Board discusses potential marching band course
Riverside Local Schools and its treasurer were presented with a statewide accolade at the Tuesday evening board of education meeting recognizing the district’s achievement of a clean audit report.
Joe Braden, Ohio Auditor of State’s West Regional Liaison, presented Treasurer Ronnie Fitchpatrick with the Auditor of State Award, relating that the state office audits nearly 6,000 entities and that fewer than 8 percent of all entities are eligible for this award.
“This award represents the hard work off all the school employees who strive each day to achieve accounting excellence,” he said. “Also I want to recognize the board of education members and the superintendent who have done an excellent job accounting for every dollar in the school district’s offices and departments.
“I especially want to recognize Ronnie Fitchpatrick for his outstanding leadership, professionalism and commitment to fiscal integrity.”
“I want to thank Ronnie for all of his diligent work,” Superintendent Scott Mann said.
“He does a great job with all of our records — they are meticulous.”
The Auditor of State representative said the clean audit report means the school’s audit does not contain any findings for recovery, material citations, material weaknesses, significant deficiencies, uniform guidance or questioned costs. The entity’s management letter also contains no comments related to: ethics referrals, lack of timely report submission; bank reconciliation issues; findings for recovery less than $500; public meetings or other public records issues etc.
Also during the meeting, members discussed an agenda item related to moving marching band from an extracurricular activity to an intra-curricular course to take place during the school day, beginning next school year, as proposed by band director Kasandera Knief. Some marching band practices still would take place during after school hours.
Knief said she recently has observed that a smaller number of students are participating in marching band, and as a result, she contacted several other area school districts to find out how they might boost their marching band numbers. She learned that some of the other school districts offer marching band course work during the school day.
“This would give us an opportunity to do more on the field,” she said of the marching band program. The marching band course would accompany the current concert band class that takes place during the school day.
A parent of an eighth-grade student addressed the board with her concerns regarding this potential change, noting that her daughter participates in concert band at school and plays several different instruments, but does not want to be required to participate in marching band because of the conflict with her other extracurricular activities.
Members tabled this item until the next meeting — 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 — so that additional questions and concerns can be addressed with the Band Boosters, the instructor and parents of band students.
The board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Riverside Education Association to extend the teacher’s work days by 15 minutes per day beginning with 2020-21 school year. The superintendent said this move will not change teacher pay because it will enable the district to shorten the school year by six days.
He related that shortening the school year will enable the district to begin school Wednesday, Aug. 26, instead of earlier in August as in recent years, according to the proposed 2020-21 calendar that will be considered at the next board meeting.
The board also approved Elementary Principal Mason Bryan to lead the new safety patrol program for each of the road crossings at school entrances, and with fifth- and sixth-grade students serving as crossing guards.
Bryan provided the elementary school report, noting that kindergarten registration is slated for March 12 and 13. Parents of children who will be 5 years old on or before Aug. 1 in the district should call the office at 585-5981 for an appointment.
In addition, the district’s preschool registration is 3 to 6 p.m. March 3 and 19.
The Riverside Family-School Partnership also is hosting a STEAM Night (science, technology, engineering, art and math) from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, featuring hands-on activities and door prizes.
In other action, the board:
• extended supplemental contracts for this school year to: Molly Harshbarger, Abigail Proffit, co-junior varsity softball; and Erin Krisher, volunteer varsity softball assistant;
• extended supplemental contracts for next school year to: Bryce Hodge, head varsity football; Jason Bell, Tyler Hodge, Brogan Oliver, varsity football assistants, junior varsity coaches; Spencer Saunders, varsity football assistant, junior varsity coach, JH/HS football coverage; Kerri Meade, head varsity volleyball; Morgan Herron, junior varsity volleyball; Tim McGill, weightlifting coordinator; Nikki Jenkins, high school varsity football cheerleading; Brittney McClintick, junior high football cheerleading; Tim McGill, head cross country, varsity football coverage; Andy Phelps, head boys golf; Rod Yoder, girls golf, varsity football coverage; Jason Yoder, girls golf; Tim Walls, head junior high football; Todd Guthrie, Kayden Smith, junior high assistant footbal; Emily Curnutte, head eighth-grade volleyball; Jan Knight, high school volleyball coverage; Jean Stanfield, junior high volleyball coverage;
• approved bus transport for Riverside fourth-grade students to the Antioch Shrine Circus April 4 to the Greene County Fairgrounds, with expenses to be paid by the Shriners; and
• accepted the following donations: $373 from the DeGraff Freewill Baptist Church for student lunches; $100 from Bud Jackson for student lunches; and $100 from Kathy Snapp for classroom supplies for Emily Curnutte.