Lincolnview board OKs personnel items

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Lincolnview Local Board of Education approved a number of personnel contracts and also discussed the changes coming to education in Ohio over the next few years. The board also split in approving a calendar for the upcoming school year.

The board approved the following teaching contracts for the upcoming school year: three-year contracts – Stacie Korte, high school, junior high and elementary music teacher and choir director; Amy Overholt, fourth-grade teacher; June Young, third-grade teacher; Tonia Verville, K-6 guidance counselor (.4 time); Heidi Oberhaus, grades 6-12 Family Consumer Science teacher; two-year contracts – Calli Coppus, junior-senior high school math teacher; Kinsey Dobbelaere, K-6 art teacher; and Brett Hammons, second-grade teacher.

The following classified staff contracts were also approved: One-year contract – Denise Cramer, bus driver and kindergarten educational aide; two-year contracts – Michael Hill and Alan Breece, bus drivers; and Lori Romes, part-time elementary custodian (night shift).

Board President Eric Germann and Superintendent Doug Fries both talked about the significant changes proposed for Ohio schools in the coming years. The changes include new standards and grading system for the School Report Card grading system, and tougher education and teacher evaluation standards in the future.

Germann talked about the large number of pending measures dealing with education in the Ohio General Assembly, further noting that he had lunch with several veteran school board members – some who had been on boards for 30 years – and all said they had never seen the amount of change now being contemplated.

Fries agreed, noting that he feels the Ohio Department of Education is sending a message to local boards about the upcoming changes.

“Basically, that is the message that the Ohio Department of Ed. is trying to get the people to get out to their communities and to their constituents: that it’s going to be a different playing field … it’s going to be more challenging to meet, and the content standards are going to be tougher for students to meet … the way lessons are going to be presented are going to be different,” Fries noted. He also noted that evaluations for teachers and administrators are likely to change as well.

The superintendent did say he thought the changes wouldn’t happen overnight, but likely would be implemented over several years.

The board also approved a calendar for the coming year that includes at least one day of school during the Van Wert County Fair. The decision makes Lincolnview the only county school with classes being held during the fair. Van Wert and Crestview have already approved school calendars that have classes beginning after the fair. Sally Snyder, who was the only board member to vote against the calendar, had felt beginning classes following the fair would be preferable, especially with the other schools voting to do so.

In other action, the board:

• Approved a resolution designating the week of May 7-11 as Teacher and Classified Staff Appreciation Week.
• Approved the list of 2012 graduates, pending completion of all requirements of the Lincolnview and state boards of education.
• Approved an agreement with the Western Buckeye Educational Service Center to be in compliance with state law.
• Renewed the comprehensive membership with the Northwest Ohio Educational Technology Foiundation at a cost of $1.65 per student ($983 maximum).
• Approved a bus maintenance agreement with Rodoc Leasing Sales and Service, effective July 1 through June 30, 2015.
• Renewed membership in the Northwestern Ohio Educational Research Council Inc. at a cost of $200.
• Approval of a student insurance plan underwritten by Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company through Purmort Brothers Insurance Agency in Van Wert.
• Authorized a foreign language extended trip to France from June 10-18, 2013, under the supervision of French teacher Pat Woirol.
• Accepted Denise Cramer’s resignation from the summer bus cleaning and maintenance position, effective April 2.
• Employed Pat Woodruff as a substitute bus driver for the remainder of the current  school year.
• Approved establishing an on bus instructor placement on the classified salary schedule at $17.50 an hour, retroactive to March 1.
• Approved after-prom activities to be conducted at Olympic Lanes in Van Wert under the supervision of High School Principal Kelly Dye and the Van Wert Service Club.
• Approved Dye and the senior class, along with advisor Deb Stetler, to attend an overnight class trip to Kalahari Resorts Indoor Water Park in Sandusky on May 21-22.

The next meeting of the Lincolnview Local Board of Education will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, in the district conference room.