Crestview board hires 2 new teachers

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

CONVOY — The Crestview Local Board of Education welcomed two new staff members and also heard positive financial news from Treasurer Laura Metzger during its July meeting Monday evening.

Board members welcomed Ruth Monnier, the high school’s new career/life skills teacher, and Tess Jeffries, a new high school social studies teacher, and later approved one-year limited contracts for both teachers.

In other personnel action, the board also approved contracts for elementary paraprofessionals Karen O’Hagan and Cristal Mohnke and to Heather Riggenbach and Meghan Henry, who will be paraprofessionals at the high school. A contract was also approved for Bonnie Martyne as a cook.

Supplemental contracts were issued to the following: Owen Pugh, half-time athletic director and halftime assistant athletic director; Monnier, FCCLA and Model UN advisor; Deanna Ray, National Honor Society advisor; Jeffries, senior government trip advisor; Randy Grandstaff, cross country assistant; Nicole Kirkpatrick, Ali Sawmiller, Josh Thomas and Jim Wharton, junior class advisors; Christine Albright, Jeff Bagley, Jill Carpenter, Melissa Eickholt, Ben Kaufman and Zach Rosenbeck, sophomore class advisors.

Sandra Etzler was also reassigned to the position of program services secretary, beginning with the 2013-2014 school year.

Superintendent Mike Estes noted the large number of new employees in the district, stating that, while he thought 14 new employees last year was significant, the district has hired even more new employees (15) for the coming school year.

The board later approved changes in Estes’ administrative contract to restore his salary to its proper levels after he voluntarily had his salary frozen during the economic downturn.

Financial problems are certainly not a concern, at least at present, according to Metzger, who stated that the district’s carryover balance is the best she’s seen as Crestview treasurer.

Reasons for the positive balance include new revenue sources, and the large number of retiring teachers and their lower-cost replacements.

While Estes said losing veteran teachers — and their experience — was always difficult, having a large number of new employees does help Crestview’s financial bottom line, since new employees usually earn lower compensation than retiring staff members.

In other action, the board:

• Discussed creating a prom supervisor position that would provide more continuity to the process of planning the high school’s junior-senior proms.
• Approved September 23 at an Ohio District Operational Waiver Day and two hours each day on October 9, October 23 and November 20, 2013, and January 29, February 26 and March 26, 2014, for staff professional development.
• Approved lunch prices, athletic ticket prices, student workbook fees and subsequent revisions dependent on final billing, and Latchkey fees for the 2013-2014 school year.
• Authorized the use of interim end-of-course exams for American History and American Government courses until the Ohio Department of Education creates statewide exams.
• Approved a contract with the Northwest Ohio Area Computer Services Cooperative for Internet services.
• Approved the 2014 comprehensive consolidated application for federal funds totaling $381,449.22.
• Accepted a resolution to proceed with seeking renewal of the district’s income tax levy.
• Went into executive session to discuss personnel issues, with no action taken afterward.

The next regular meeting of the Crestview Local Board of Education will be at 6 p.m. Monday, August 19, in the district boardroom.