Benjamin Logan Schools Interim Superintendent John Scheu stated at the recent board of education meeting that the 2020-21 school year is off to a good start and operations are running smoothly.
Treasurer Jennifer Sudhoff reported that she has been working with the Logan County Electric Cooperative over the last several months on ways to reduce energy costs to the district.
She said each summer, the district sets a peak rate based on their energy consumption. This cost then carries forward over the next 12 months resulting in an increase in luxury tax the district must pay.
Since the pandemic began in March, the district has saved more than $66,000 in energy costs. Sudhoff said that in addition to the reduction of use of the buildings, increasing the temperature a few degrees in various rooms during the summer months has made a significant impact on energy expenses and kept the district from hitting their previous peak rate.
A further audit of energy usage is being done by the electric cooperative, but the treasurer is hopeful that the measures that have been taken will result in a reduction of the luxury tax over the next year.
In other financial business, the district is forecasting a significant financial shortfall in the athletic budget because of restricted attendance at hosted events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The board voted to approve the transfer of $50,000 from the general fund to the athletic fund at the recommendation of Scheu and Treasurer Jennifer Sudhoff.
A change to the school calendar was approved, moving parent teacher conferences originally scheduled for Friday, Oct. 2, to Thursday, Oct. 15, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 16, from 8 a.m. to noon.
Students will be in session on Oct. 2, but will have a day off on Oct. 16.
The board also adopted a resolution authorizing their existing tax levies and certifying them to the Logan County Auditor. The resolution is required to be filed with the county each year and provides estimated revenues the district will recognize from those levies.
In other action, the board:
• accepted the retirement resignations for the following classified staff members: Deborah Charbel, food service, effective Oct. 30; Dan Fish, bus driver, effective Sept. 1, Steve Lyon, custodian, effective Aug. 28, Linda Patrick, head cook, effective Sept. 2, and Faye VanBuskirk, food service, effective July 31;
• accepted the following classified staff member resignations: Dan Blair, maintenance, effective Aug. 18; Brooke Thompson, custodian, effective Aug. 28; Beverly Tudor, food service, effective Sept. 1; Mandy Kanuth, bus driver, effective Sept 22,
• Board President Tod Johnson and Scheu publicly thanked those leaving the district for their service.
• approved the following one-year contracts for: Jaclyn Atherton, high school intervention specialist; Ryan Buffkin, four hour bus driver and four hour bus mechanic until summer, at which time he will work full-time as bus mechanic; and bus drivers Ashlee Phillips and Tiffany Morrow;
• approved the following home instruction tutors for the 2020–21 school year at a rate of $24 per hour as follows:Dawn Gibson, Allison Reule, Morgan Dixon, Abbey Shields, Stephenie Jordan, Matt Smith, Jill Hughes, Rob Painter, Robert Wolf and Jaclyn Atherton;
• extended a supplemental contract to Jason Smith as the testing coordinator for the elementary school;
• accepted donations were accepted from Byhalia.net LLC, Troy and Kelly Gibson, for Internet service to students, valued at an annual cost of $1599.60; Hilliker YMCA, a gaga pit for elementary students; Buckeye Pallet Liquidation and Wholesale, John Knox, for school supplies, such as binders, notebooks and staplers; and Lowe’s of Bellefontaine, hand sanitizer for bus drivers.
The board meets again in regular session at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, at the Central Office.