L’view board honors retiring teachers

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Lincolnview Local Board of Education honored two retiring teachers, discussed district security measures and also applauded excellent Ohio Graduate Test results turned in by the district’s sophomores.

Lincolnview Superintendent Jeff Snyder provided plaques to Kay Wilusz and June Young. Wilusz is retiring after 33 years in education, while Young is completing her 34th year of teaching.

An item on Snyder’s building and grounds report noting that Secure Com has completed installation of 9 of 11 security cameras intended to eliminate “blind spots” in the district’s building security also prompted a brief discussion on building security.

Snyder reported on a recent teacher inservice that included a speaker from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, as well as local law enforcement and first-responder representatives, noting that he felt the inservice went very well.

During the discussion, Snyder stressed the importance of maintaining the best security possible, with the superintendent further noting that recommendations on what students and teachers should do in the event of an armed intruder has changed radically from what it used to be.

Snyder said the newest recommendation calls for students and teachers to move around as much as possible to make themselves a harder target, to fight back, and evacuate a building, if possible, if a gunman enters the school, rather than sit passively.

The superintendent also advised that, with the damage done to an elementary school in Moore, Okla., earlier this week, he would contact Van Wert County Emergency Management Director Rick McCoy to schedule a tour of Lincolnview buildings in an effort to make them as safe as possible in the event of severe weather.

High School Principal Kelly Dye reported that more than 90 percent of Lincolnview sophomores passed all portions of the OGT, with that percentage at 98.5 percent for math.

“I was very happy with the sophomores,” Dye said.

Elementary Principal Gordon Stemen updated the board on kindergarten enrollment, noting that five recent enrollees brought the number of incoming kindergartners to 63. Stemen added that, although the number is larger than normal, he did not see any need for changes in the number of classes and teachers required.

In district personnel items, Marsh School Principal Roger Salisbury was given a new one-year administrative contract, while Stemen was given a three-year limited administrative contract. Salisbury was also given a personal services contract as Marsh Title I supervisor, while Stemen will be Title I district coordinator.

Teresa DuCheney’s study hall monitor’s position was also eliminated by the board, for financial reasons.

The board also approved an 80-hour plan for technology professional development submitted by the Northwest Ohio Educational Technology Foundation (NWOET) to provide training to teachers and staff in conjunction with the district’s plan to provide computers to students through the 1:1 Computer Initiative. Cost of the services is $9,889.

Also Wednesday, the board approved a resolution to place a renewal of the district’s 2.5-mill permanent improvement levy on the November ballot. The board had previously approved a resolution of necessity related to the levy renewal.

In other action, the board:

• Approved a contract for Craig Staley to provide summer bus maintenance under the supervision of Rodoc Inc.
• Hired Sharon Brincefield and Lucy Rice on an as-needed basis to provide bus summer cleaning and maintenance services.
• Accepted the resignation of James Johnson as a district bus driver after 15 years of service to the district.
• Authorized the following special events and overnight stays: a girls’ basketball camp for girls in grades 3-9 instructed by Coach Dan Williamson and members of the varsity team on June 3-6; the girls’ basketball team to attend the Ohio Northern Shoot-Out on June 7, and an overnight trip to Wilmington College on June 20-21; a boys’ basketball camp for boys in grades 3-12 on June 3-6; and the cross country team to attend a camp at Hocking Hills in Hocking County on August 4-9.
• Employed Sarah Kimmet as a substitute cook for the remainder of the current school year.
• Granted one-year supplemental OGT intervention contracts to Paula Johnson and Adam Owens for this summer.
• Approved the following summer school contracts: teachers Chad Kraner, Patti Cox and Ellen Hemple and supervisor Gordon Stemen.
• Granted the following supplemental contracts: Anna Baker, high school instrumental; Brad Doidge, girls’ golf coach; Beth Schnipke, yearbook advisor; Deb Stetler, newspaper advisor; Tara Gustwiller, seventh grade volleyball coach; Gary Nolan, high school Science Club advisor; Pat Woirol, French Club advisor; Gustwiller, seventh grade girls’ basketball coach; Tony Campbell, FFA advisor; Paula Johnson, Student Council advisor; Matt Langdon, head cross country coach; Stacie Korte, swing choir director; Campbell, Young Farmers advisor; Nolan, Saturday School teacher; Campbell and Kevin Losh, Saturday School substitutes; Tom Bryan, athletic director; Robbie Breese, assistant athletic director; Dan Williamson, girls’ head basketball coach; Woirol, Spanish Club advisor; Brett Hammons, boys’ head basketball coach; Doidge, assistant softball coach; Langdon, head track coach.
• Approved the following non-teaching employee supplemental contracts: Denise Cramer, Ohio Reads coordinator; Dianna Ashbaugh, public relations coordinator; Larry Clark, boys’ assistant basketball coach; Curtis Miller, head wrestling coach; Kyle Hayes, girls’ eighth grade basketball coach; Kent McClure, girls’ softball coach; Heather Crow, head volleyball coach; Aubrey Markward, assistant volleyball coach; Shana Evans, eighth grade volleyball coach; Daryl Dowdy, head boys’ golf coach; Breese, boys’ junior varsity basketball coach; Seth Evans, eighth grade boys’ basketball coach; Kevin Longstreth, head baseball coach; Chad Overholt, junior high baseball coach; Ben Cowan, boys’ track coach; Briana Geiger, girls; junior varsity basketball coach; Curtis Miller, girls’ track coach; Steve Pardon, assistant wrestling coach; Trina Langdon, girls’ cross country coach; Cowan, junior high cross country coach; Kenzie Ray, junior high cheerleader coach; Danielle Profit, high school cheerleader coach; Katrina Smith, girls’ soccer coach; Mark McCleery, boys’ soccer coach; McClure, girls’ varsity basketball assistant; Chris Youtsey, assistant baseball coach; Kristi Reed, assistant high school instrumental instructor.
• Approved returning the following advances to the General Fund: $3,600 made to the Data Communications Fund, and $27,000 and $32,500 made to Bond Retirement funds.
• Approved the following unpaid volunteer sports assistants: Al Arnold, girls’ varsity basketball; Heidi Oberhaus, junior high basketball; Daryl Dowdy and Benji Byrne, varsity boys’ basketball.