Benjamin Logan Board of Education members approved several different projects and purchases — including two vehicles, HVAC improvements and new windows at the middle school STREAM Center — at their Monday evening meeting that are made possible through pandemic-related Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds received by the district.
Superintendent John Scheu and Treasurer Jennifer Sudhoff reported that the purchases and projects had to meet certain specifications to qualify.
For example, staff will be able to open the new windows installed at the STREAM Center (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art & Math) to allow fresh air inside the building and improve overall air quality to combat COVID-19.
The board approved an agreement with Capital Aluminum & Glass Corporation for the windows, at a cost not to exceed $43,000.
In addition, the ESSER purchases include a 2021 Ford Expedition from White’s Ford, in the amount of $63,640, and a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban from Dave Kehl Chevrolet in the amount of $68,215.
Sudhoff said the vehicle purchases will be helpful in dealing with the national driver shortage that is also felt by the district. Coaches and club advisers would be qualified to drive either of these vehicles for shorter day trips to transport student athletes or other extracurricular members, such as to an all-day golf tournament or state track meet.
ESSER funds also will support HVAC enhancement projects with Smith-Boughan Mechanical, including an initiative not to exceed $35,000 for an upgrade of the Alerton BAS system and a project not to exceed $30,000 for system repairs and programming.
Additionally, members approved a $5,000 project for Smith-Boughan Mechanical to conduct a facility-wide exhaust fan audit to further improve indoor air quality.
During the superintendent’s report, Scheu congratulated staff members on their recent receipt of a Gold Award from the United Way of Logan County, as recently reported in the Examiner.
He said a total of 136 district staff members have pledged to give a total of $21,063 to the cause, which is a record for the district. Last year, 117 donors gave $14,211, and in 2019, 92 donors provided $13,382 for the United Way.
Now several weeks into the 2021-22 school year, Scheu said the district’s COVID-19 cases have remained fairly low, with eight students recently testing positive for the virus, with several cases reported at each of the school buildings.
“For now, we are not mandating masks, and we taking as many steps as we can to be proactive in combating COVID-19, especially focusing on the air quality piece, bringing fresh air into the buildings every hour. HEPA filters also can be moved into classrooms where we’ve had positive cases.
“Handwashing and sanitizing surfaces continues to be emphasized as well.”
Elementary Principal Colleen Bodin also reported on the recent successful literacy camp at YMCA Camp Willson at the end of August, also funded with the help of ESSER.
“It was a fantastic time to have the camp. The students who attended started back to school stronger with those literacy skills.”
In other action, the board:
• appointed the following new certified staff members on a one-year limited contract: Kyle Prenger, middle school social studies, and Sage Caughenbaugh, high school English;
• approved the following advancements on the salary schedule for additional training to the following staff members: master’s — Morgan Dixon, Michael Kettler, Victoria Purk; and master’s plus 15 — Morganne Ackley, Jodie Kavanagh;
• extended the following supplemental contracts: Jeff Fay, head weight room assistant coordinator; and Trisha Hemmelgarn, Kyle Seeley, Kyle Rose, weight room assistant coordinators; Andrea Fay, freshman class adviser; and Megan Hastings, student council adviser;
• approved the following monitors for detention, Saturday school and study tables: Deepika Scheiderer, Kevin Penwell, Brooke Rodriguez, Tabetha Sloboda, Kevin Penwell, Joslin Lee, Jodi Kavanagh, David Wood, Andrea Fay, Carli Henman, Jill Hughes, Brooke Tuttle, Cadan Goldstein and Jason Smith;
• accepted the following donations: clothing for elementary students in need from Goshen Friends Church; four sensory bags from Autism Society Central Ohio, valued at $100; BLMS PTS donation of $2,000 for middle school classroom supplies;
The next meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18 at the central office. The board of education appreciation dinner proceeds the meeting at 5 p.m. at the high school.