Washington, D.C., trip dates set
Members of the Bellefontaine High School Academic Boosters Club presented an organizational license plate proposal to the Bellefontaine City Schools Board of Education at their Monday evening meeting as a way that the club could both raise funds and also promote BCS throughout the state.
Representative Dr. Ryan Kauffman said through the group’s research, they have learned that a total of 18 other K-12 school districts around Ohio have the option for individuals to purchase specialty organizational license plates promoting those school districts.
If the proposal is approved by the board at their next meeting, 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 19, and the project also goes through several other steps, anyone in the state of Ohio would be able to purchase a Bellefontaine City Schools license plate – featuring a block “B” on the left side and the words “Bellefontaine City Schools” centered at the bottom of the plate. There would be an additional $40 added to the regular licensing fees, and the BHS Academic Boosters would receive $30 from each purchase.
If the program is put in place, there would be no cost incurred by the school district or the club, Dr. Kauffman noted.
“This would be a neat way to show school pride and even bring together people across the state when they’re traveling in Ohio,” he said. “The money obtained from the sales of each plate would allow the BHS Academic Boosters to support academic achievement in the district.”
A 1995 BHS graduate, Dr. Kauffman noted that the club currently sponsors a number of different recognitions and events for students, and the license plate program would continue this tradition. Some of their sponsorships include the fall and spring awards and SOAR Awards; Sweet Rewards at the high school; support for academic clubs like TEAMs, Quiz Bowl, Model United Nations, Educators Rising and VEX Robotics; ACT Bootcamp scholarships; AP and National Merit Scholar recognition; teacher appreciation luncheon and financial support for district levies.
If approved by the board, the next steps include preparing an affidavit for participation, collecting 150 signatures of people who are interested in getting the plate and the passage of a bill in the Ohio Legislature supporting the plate, the presenter explained.
Also during the meeting, members approved two separate upcoming trips to Washington, D.C., next school year.
The first trip is slated for Nov. 20-23, 2021, specifically for freshman and sophomore students at that time to make up for the missed opportunities related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The second trip is planned for May of 2022 for eighth-graders next year to take their usual end-of-the school year trek to the nation’s capital.
One of the trip organizers, Cliff Core, related that sites in Washington, D.C., now are starting to open back up for tourists. The upcoming trips will be booked through Prodigy Tours.
During the committee of the whole, Core also reported on the work of the district’s calendar committee to create two proposed calendars for the next two school years.
In a close vote, the committee selected a calendar schedule that incorporates Aug. 17 as the first day of school for 2021-22, and May 19 as the last day of school that year, he said.
The proposed calendars will be available for public comment on the district’s website at www.bellefontaine.k12.oh.us, for the next month. The board will vote on the calendars at their next meeting.
In personnel matters, members accepted the retirement resignations of Sandra Winter, high school art, effective May 24, and Paula Wood, kindergarten teacher, effective June 1. Winter has worked in the district for 20 years, and Wood is a 22-year BCS employee.
In other action, the board:
-Approved the following instructional team leaders for the second semester: Robin Boots, Megan Cira, Sara Core, Katie Davis, Lisette Hiatt, Lindsay Hogan, Beth Hogue, Erin Hoyng, Bri Hughes, Gregg Johnson, Sharon Lewis, Lindy Martin, Shawn Miller, Stacy Millice, Meagan Moeller, Kristy Mount, Cheryl Poppel, Jordan Reser, Susan Stahler and Cathy Ulmer;
-Extended the following supplemental contracts: Mark Brunswick, head baseball (75 percent) and Daulton Mosbarger, head baseball (25 percent); Russ Hogue, freshmen baseball; Josh Wallace, junior varsity baseball; Ben Davis, head track; Jim Robinson, Cody Sigrist, Kate Smith, track assistants; Sean Egler, Larry Young, track assistants (50 percent each); Jason Calton, boys tennis; Katie Buffkin, head softball; Doug Walters, junior varsity softball;
-Approved the following volunteer coaches: Jeremy Clifton, Don Kauffman, Austin Kelly, Mike Mosbarger, Henry Stolly, Jeff Turner, baseball; Gavin Yoder, track; Rick Gildow, Jeff Morrison, Chris Stricker and Michelle Zedeker, softball; and
-Honored seniors of the month Anastasia Hiatt and Sam Brown.