Superintendent’s evaluation presented
A new after school program at Riverside Schools is affording students with a number of opportunities and incentives for learning and character-building, board of education members learned at their Tuesday evening meeting.
Chris Christensen, coordinator of the Riverside Outreach Program offered through Logan County Children’s Services, said the program for students in grades K-12 began Oct. 26, with a total of 29 children participating to date. The effort is funded through a $76,000 Community Connector’s Grant.
Through the outreach program hosted in classrooms at the school, homework help is available each day, Monday through Friday, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Regular Friday evening movie nights also are part of the initiative, along with character-building activities and discussions through a representative from Consolidated Care Inc.
Mr. Christensen said he communicates with Riverside teachers on a regular basis to find out about students’ specific homework-related needs and to provide incentives for completing assignments.
When the program began, the coordinator said only about four to five students participated, but more recently, he has seen about 18 pupils on the homework help nights.
“It’s been great to have the chance to serve as a positive adult mentor in the students’ lives,” said Mr. Christensen, who previously worked with youths at the Western, Chippewa and Russells Point outreach centers.
“The kids love coming in here,” Superintendent Scott Mann said. “When applying for the grant, Chris hit some obstacles at first, but I appreciate that he didn’t quit. He kept going so that our kids could have the same opportunities as children in other areas of the county.”
Volunteers from the school and the United Methodist churches in Quincy and DeGraff have partnered for the effort, but additional volunteers are still needed, Mr. Christensen noted. Donations of snack items and craft type materials also would be appreciated, he said.
To find out more about the program, call the coordinator at 585-5981 ext. 258.
Also during the meeting, the board presented their annual evaluation of Mr. Mann, who members said earned an “average” rating, based on a points scale.
“He’s doing a good job for our district,” President Don Klingler said after the meeting. “He just missed his rating last year of ‘excellent’ by a few points.
“Now that we’re financially stable as a district, education is our priority, and we’re looking forward to developing different career pathways for our students, based on their goals after they graduate.”
In January 2015, the board extended Mr. Mann a two-year contract that began Aug. 1. His salary will remain at $83,453.19.
During discussion items, Jason Bell, maintenance and transportation supervisor, provided a presentation on a proposed pole barn that would provide extra storage options for the maintenance and athletic departments.
According to preliminary plans, the proposed pole barn would measure 48 feet by 72 feet, and the district is looking at various sites on the property to locate the building. The project will go to bid after an engineer draws up plans for the building.
In organizational matters, the board elected Don Klingler as president and Robert Bender as vice president for 2016.
Treasurer Lucas Ratliff during his first meeting in his new position swore in new board member Bradley K. Adams, and also incumbent member Mr. Bender.
The board set the regular meeting times for 2016 as 5:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month, with the exception of November and December, when meetings will be conducted Nov. 15 and Dec. 13.
Members also convened in executive session for the purpose of considering the employment or compensation of a public employee and also security measures. No action was taken following the session.
In other action, the board:
• approved a motion to place Jimmy Bell II, custodian, on paid administrative leave until Feb. 2;
• accepted the supplemental contract resignation of Bruce Schmeising, seventh-grade boys basketball coach, effective Dec. 19, and extended the supplemental contract to Superintendent Scott Mann to finish the rest of the season;
• extended supplemental contracts to Todd Guthrie, junior varsity boys baseball, and Ryan Mulholland, elementary musical;
• approved Ryan Robinson as a junior varsity boys baseball coach;
• approved Liz Kerr and Becky Rappold as tutors for Dec. 1-17 at the rate of $15 per hour;
• approved Adam Huber, Christine Schrage and Angel Allen as Thursday/Saturday monitors to be paid at the rate of $15 per hour;
• approved up to 20 board meetings per year;
• appointed the superintendent as the purchasing agent and also as the suspension appeals/expulsion hearing officer, effective Jan. 1;
• appointed the treasurer as the investment officer for the district; and
• approved a number of other standing authorizations for the superintendent or treasurer.
The next regular meeting is 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, in the school library.
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