Joel Penhorwood, Logan County Farm Bureau president, right, presents the Ohio Farm Bureau Grant Award to seniors Mylee Boysel and Libby Siefring. The money will be used to host a community-centered spring festival, which will include locally produced food, games and an agricultural fair. (EXAMINER PHOTO | SHARYN KOPF)
“There’s no place for this in our schools.”
In his report to the Benjamin Logan Local School District Board of Education at their regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 26, Superintendent John Scheu shared his concerns regarding the increase of vaping with THC (a cannabinoid) among students, specifically at the middle school. The problem led to 26 expulsion hearings in 2022-2023 and 11 so far this school year, with no effect.
“Nothing seems to get their attention like it should, and it’s very discouraging,” Scheu admitted. And this isn’t just happening at Benjamin Logan, but across the state and the country.
Yes, the school has vape detectors, but the students have figured out how to get around those.
Since none of their efforts are helping, Scheu and his team met with Logan County judges Natasha Kennedy and Kim Kellogg-Martin to find another potential solution. As a result, they’re recommending filing unruly child charges in juvenile court, which is usually used for habitual truancy.
Any student who is charged, along with a parent, will be brought before a judge, then assigned a probation officer and receive counseling. Scheu hopes these efforts will get their attention.
“Parents ask me what we are doing to rid the school district of this problem and that’s a fair question,” Scheu said. “It will take all of us working together.”
Board member Karen Dill asked if parents were supporting the school in this area, and Scheu stated they were except one. But though supportive, parents are also shocked when they learn how young the students are when they start vaping. Many began in sixth-grade and are in eighth now.
Their youth creates another issue for Scheu and the rest of the staff. They’re too young and naïve to understand the danger. Especially considering the added threat of fentanyl-laced electronic cigarettes.
But they also don’t get why there’s a problem since Ohio voted to make marijuana legal. Some have even asked why it’s a big deal. In addition, expelling students at that age, Scheu realizes, will greatly affect their future.
“It’s a problem we’re not ignoring,” Scheu stated, then added, “It’s time-consuming and stressful. But we’re not hiding anything or trying to sweep it under the rug.”
In other board action:
- Membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association was approved for 2024-2025.
- The board accepted the Memorandum of Understanding for Logan County Schools Employee Consortium.
- Jeff Fay, high school vice principal, introduced the January Seniors of the Month—Libby Siefring and Nathanael Smith; and the February Seniors of the Month—Celeste Allen and Hayden Alexander.
- Bob Stoll and Tim Lyden with the Logan County Land Trust spoke briefly about the demonstration farm, a carbon footprint project, which will use 25 acres of the student farm at Benjamin Logan for experimental purposes. Half of the land will use regenerative agriculture while the rest would be treated like a traditional farm.
“We hope to teach FFA groups a different way of farming that results in helping soil, gets more water into the soil and plants are healthier,” Stoll said. Lora James, FOAC teacher, added, “I think it’s a great opportunity for our students.” - Beau Harmon, athletic director, asked the board to consider naming the new track after Mike Coder, who’s been a track coach at Benjamin Logan for 53 years. He suggested they install a pillar on the track with Coder’s name on it. The board decided they wanted to discuss the issue further before making a decision.
- During his report, Scheu praised the school’s high school wrestling team, which came in second only to Graham for the season. The team has 11 boys and two girls going to the district competition.
- Scheu also commended the boys bowling team for earning their way to the state tournament in Columbus this weekend. “It’s been an unforgettable year, and we wish them the best,” Scheu said.
- A $50,000 advance from the athletics fund was returned.
- Grants from Logan County Electric, Energizing Education and Big Yellow School Bus were accepted.
- In personnel:
- The resignations of Carli Henman, high school Spanish teacher, effective July 31, 2024 (for further employment), and Michell Jones, bus driver/transportation clerical, effective Oct. 1, 2024 (for retirement), were both accepted.
- Employment of administrative staff for a two-year contract was approved for Todd Shadley, middle school principal, effective Aug. 1, 2024, and Art Daniels, transportation director, effective Feb. 29, 2024.
Shadley, a BL graduate, said, “I’m honored and humbled to come back to where I started as a teacher 13 years ago.” - The ESC substitute list for the 2023-2024 school year and the supplemental contracts for athletic positions were also approved.
- Superintendent report approvals:
- Early graduation of Wyat Hoffner for the 2023-2024 school year
- New courses for the 2024-2025 school year
- Professional services with curriculum associates for the 2024-2025 school year
- High school course selection handbooks
- Benjamin Logan Local Schools interdistrict open enrollment guidelines for 2024-2025, noting changes in the state funding formula
- The 2024-2025 calendar was approved. It moved the teacher start date back a day to Aug. 28, and corrected a clerical error previously marking Aug. 30 as a holiday.
- Brittony Leonard was appointed trustee for the Belle Center Free Public Library.
- Donations from Larsen Woodworking and Ohio Beef Council were accepted.
- The board approved the volunteer services of baseball and softball coaches.
The next meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, March 18.
Tim Lyden, left, and Bob Stoll with the Logan County Land Trust speak about the demonstration farm on district grounds. (EXAMINER PHOTO | SHARYN KOPF)