District hires new communications coordinator
Bellefontaine City Schools Board of Education members unanimously approved at their Monday evening meeting the first of two required steps to place a renewal operating levy on the Nov. 2 ballot.
The board passed a resolution of necessity for the emergency tax levy that currently generates $1,185,000 per year for school district operating expenses. The issue will be certified by the Logan County auditor, and then the board will vote on a resolution to proceed with the levy at an upcoming meeting.
If approved by voters in November, this issue would renew the current levy in place and would not raise taxes, Superintendent Brad Hall said.
This emergency levy represents a five-year issue that was first approved in November 2016. The levy began collection 2018 and currently continues through 2022.
Also during the meeting, the board extended a three-year administrative contract to new communications coordinator Bill Tipple, effective Aug. 1 through July 31, 2024. His salary was set at approximately $63,500 per year, officials said.
Tipple is a longtime news director with WPKO/WBLL Radio. The superintendent said the district created the new position to ease communications efforts with the public, district families and students, and to “tell the district’s story.”
“We just graduated our 154th class at Bellefontaine High School, and until now, we haven’t been able to fully share the district’s story. We have a great story to tell and we’re looking forward to sharing more information with the public.”
During the committee reports, Roger Ely, executive director of administrative services and transportation, shared about several summer projects in various school buildings.
He said at the elementary school, work is underway to install a new doorway for the nurse’s office. This will enable students who are ill and their parents to use this access point to the nurse’s office, instead of children who are sick needing to access the nurse’s office through the main office area.
In addition, a new boiler was installed Monday at Bellefontaine Intermediate School, replacing one of the two boilers that is 32 years old, Ely said.
Also, at AcuSport Stadium, the front row of the home concrete bleachers are being extended to add more room for individuals sitting in this area. A new railing will be added as well.
Members also approved the continuation of an agreement with Mary Rutan Hospital for athletic training services, provided at no cost to the district.
In personnel matters, the board accepted the resignations of the following individuals: Amy Evans, high school intervention specialist, effective May 24; Angela Haver, high school guidance counselor, effective May 24; Hannah Sabatino, elementary school intervention, effective June 18; Marissa Barr, high school science/chemistry, effective June 30; Gregg Johnson, middle school science, effective Aug. 1; Jeff Zell, bus driver, effective May 21; and Laurie Showalter, central office secretary, effective July 16.
Members also approved the following professional personnel appointments for the 2021-22 school year: Julie Phillips, behavior support specialist; Skylar Mifsud, middle school intervention specialist; Jennifer Brown, intermediate intervention specialist; Patricia Bodey, eighth-grade English language arts; Donna Howell, fifth-grade English language arts; Cheryl Daniels, third-grade language arts, social studies; Caroline Federinko, high school English language arts; Kate Carter, middle school English language arts; Jenny Withrow, high school intervention; Patrick Delisio, middle school science; Jennifer Hanson, high school science, chemistry.
The board also met in executive session to discuss plans for the superintendent’s evaluation and the treasurer’s evaluation. No action was taken after the session, and the board will further detail the evaluations at their next meeting, 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 19, at the Bellefontaine High School Distance Learning Center.