Crestview talks about ed. programs

KELSEY CLEMONS/independent correspondent

CONVOY — The Crestview Local Board of Education approved the provisions of House Bill 416 and talked about auxiliary educational programs as part of a light agenda during Monday’s September board meeting.

House Bill 416, sponsored by Ohio Representative Tony Burkley (R-82nd), and signed by Governor John Kasich back in March, adds calamity days to the 2012-2013 school year so that districts can meet the minimum 180-day school year requirement. The bill was needed because of last year’s harsh winter.

School officials also talked about a number of auxiliary educational programs, including the CARE Program, while provides credit-recovery and new credit assistance to struggling students. A total of 33 students are involved in the program.

Also discussed was the post-secondary program, in which four Crestview students attend universities part-time for college credit, and Project Jump Street, in which 16 students – four juniors and 12 seniors – are doing online college coursework through Northwest State Community College.

Homecoming weekend will be October 3-4, with the annual Powder Puff game taking place on Wednesday of that week. “Shrek the Musical” is the class play for this year, with the cast selected and ready to begin rehearsing for the production, which takes place November 14-15.

In personnel action, the board accepted the resignation of Joellen McGinnis as a part-time custodian after 10 months.

The board also gave its approval to a 30-year, 90-percent Tax Increment Financing agreement between Tully Township trustees and Joma Acres II to allow improvements and new construction.

In other action, the board:

• Approved a compensation plan for members of the PRIDE Committee.
• Accepted, with thanks, a $125 Menards gift card from Pro Painters.
• Learned that bus mileage is being monitored as part of a process of deciding which vehicles need replacing.
• Approved compensation for the Resident Educator Program for the 2014-15 school year.
• Learned that a College Night will be held Wednesday, September 24, at Vantage Career Center for high school sophomores. Approximately 60 colleges and vocational schools will be represented at the event.
• Learned the Ohio School Boards Association’s regional fall conference will be held October 16 at Vantage. Crestview’s Knight Vision show choir will perform during the conference.
• Approved additional hours for custodians, transportation and food service workers, secretaries, paraprofessionals and certified employees on an as-needed and as-negotiated basis.
• Authorized several overnight trips in excess of 100 miles, including Crestview FFA attending the National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, October 28-31 with advisor Paul Pohlman; the Government class trip to Chicago, Illinois, March 16-17 with teacher Tess Jeffries; the boys’ basketball scrimmage in Columbus with Coach Jeremy Best and staff on November 21-22; and the eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C., May 10-15 with teacher James Lautzenheiser and a number of chaperones.
• Went into executive session to discuss employee negotiations, with no action taken afterwards.

The next meeting of the Crestview Local Board of Education will be at 6 p.m. Monday, October 20, in the district boardroom.