C’view accepts teacher resignations

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

CONVOY – Crestview Local Board of Education heard a presentation on Junior Achievement and also took a number of personnel actions during its February meeting Monday evening.

Second-grader Amanda Macki and Jessica Weiss, local JA educational coordinator, gave a presentation on JA, with a little help from Amanda’s teacher, Brenda Dye.

Superintendent Mike Estes said he thought the young girl did a nice job with keeping her poise during the presentation. “She was very mature for her age,” the superintendent said. “I don’t think I could have done what she did (make a presentation in front of adults) when I was in second grade.”

Estes also noted that he and Crestview Treasurer Laura Metzger had a preliminary meeting with a representative of Third Sun Solar, an alternative energy company, on the possibility of doing a solar energy project with the district.

However, the district might not qualify for such a project, since there is a requirement that solar panels be a half-mile or less from a participating organization’s electric meter. Estes said that, since any solar energy project would have to be located on a 40-acre tract of land owned by the school district, the distance from the school district’s meter is very close to exceeding the half-mile limit.

The superintendent added, though, that talks on the subject are very preliminary at this time.

“Even if we would qualify, we’re a long way from moving in that direction,” Estes said, “but it’s certainly something we wanted to explore.”

Also during the meeting, the board accepted the resignations of four teachers, including two that are retiring at the end of the current school year.

Those resigning, due to retirement, include Pamela Harner, a junior-senior high school teacher who has served 38 years in the district, and Debra Knodel, an elementary teacher who has served 36 years in the Crestview district.

The two other teachers who announced their resignations include Sara Keller, a junior-senior high school teacher who is leaving after a year at Crestview, and Kate Wiltsie, also a junior-senior high school teacher with eight years of seniority in the district.

The board also approved a one-year contract for Jared Owens as an elementary teacher and also approved him for a supplemental contract as the new varsity football head coach.

The board heard Estes talk about the fact that, with the cancellation of school because of Monday’s winter storm, the district now has taken eight calamity days this school year. Even if House Bill 36 is adopted, restoring a district’s calamity days to five, from the current three – and the fact that Crestview has already scheduled classes for two Saturdays, March 5 and 19 – the district would still have to make up one day at the end of the school year.

The superintendent said that, if HB 36 passes and there no additional calamity days are used, school will be out June 10. If HB 36 does not pass, school will end June 14.

In other news, the board:

• Announced that the district will offer district parents the opportunity to provide recommendations/suggestions for special educational programs and services in the district. Those parents interested may set up an appointment with Crestview Program Services Director Keith Rydell.
• Approved a Family Medical Leave Act leave for Amy Nidiffer, effective January 3.
• Ratified the district treasurer’s contract as presented.
• Approved Sara Owens as a volunteer coach for the varsity track program.
• Approved the 2011-2012 school calendar as presented.
• Read for the first time a proposed board policy regarding the use of tobacco on school grounds.
• Agreed to move the March board meeting from March 21 to March 14 because of a scheduling conflict.
• Went into executive session to discuss personnel items, with no action taken afterward.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Crestview Local Board of Education will be at 6 p.m. Monday, March 14, in the district boardroom.