Bellefontaine City Schools Board of Education members began 2021 by electing new leadership during their annual organizational meeting Monday evening.
Brenda Sanford, a 22-year member of the board, was elected president, and Colin Yoder, who began his service on the board last year, was elected vice president. Treasurer Joshua Wasson administered the oaths of office to each office holder.
Members also moved their regular meetings to the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m., except for next month’s meeting, slated for Feb. 8, at the Bellefontaine High School Distance Learning Center.
During the regular meeting that followed the organizational session, the entire board was recognized in honor of School Board Appreciation Month. The district’s administrative team presented board members, also including Scott Abraham, Mark Fissel and Karen Wilson, with cutting boards in the shape of the state of Ohio, featuring a Bellefontaine Chieftain design created by bus driver Penny Smith.
Superintendent Brad Hall thanked the board members for the way they helped the district to weather the challenges of 2020 and the COVID-19 crisis.
“For all that you have done in the last year, we are so grateful . For three of you, you have been new to the board during this unusual time.
“We appreciate the way that you put the needs of the students first, not what’s easiest or most comfortable.”
Hall related that the board provided clear guidance as BCS entered into the 2020-21 school year. While the district initially entered the school year in a hybrid learning scenario, the board heard the concerns of families and students during that time.
“The board helped to provide us with the direction to turn back to full-time in-person learning in October,” the superintendent said. “If not for those changes that were made in the fall, we would just be returning to in-person learning next Tuesday, according to the previously approved plan.”
Bellefontaine Intermediate School Principal Krista Adelsberger also expressed on behalf of the administrative team appreciation to the board for their dedicated service during the difficult time.
“You have really been put to the test, and we want to express how deeply we appreciate the support of the board. We’re grateful for your clarity during those hard decisions that you had to make and the clear reasoning that you provided us with. It shows your high integrity and how much you care for the district.”
In buildings and grounds matters, Roger Ely, exeutive director of administration, reported that the intermediate school has been able to resume its choral classes following the approval of the Logan County Health District. The school has installed new windows that open in the large music classroom, and ionization units also are in place in the room as well.
Hall related that indoor band classes also have been approved to resume at the high school. In addition, BCS is working with the health district on plans to resume choir at the high school and middle school.
In personnel matters, the board also approved a number of administrative, teaching and classified supervisor contracts that were put on hold last year as a result of the pandemic and school closures.
Three-year administrative contracts were approved for: Krista Adelsberger; Angela Horvath, coordinator of gifted services; Patricia Martz, elementary principal; and Jennifer Salyer, elementary/intermediate associate principal.
Classified supervisor contracts were issued to: three-year – Maria Borba, district technology; Roger Ely; and Christina Prine, assistant treasurer; and two-year – Katherine Buffkin, district nurse; Max Earick, grounds/maintenance supervisor; Tammie Garman, transportation supervisor; and Winifred Jacks, food service supervisor.
Professional teaching staff contracts also were issued as follows: five-year – Robin Boots, Jason Brown, Lauren Burkhardt, Sandra Chervenak, Megan Cira, Marcia Cooper, Sara Core, Ami Horvath, James Howell, Gregg Johnson, Justine Oliver, James Robinson, Katherine Rychener, Ryan Sawmiller, Whitney Stolly, Jeremiah Vigansky and Heather Wechta; and three-year – Dawn Merrick, Joshua Wallace, Ashley Wood and Bailey Robison.
In other action, the board:
• accepted the resignation of Lori Arledge, high school food service, effective Dec. 20;
• approved the following teachers as home instruction tutors: Michaela Baker, Kylie Croston, Amanda Hecker, April Jameson, Sharon Lewis, Linda McQuinley, Morgan Richmond and Jill Roode;
• approved the following classified personnel to serve as school tutors: Jake Kennedy, Melanie Lehman;
• recognized seniors of the month Evan Kauffman and Sara Starkey;
• approved the nutrition standard policy according to Ohio Revised Code requirements that governs types of food and beverages that may be sold on school premises;
• approved the establishment of a board service fund within the general fund, in the amount of $3,000;
• approved membership in the Ohio School Boards Association, in the amount of $6,792;
• appointed Colin Yoder as a delegate and Scott Abraham as an alternate to attend the OSBA annual business meeting in November; and
• designated the Bellefontaine Examiner and WPKO Radio as the official media outlets of the district.