chairman of the BMRT ambulance district board and is a Richland Township trustee.
In other board action, the board approved, accepted or extended:
• asphalt work by Byrne & Jones Construction for $36,643.
• the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission, authorizing the necessary tax levies, and certifying them to the county auditor was approved.
• Katherine Dudgeon’s resignation as custodian, effective Aug. 24;
• one-year limited contracts, effective Aug. 1 to July 31, 2024, for Deanna Danieu, custodian, and Michele Inskeep, food service;
• Teresa Stratton’s reassignment in food service at an additional hour a day (to make six total) beginning the 2023-2024 school year;
• advancement on the salary schedule for having earned additional hours, effective the 2023-2024 school year, contingent upon completion of employment requirements, for Laura Mobley, Joel Phillips and Nicole Terrill;
• a $100 stipend for Colleen Miller, who attended the required ALICE training for new staff;
• payment up to three hours total per event at a rate of $50 an hour, per timesheet for Natalie Hays. Two hours for travel and presenting book/activity at the library and one hour to plan for the event, paid from an ESC grant for the summer reading program at community libraries;
• the following home instruction/tutors at $24 an hour for the 2023-2024 school year: Morganne Ackley, Tamara Allford, Jaclyn Atherton, Alyssia Cavallini, Amy Evans, Leslie Everett, Aryn Forsythe, Nicole Fuller, Marleen Godsey, Susan Headings, Stephenie Jordan, Kara Maurer, Rob Painter, Julie Phillips, Jaclyn Powers, Tori Purk, Abbey Shields and Matt Smith;
• athletic supplemental contracts to: Jeremy Allen (HS baseball head), Quinn Morris (HS baseball assistant), Greg Saylor (HS girls basketball), Tracy Gregg (HS girls basketball and softball assistant), Barney Sullivan (HS boys bowling), Tammy Poling (HS girls bowling), Amanda Davis (HS softball head), Charles Stevens (HS softball assistant), Mitch Sweeney (HS swimming), Anthony Elsasser (MS track assistant), Trish Hemmelgarn and Scott Wenger (HS girls track assistants), Kevin Butler (HS boys track head), Tom Braddock (MS boys track head), Mike Coder (HS girls track head), Bryan Newland and Matt Marshall (MS wrestling), Kiel Henry (HS wrestling assistant), Kyle Seeley (HS wrestling head), Mindy France (MS basketball cheer), Amber Eirich (JV HS basketball cheer), Alix Brown (varsity HS basketball cheer), and HS boys track assistants Brian Hemmelgarn, Jamie Hughes (half contract), Mike Overturf (quarter contract) and Jeff Wical (quarter contract);
• the following non-athletic positions: Sage Caughenbaugh (junior class advisor), Matt Smith and Nicole Fuller (sophomore class advisors), Tiann Harner and Tyler Young (Raider Run Club).
• prefering to help on an as-needed basis, Jim Sanford’s resignation as freshman boys basketball coach was accepted and he was approved as a volunteer assistant high school basketball coach. Though it’s still uncertain if they’ll have the numbers for a team this year, head coach Scott Vermillion stated would appreciate Sanford’s 25 years of experience;
• the following donations: $1,000 from Quest Federal Credit Union for sponsoring the Quest Cup Soccer Tournament; and clothing from Goshen Friends Church for children in need at the elementary school.
The next board meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16.
Benjamin Logan Local School District’s three principals sit in on Monday’s regular board of education meeting. They are, from left, Annette Ramga-Alatorre (high school), Colleen Bodin (elementary) and Holly Barr (middle school). (EXAMINER PHOTO | SHARYN KOPF)