Teachers’ union, classified staff agree to pay freezes
Bellefontaine City Schools Board of Education member Anne Reames is now in her 31st year serving the district, and at the conclusion of Monday evening’s board of education, she announced her resignation effective next month because she is moving out of the district.
“I’d like to thank all of the board members that I’ve served with, along each of the superintendents and staff, and the public for electing me as a board member eight different times,” she said. “It’s been an honor and a privilege and I’ve greatly enjoyed it.
“I have loved the opportunity to help further the education of the students in our district and seeing the growth and changes for Bellefontaine City Schools during these past 31 years. We have renovated the school buildings and also built new schools.
“I’ve also advocated for more advanced curriculum in my earlier years, and remember when we began offering Advanced Placement courses. Overall, I’ve wanted to make sure that we have something for everyone – to meet a variety of students’ interests.”
Reames related that she is relocating to Delaware, Ohio, to be closer to family and retirement opportunities.
She also is in her 16th year as a Ohio Hi-Point Career Center Board of Education member, who is currently serving as that board’s president. The longtime board member said the OHPCC board has asked her to continue in that capacity to help guide that district through its current building project.
The next BCS board of education meeting – 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 13, at the Bellefontaine High School Distance Learning Center – will be Reames’ final meeting.
Superintendent Brad Hall and Treasurer Joshua Wasson said the district will be accepting applications from candidates interested in filling the board vacancy. Applications must be received at the board office by July 1.
Also during the meeting, the board approved Memorandums of Understanding with both the Bellefontaine Education Association and the Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local #030 representing the classified staff to suspend the reopening of financial negotiations for the 2020-21 school year because of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis.
As a result of the agreements, the teaching staff and classified staff will receive a 0 percent increase on base salaries for the upcoming school year, and all other benefits will remain the same. Officials said that the pay freeze will apply to administrators as well.
In a prepared statement, the board and the two unions related that the pandemic has led to “drastic reductions in funding for the State of Ohio,” with cuts at the state level also leading to reductions to for local school districts.
“Bellefontaine Schools is one of hundreds of Ohio school districts who is struggling to plan responsibly for the future in the face of cuts in state funding and the current economic uncertainty…
“The result is that the Bellefontaine employees – administrators, teachers and non-teaching employees – will not receive any wage or benefit increase next school year.
“The district and its unions recognized the uncertain economic times and the need to be good stewards of our taxpayers’ dollars. The district appreciates the willingness of the Bellefontaine Education Association and OAPSE Local #030 to agree to this wage freeze and the shared sacrifices of employees at this time.”
Also during the meeting, members accepted the donation of 325 face shields from Honda Engineering Group of America.
Hall said the district was approached by a Honda engineer, asking for the number of face shields that the district would need to cover each employee.
“While the engineer would not comment as to how much each face shield would cost, it was not an inexpensive project. We are very appreciative of their donation,” the superintendent said.
The board also approved an athletic training services agreement with Mary Rutan Hospital, with the hospital covering 100 percent of the district’s athletic trainer expenses.
In personnel matters, members accepted the resignation of 22-year district employee Russell, high school math, effective May 22, and appointed Camry Potter, high school Spanish teacher, for the 2020-21 school year.