While the start to the 2020-21 school year looked very different last week for Bellefontaine City Schools under a blended learning model, administrators reported at the Monday evening board of education meeting that some of the district’s younger students might be able to resume in-person schooling five days a week in the not-too-distant future.
Superintendent Brad Hall related that he has been in frequent communication with Logan County Health Commissioner Dr. Boyd Hoddinott, who has provided the district with several benchmarks to re-opening to grades kindergarten through fifth-grade, or possibly grades kindergarten through eighth-grade, even as soon as next month.
“The beginning of the school year has gone really well, and we couldn’t be more proud of how all of our staff have worked to prepare for this different way of learning,” Hall said.
“We will be looking at these benchmarks provided by the health commissioner to determine when we might be able to safely bring back some of our younger students, possibly later in October.”
One of the measures for re-opening full-time for those grade levels includes taking a look whether there are any spikes in COVID-19 cases in the upcoming weeks following the Labor Day holiday, and how the other Logan County schools fare after being open for several weeks at their current five-day-a-week status.
Other benchmarks for re-opening include ensuring that there is not community spread of the virus among staff or students, and also improving air purity and circulation in each of the school buildings.
Adjustments have been made to the HVAC systems of the district’s newer buildings, the elementary school and middle school, to provide for more frequent exchanges of outside air. Roger Ely, executive director of administrative services and transportation, said at the two older buildings, the high school and intermediate school, the district is looking at purchasing individual ionization units for classrooms using federal coronavirus funds.
“We have been opening windows for the time being at the two older buildings, but as the weather turns colder and we have to close up the windows, the ionization units would provide a great option to improving air quality,” he said.
The board’s discussion of these possibilities took place during the public participation portion of the meeting, where several parents and a Bellefontaine High School student presented their concerns and difficulties with blended learning.
Some of the parents mentioned the challenges of helping their children with schoolwork while maintaining their work schedules and also their children’s learning styles that are better suited to being in the classroom.
The individuals also wanted to understand how the other Logan County school districts could be in session full-time if the districts were using the same re-opening guidelines.
“It’s frustrating when looking at the other county schools and they’re going five days a week,” Tera Kunze said.
Hall related that Bellefontaine City Schools is the largest district by student population in the county, and that has presented challenges relating to not just classroom sizes, but also time between classes and also ensuring that restrooms and other public spaces weren’t overcrowded.
Board member Mark Fissel also addressed those who participated in the forum, stating that he is committed to getting students back to class full-time in a timely matter.
“I think it’s up to us to get the kids back to school, where they thrive. We need to be looking at how we can get students back to class as soon as we can,” he said.
Board President Scott Abraham thanked the individuals who participated in the meeting.
“We appreciate you being here and bringing these points to our attention – some of them are insights that we haven’t heard before,” he said.
Also during the meeting, Bellefontaine Middle School Principal Lynda Holycross presented information regarding the middle’s schools receipt of a 21st Century Grant worth about $900,000 over the next five years, as previously detailed in the Examiner.
She said next month, the school will be rolling out “BMS+”, with programming offered before and after school to offer new opportunities for students. The sessions will include “thinking outside of the box” academics, along with snacks and physical activities.
The programming will be available to all middle school pupils, and will include a partnership with the Logan County Chamber of Commerce for internships and other hands-on learning.
In other action, the board:
• accepted the donations from Honda Transmission Mfg. of 30 desktop cameras with microphones for virtual lessons and 14 Chromebooks for students and teachers, for a total donation of $5,000; and the donation of two laptop computers for virtual learning from Jessica Haushalter and Lawrence Miller;
• heard from Bellefontaine High School Principal Dr. Pam Noeth regarding three new proposed graduation seals for students, including community service, fine arts and student engagement, that will be voted upon by the board at their next meeting, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12;
• accepted the retirement resignation of Barb Hunt, middle school educational aide, effective Aug. 13, following 13 years of service to the district, and the resignations of Diane Foreman, middle school food service, effective Aug. 11, and Julie Whitehead, intermediate school food service, effective Sept. 3;
• approved salary adjustments for additional training to: master’s plus 45 — Kim Cayot; master’s plus 30 — Vanessa Bumgardner, Lori Horn, Whitney Stolly, Catherine Eastman; master’s plus 18 — Tricia Baker, Art Caudill, Catherine Davis, Matthew Gallaway, Natalie Grandstaff, James Howell; master’s — Jordan Reser; bachelor’s plus 30 — James Robinson; bachelor’s plus nine — Morgan Richmond;
• appointed Hannah Sabatino as an elementary school intervention specialist for 2020-21; and Preston Richmond as a second-shift custodian, effective Sept. 2;
• approved stipends to be paid to mentor teachers: Tricia Baker, Sara Core, Katina Elwood, Lindsay Hogan, Tracy Huffman, Gregg Johnson, Lindy Martin, Karen Scott, Andrea Shumaker, Mary Smith, Bess Standley, Whitney Stolly;
• appointed Coporate Health Services, Costin Family Practice as the medical provider for the district for the current school year, with an annual fee of $1;
• approved the following staff as home instruction/tutors to be paid at the rate of $18 per hour: Kim Allen, Mary Beaverson, Krista Belser, Robin Boots, Tracy Brady, Rosalind Brown, Donna Brunner, Gay Brunswick, Vanessa Bumgardner, Lauren Burkhardt, Kim Cayot, Megan Cira, Sara Core, Andy Crabill, Jill Cronkleton, Laura Daniels, Katie Davis, Christi Dodds, Kathy Entsminger, Amy Evans, Phil Forsythe, Tammy Fowler, Allyson Harmon, Jon Hayduk, Russ Hogue, Lori Horn, James Hughes, Tyler Johnson, Jordan Kesler, Paul Kite, Julie Kurtz, Courtney Leach, Brian LeCrone, Lindy Martin, Tracey Mitchell, Amber Newkirk, Chelsea Nicol, Justine Oliver, Stacy Penhorwood, Keith Pettit, Cheryl Poppel, Ric Prine, Karen Rader, Joliece Reed, Jon Reminder, Ashley Reser, Jordan Reser, Ryan Sawmiller, Karen Scott, Joni Siler, Marilyn Smith, Mary Smith, Susan Stahler, Whitney Stolly, Cathy Ulmer, Judy Vassar, Josh Wallace, Lori Wilson, Desnee Wolters, Paula Wood;
• approved the following classified staff to serve as tutors at the rate of $15 per hour: Susan Gleason, Ryan Holycross, Melanie Lehman, Tammy Overholser, Darin Vermillion and Lisa Wren;
• approved the following intervention assistance coordinators to be paid $750 stipends through IDEA funding: Kristy McKirahan, elementary; Susan Stahler, intermediate; Melanie Stephen, high school; Lori Wilson, middle school;
• approved the following virtual classroom/Success Center graders: Stacy Calton, Cliff Core, Katina Godwin, Stacey Holycross, Jean Minnick, Kristy Mount, Cheryl Poppel, Mary Smith;
• approved a change in assignment for Katie Cornell to elementary school split shift custodian;
• approved Chris Walden as a volunteer assistant boys golf coach; and
• accepted the following federal grants for 2020-21: $555,885.79 Special Education Part B – IDEA; $732,202.15 Title I; $43,229.58 Title I-D (Delinquent Grant); $96,857.61 Improving Teacher Quality Title II-A; and $62,173.68 Title IV-A Student Support and Enrichment;
The next meeting is 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, at the Bellefontaine High School Distance Learning Center.