District making arrangements for outdoor drive-up ceremony
Riverside Schools Board of Education members discussed a number of items related to the school shutdown through the end of the 2019-20 school year during their Tuesday evening meeting, including arrangements that are being currently made to move forward with the district’s previously planned May 15 graduation date.
Superintendent Scott Mann said the 6:30 p.m. ceremony will take place outdoors, with participants staying in their vehicles during the commencement exercises in the school’s north parking lot. The ceremony will be announced via the football field’s PA system.
When graduates’ names are called to receive their diplomas, they will exit their vehicles one at a time to receive their diplomas.
“We know this is not optimal and it’s not the ceremony that the seniors deserve, but we are wanting to be able to honor the seniors in the best way that we know how considering the current times and in a timely fashion,” the superintendent said.
Each seniors’ family will be permitted two vehicles for the graduation and are asked to report to the DeGraff Park during their designated time between 5:30 and 6 p.m. Vehicles then will proceed to the school’s parking lot at 6:30 p.m.
Seniors and their families will be invited to decorate the vehicles for a parade that will follow, traveling through DeGraff and Quincy and led by the Logan County Sheriff’s Office.
Further details will be relayed to families of Class of 2020 members, and Mann encouraged individuals to stay-up-to date with current announcements that are posted via the district’s Facebook page.
With Governor Mike DeWine’s announcement Monday that school districts will remain closed through the end of the school year, the superintendent said while it is a disappointment for Riverside students and staff, getting that confirmation has been helpful for planning purposes.
“It’s been somewhat of a relief moving forward so that we can make plans for finishing out the school year with our remote learning options,” Mann said. “Previously, we had these official announcements of school closures for just several weeks at a time, so it’s helpful to now have this confirmation.”
For pupils completing their online and remote lessons, Riverside families should stay tuned as announcements will be forthcoming regarding final due dates for the end of the year.
In upcoming summer projects, the board unanimously approved a $1,895,211 project with Waibel Energy Systems to replace the roof on the K-12 building. The resolution passed by the board waived the competitive bidding for the roof replacement, citing urgent necessity to complete the project prior to the 2020-21 school year.
Mann related this project cost is an approximate $130,000 savings from previous estimates received by the district in recent months.
Crews are expected to begin working on the roof in late May.
Members also approved asphalt paving project and the lowest and best bid from H&S Asphalt for a $52,400 base and $33,500 optional for work to take place this summer. This is the final paving project of a four-phase effort to re-pave all district grounds, the superintendent said.
The board also approved three resolutions related to the pandemic — one to waive the teacher evaluation requirement for this school year; another setting in place the distance learning resolution for the district; and a final resolution granting purchasing power to the superintendent and treasurer to expend funds for products and services needed during the state of emergency.
In other action, the board:
• approved of the following summer maintenance help on an as needed basis: Kyle Knight, Conor Osborne, Levi Godwin, Amy McGill, Lori Longbrake and Tyler Hodge;
• extended supplemental contracts to Candice Woods, assistant varsity volleyball; Rod Yoder, head varsity girls basketball, varsity boys basketball coverage; Scott Mann, assistant varsity girls basketball, varsity boys basketball coverage; Jason Yoder, junior varsity girls basketball; Seth Bodenmiller, head varsity boys basketball; Scott Schnelle, assistant varsity boys basketball; Todd Guthrie, junior varsity boys basketball; Jacob Herron, Tim Woods, Dennis Sanford, three coaches splitting two salaries for eighth-grade/seventh-grade boys basketball; Zerah Crouch, high school boys bowling; Jaime Yelton, high school girls bowling; Brittney McClintick, head high school basketball cheerleading; Amanda Gammell, junior high basketball cheerleading; Jan Knight, varsity girls basketball coverage, varsity boys basketball coverage; Kelly Kauffman, varsity boys basketball coverage; and Jean Stanfield, junior high girls basketball coverage, junior high boys basketball coverage;
• approved the membership of the Ohio High School Athletic Association membership for the 2020-21 school year;
• adopted a Section 125 Flexible Fringe Benefits Plan for the employees of Riverside Local School District, effective June 1; and
• approved advance of $100,000 from general fund to Permanent Improvement fund.
The next meeting is 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, in the school library.