L’view takes action on personnel items

Van Wert independent

The Lincolnview Local Board of Education took a number of personnel actions during its April meeting this week and also discussed the bleak outlook for state funding in the coming biennial.

The board granted a three-year contract to instrumental instructor Anna Battle and also awarded a continuing contract to high school science teacher Adam Owens. Non-teaching staff awarded contracts included Monica Richey, bus driver, one-year limited contract; Denise Cramer, bus driver and educational aide, one year limited contract; Michele McCleery, elementary aide-media specialist, two-year contract; Lucy Rice, bus driver, two-year contract; Cindy DuVall, transportation-program services-elementary secretary, continuing contract; Rhonda Longstreth, latchkey supervisor continuing contract; Debora Cowling, kindergarten educational aide-latchkey assistant, continuing contract; Herb Fetzer, junior high-high school custodian, continuing contract; Peter Ridenour, elementary-outdoor custodian, continuing contract; and Mary Katalenas, lunchroom cashier, continuing contract.

The board also employed Cramer and Sharon Brincefield on an as-needed basis for summer bus cleaning and maintenance, and accepted the resignation of June Young as elementary achievement assessment intervention teacher for the second semester of the 2010-2011 school year, effective April 5.

Treasurer Troy Bowersock also talked about the state biennial budget — a topic for just about every local governmental entity lately – noting that it appears Lincolnview would see funding decrease approximately 6.28 percent in Fiscal Year 2012, and another 2.77 percent in FY 2013. Bowersock said he was in the process of updating the district’s five-year forecast — which is updated twice a year.

The board also discussed the 2010 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act, which includes a provision regarding equity in school lunch pricing — a provision that will result in minimal increase in lunch prices in the district.

Elementary Principal Gordon Stemen noted that projected class size for the coming year’s kindergarten class should be between 64 and 68 students, while also noting that 144 elementary students in grades 4-6 earned Skyway cards for the third nine-week grading period. Of those, 26 students earned gold cards, 72 earned blue cards and 46 received white cards.

High School Principal Kelly Dye indicated that junior high and high school teachers are reviewing textbooks for adoption in the areas of social studies, family and consumer science and art.

Superintendent Doug Fries mentioned in his report that board members would sponsor a breakfast for all staff members on Tuesday, May 3, in recognition of staff appreciation week. The breakfast will be served from 7:15-8:20 a.m. in the high school cafeteria.

In other action, the board:

• Praised Chad Kraner, Matt Alessandrini, Dan Bulau and all others who helped make the district play, Sitting in a Tree, successful.
• Approved contracting with Julian & Grube Inc. to assist in preparing the district’s financial statements in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Procedures (GAAP) standards for FY 2011-2013.
• Approved the list of graduates for this year, pending completion of all necessary requirements.
• Approved the following classified substitutes or the current school year: Jay Yoh, substitute custodian; and Alan Breece, substitute bus driver.
• Approved the following unpaid volunteer sports coaches for the current school year: Tony Reynolds and Heidi Oberhaus, track, and Caressa Evans, junior high softball.
• Contracted with Home Health Solutions to provide substitute nursing services as needed for the current school year.
• Authorized an overnight trip to Kalahari Resorts Indoor Water Park in Sandusky on May 23-24 for the senior class under the supervision of advisor Deb Stetler and Dye.
• Accepted, with thanks, a $2,000 donation from the Cooper Family Foundation within the Raymond Jame Charitable Endowment Fund.
• Authorized Lincolnview FFA members and advisor Tony Campbell to attend the state FFA convention in Columbus on May 5-6.

The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, in the district office conference room.