Lincolnview board honors fall athletes

KELSEY CLEMONS/independent correspondent

The Lincolnview Board of Education honored fall athletic programs and discussed the upcoming senior class trip during its December meeting on Wednesday.

NWC Coach of the Year, Daryl Dowdy recognized Josha Rager as a state golf qualifier. It was also the second time Rager earned the title of Northwest Conference “Player of the Year” with another impressive season. Matt Langdon, who was named NWC cross country “Coach of the Year”, honored his state-qualifying cross country team. “This was probably one of the most fulfilling years I’ve ever coached,” Langdon noted.

Lincolnview Superintendent Jeff Snyder said this was the first time that all Lincolnview high school fall teams were in first place in the Northwest Conference.

Several high school seniors also presented to the board their proposal for the senior class trip to Cleveland. The board approved the trip, which will take place March 20-22, 2016, and will include a trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well as a Cleveland Cavaliers’ game against the Denver Nuggets.

Snyder also provided information from elementary Principal Nita McKinney and high school Principal Brad Mendenhall’s monthly reports. Snyder spoke of exam changes to take place before Christmas break, and also told the board about upcoming dates, including the Vantage Career Center visit for sophomores, as well as the district talent show.

Snyder also told the board about the district’s outstanding participation in the local United Way campaign by Lincolnview staff members. This year, the staff raised $3,743 for United Way, with 63 percent of staff members participating. This amount was 11 percent higher than donations raised last year.

Several supplemental contracts were approved by the board as follows: Greg Byrum, Science Club advisor; Hollie Ford, U.S. History intervention teacher; Michelle Knodel, English intervention teacher; and Rachel Rohrs, math intervention teacher.

In addition, two personal service contracts were approved. Benji Byrne was approved as freshman boys’ basketball coach and Cheryl Mongold as both mentor and tutor for the 21st Century Grant program.

The following volunteer coaches were also approved by the board: Jacob Staley, freshman boys’ basketball volunteer coach; Danielle Poling; 7-12 assistant cheerleading volunteer coach; and Daryl Dowdy, junior varsity-varsity boys’ basketball volunteer coach.

Matt Langdon and Ben Cowan were also approved by the board as volunteer assistant coaches for the Lincolnview indoor track club team for the 2015-2016 winter sports season.

The board accepted, with thanks, the following donations: $100 to the Needy Student Fund from St. Mark’s Lutheran Church; $250 to the National Honor Society from First Federal Savings & Loan; $250 to National Honor Society from Leland Smith Insurance Services; and $2,520.50 to benefit the Lincolnview Local Schools Music Department from the Van Wert County Foundation.

The board also approved Board President Eric Germann to attend the NSBA Advocacy Institute in Washington, D.C., on January 21-27, 2016.

In other action, the board:

• Approved the purchase of new MUNIS financial software.
• Approved an overnight trip of the Lincolnview FFA to attend the FFA Leadership Conference on January 16 and 17, 2016, under the supervision of advisor Krista Seibert.
• Approved an overnight trip for the Wrestling team to go to the Van Buren Wrestling Invitational on January 22 and 23 under the supervision of Coaches Curtis Miller, Steve Pardon, and Greg Hinegarder.
• Approved to renew the 2016 membership in the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce at an annual cost of $337.