Malachi Teets, Ireland Dullen and Rebecca Johnson, pictured from left), shared about their community service projects with FCCLA at the Feb. 28 Ohio Hi-Point (OHP) Career Center Board of Education meeting. (EXAMINER PHOTO | SHARYN KOPF)
With an eye on community service, the Ohio Hi-Point (OHP) Career Center Board of Education heard from students and staff about some of these efforts at their regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 28.
According to Allison Koch, career tech supervisor, they wanted to give board members a snapshot of what they’ve been doing.
The first presentation came from three students in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) at Graham High School, St. Paris. Their group has been involved in numerous service projects like a senior citizens breakfast, military letters and a buddy day with multi-handicapped students.
“We’re lucky to have a supportive leader and a supportive community,” student Malachi Teets said. “We do dozens of service projects throughout the year, and our teachers push us to do our best.”
Also presenting with Teets were Rebecca Johnson and Ireland Dullen. The three are with the Graham family and consumer science program under instructor Donna Jarzab.
Board President Ann Reames praised the students, saying, “You have to feel good about yourselves, that you’ve done so much for others.”
Next, Megan Mast, math intervention specialist, and Brandon Case, in the Bellefontaine construction trades program, shared about their work with the Give and Take thrift store and food pantry in West Mansfield.
In closing, Koch and Tonya Ramey, high school director, gave an overview of OHP’s community service activities across the district. Statistically, 112 projects were completed during the 2022-2023 school year. By comparison, they’ve only done 47 so far in 2023-2024. A long way from the strategic plan goal of 250.
Not to worry, though, according to Koch.
“It seems low,” she said, “but a lot of our teachers don’t report until the end of the school year when the projects are done. We expect this number to skyrocket then.”
As the board moved into the next part of the meeting, Dr. Rick Smith, school superintendent, spoke briefly about the decision to cancel the large eclipse event they had been planning.
“It was a tough one for me to make,” he admitted, “but it became a safety priority.”
Nevertheless, Smith still anticipates seeing people converge on the school grounds for the eclipse since it is the highest point in Ohio and a public place. With that in mind, the administrative team and the school resource officer, Adam Niederkohr, will be on-site to keep an eye on things.
During his career tech update, Brad Richardson, assistant superintendent, presented a new concept to the board for consideration: the creation of a Department of Teaching and Learning.
“We wear a lot of different hats, but one is to be an instructional leader,” Richardson said. “We want to find ways to offer more support.”
With that in mind, this new department would enhance the professional growth of OHP’s teachers. They hope to improve teaching practices and, as a result, student outcomes.
Richardson plans to start by hiring a department administrator to “get the ball rolling.” The right person would need to actively work with teachers and spend time in the classrooms. Though similar to a curriculum director, it’s more interactive.
Other job openings at OHP: athletic trainer, Ridgemont; agricultural instructor, Graham and Kenton; business instructor, Kenton; media arts, Marysville; fire/EMT, Bellefontaine; and academic teachers in math, English and social studies.
In other board action:
- With Don Jaunzemis, business operations coordinator, set to retire, Smith plans to post that job opening this month. After reviewing other districts, he feels it should be a full-time position.
- Renovations to the administration building are “coming along,” according to Smith. In fact, he stated they’re ahead of schedule and on-track to move in next month.
- The February 2024 Main Campus Students of the Month were Kaitlyn Gregg, exercise science, Triad High School, and Jalon Manns, education academy, Kenton High School.
- Smith and several board members plan to attend the OSBA Southwest Region Spring Conference on March 7 at 5 p.m.
- The board went into an executive session to confer with the district’s attorney concerning pending or imminent court action and the compensation of an employee.
- Approved internship agreements with Haircuts-N-Such by Chas, Bellefontaine; Madison-Champaign Educational Service Center, Urbana; Quest Liner Express & Tank Wash, Quincy; Salon Expo, Bellefontaine; Vail Resorts – Mad River Mountain, Zanesfield.
- Approved Salary schedule movement for additional coursework as documented on official transcripts for Ali Peterson (earned 30 semester hours) and Heather Smith (earned 15 semester hours).
- Accepted a donation of a 2007 Honda CRV for use in the automotive programs from Honda Marysville; estimated value: $3,000.
- Out-of-state study trip for Lindsay Wyan, Riverside satellite business instructor, and an administrator to chaperone five students participating in the National LifeSmart Championship in San Diego, April 17-21; $3,000 for the staff members to be paid by the general fund.
The next OHP board of education meeting will take place a week early — Wednesday, March 20, at 7 p.m. — due to spring break