L’view board OKs administrative contracts

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Lincolnview Local Board of Education approved personnel items, including several administrative contracts, and also authorized the purchase of a nine-passenger van during its March meeting on Tuesday.

The board unanimously approved the following administrative contracts: Junior-Senior High School Principal Kelly Dye, two-year contract; Marsh Foundation School Principal Roger Salisbury, one-year limited contract; Fred Fisher, district maintenance supervisor, three-year contract; and Eric Miglin, district computer network technician, a three-year contract.

Other personnel action included approval of a one-year contract to bus driver Rebecca Matthews, while Jeff Krugh was given a new contract as the district’s certified water systems operator. The board also accepted Kevin Longstreth’s resignation as junior varsity baseball coach and approved the following supplemental contracts: Karla Bowersock, junior high softball coach; and Dan Williamson, JV baseball coach. The following volunteer coaches were also approved: Dana Roberts and Jason Adams, junior high baseball; and Dianna Ashbaugh, junior high softball.

The following substitute employees were also approved by the board on Tuesday: Timothy Schoenle, substitute coach and custodian; Amy Dunlap, substitute bus driver, cook and custodian; Patricia Woodruff, substitute cook; and Jennifer L. Yoh, substitute bus driver.

Also during the meeting, board members followed Superintendent Doug Fries’ recommendation to approve the purchase of a nine-passenger MPV van at a cost of $39,700.

Elementary Principal Gordon Stemen was also designated as the district homeless liaison for the 2012-2013 school year. Stemen also talked about kindergarten registrations for the coming school year, noting that 58 students are registered for the 2012-2013 school year. That number includes 18 students who are attending Lincolnview under open enrollment.

Stemen said the number was down a bit from last year, but said it was well within acceptable parameters.

Both Stemen and Dye reported on upcoming student testing, including the Ohio Graduation Test.

The board also approved an agreement with Garmann Miller Associates Inc. to prepare construction and bid documents to resurface the existing track. Fries said the project would cost approximately $60,000. The board also approved advertising for bids for the project.

Treasurer Troy Bowersock discussed low interest rates received for the renewal of a certificate of deposit, noting that it’s hard to even get a financial institution to make a bid on a CD, and the rates are far less than 1 percent, resulting in declining interest revenues for the district.

Also Tuesday, board members got into a protracted discussion of the district calendar for the coming school year, with some members wanting to begin school after the Van Wert County Fair, while others favored the current set-up, which was also recommended by the Lincolnview Local Education Association. Fries said he saw positives in going with either option, but added that he would like to see a final decision on the calendar at the April board meeting.

The superintendent also noted that Board President Eric Germann was honored by  the Ohio School Boards Association with its Award of Achievement at the OSBA’s regional conference in Milan.

In other action, the board:

• Accepted, with thanks, a donation of $2,000 from the Raymond James Charitable Endowment of the Cooper Family Foundation.
• Accepted, with thanks, a $1,000 donation from The Van Wert County Foundation, on behalf of Amvets Post 698 of Middle Point for two senior scholarships.
• Authorized summer school for this year.
• Approved a resolution commending those responsible for putting on the Drama Club’s spring play, Little Shop of Horrors.
• Retroactively authorized an overnight trip by the wrestling team to the Division III District Wrestling Tournament at Dayton on February 24-25.
• Accepted, with thanks, a payment of $5,000 from Van Wert Federal Savings Bank to benefit the athletic department and athletic facilities.
• Went into executive discussion to discuss personnel matters, with no action taken following the session.

The next Lincolnview board meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, in the district conference room.