Poetry winners present submissions
Benjamin Logan Board of Education members approved at their Thursday evening meeting a new three-year Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Benjamin Logan Education Association, effective July 1 through June 30, 2024.
The agreement includes a 3 percent base salary increase in year one; a 2 percent base salary increase in year two; and a 1 percent base salary increase in year three.
Also during the meeting, the board granted three-year contracts to Superintendent John Scheu and Treasurer Jennifer Sudhoff that continue through 2024.
The new contract includes the following salaries for the superintendent: $115,000 in year one; $120,000 in year two; $125,000 in year three.
For Sudhoff, her salary has been set at $95,000 for year one, $100,000 for year two; $105,000 for year three of the contract.
The superintendent also reported on the recent arbitration ruling that was rendered Feb. 20 following a grievance filed by the custodial and maintenance workers seeking to overturn the board’s former decision to outsource the custodial/maintenance needs of the district.
During the board’s August 2020 meeting, members previously approved a Reduction in Force of the district’s maintenance and custodial staff, effective Sept. 30, with officials citing budgetary concerns at that time. The maintenance/custodial work was to be outsourced to CMG of East Liberty.
The grievance process proceeded to mediation and finally, arbitration, Scheu said.
The final arbitration ruling showed that the grievance was sustained. All workers of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees bargaining unit will be reinstated by Benjamin Logan, with back pay.
Also during the meeting, winners of the district’s poetry contest conducted last month presented their poems to the board. Presenters included first-place winner for grades 3-5, fifth-grader Charlotte Bodin; first-place winner for grades 6-8, eighth-grader Lyllian Kelley; and first-place winner for grades 9-12, sophomore Brooklyn Horner.
Also in the poetry contest, second-place winners included fifth-grader Kaydence Cox for grades 3-5; eighth-grader Keeli Rostorfer for grades 6-8; and junior Kaycee Cook for grades 9-12.
Entries had to convey the theme of “Why I Love My School” or “I Love My School because…” The students’ poems are available to read via “I Love My School Because…Poetry Contest” link on the district’s homepage, www.benlogan.k12.oh.us
Judging was based on creativity and expression of the theme through poetry. Judges included professionals from the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center, the ESC of Central Ohio, Ohio University and teachers from the Benjamin Logan Schools Language Arts Department.
Members also heard a presentation from elementary literacy coaches Paula Naragon and Tara King.
In personnel matters, the board accepted the retirement resignation of Sheryl Spencer, middle school secretary, effective June 30. She is a 27-year district employee.
Members also accepted the resignation of Ryan Buffkin, assistant mechanic, effective Feb. 17.
In other action, the board:
• accepted the following grants: $5,000 from Honda R&D awarded to Jason Smith to purchase new articulated arm robots for the high school robotics class; $5,000 from Honda R&D awarded to Sally Stolly to support the middle school STEM to bloom, high school STEM, and Science Fair; $23,000 from the MHDAS Board of Logan and Champaign Counties to Sally Stolly and Emily Pool for K-12 grant funds for public schools.
• extended high school supplemental contracts to: John Stahl, head softball (serving as interim head softball coach for the 2021 season while current coach on maternity leave); Kevin Butler, head boys track; Mike Coder, head girls track; Scott Wilson, head baseball; Trisha Hemmelgarn, Allison Reule, assistant girls track; Brad Arn, Jeremy Burrey, Quinn Morris, Jordy Buck, assistant baseball (1/2 contract each); Chuck Stevens, Clint Zedeker; assistant softball; Scott Wenger, Brian Hemmelgarn, assistant boys track;
• extended the following middle school supplemental contracts: Tom Braddock, head boys track; Jamie Hughes, head girls track; Carli Henman, Krista Jackson, assistant track;
• approved the volunteer services of the following individuals contingent upon completion of ORC employment requirements: Amanda Davis, Jon Horsley, softball assistant; Mike Overturf, Jeff Wical, assistant boys track;
• approved the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center contract for sign language interpreter services in the amount of $19,053.84 for school year 2020-21;
• approved the agreement with the Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Services Board of Logan and Champaign Counties.
• approved the New Courses offered at the high school for 2021-22, the High School Course Selection Handbooks for the 2021-22, and the Benjamin Logan High School Course Description Handbook Grades 10-12.
• approved Inter-district and Intra-district Open Enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year.
The board has called a special meeting for 5:30 p.m. today, Tuesday, March 2, in the central office conference room. The board will enter into executive session for the purpose of the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion or compensation of an employee or official, or the investigation of charges or complaints against an employee, official, licensee or student, unless the employee, official, licensee or student requests a public hearing and preparing for, conducting or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with employees.
The next regular meeting is 6 p.m. March 15, in the central office conference room.