C’view OKs TIF agreement, doors contract

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

CONVOY — It was a relatively brief meeting, but Crestview Local Board of Education took care of several pieces of business, including approval of a resolution to contract for the replacement of 185 interior doors in the building, which Superintendent Mike Estes said was cheaper than refinishing the existing doors, as well as adopting a resolution opposing Ohio House Bill 136, which would use state funding for school vouchers — something many public school districts, including others in the county, feel would have a significant impact on their funding.

The board also approved a 30-year, 90-percent Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreement with Union Township that would channel tax dollars paid by two veal farms to the township to provide for repair and maintenance of roads used by the farms for transportation purposes.

Union Township Trustee Richard Perry attended the board meeting to answer any questions the board had about the TIF agreement.

Also Monday, the board also recognized the high school academic team, which recently beat out 15 teams in the WLTW-TV “Whiz Kids” competition, while also doing well at a number of other academic team competitions in the area, including winning the Northwest Conference Scholastic Bowl competition.

The board also heard from Elementary Principal Kathy Mollenkopf, who also chairs the district PRIDE Committee, a group formed to restore the district’s excellent rating on the State Report Cards, which occurred this past year. Mollenkopf said the group’s goal is to maintain the district’s academic standards and State Report Card rank.

In other news, the board:

• Accepted, with thanks, a $500 donation from Walmart for school fees and meal assistance for needy children, and a $300 donation from Associated Charities for clothing assistance for needy children.
• Approved Mary Alvarez, Randy Grandstaff and Shawn Schuette as volunteer indoor track coaches for the 2011-2012 school year.
• Approved a trip to Lorain on March 17 for the girls’ softball team, under the guidance of Coach Owen Pugh.
• Approved a resolution to reorganize the Northwest Ohio Area Computer Services Cooperative into a regional council of governments as provided for by state law.
• Heard Estes report on recognition given the district for its being given an excellent ranking on the State Report Card.

The next meeting of the Crestview Local Board of Education will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, December 19, in the district boardroom.