L’view learns about after-school program

KELSEY CLEMONS/independent correspondent

The Lincolnview Local Board of Education met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday to learn more about the afterschool 21st Century program also known as the Lancer Learning Academy.

Several teachers and volunteers provided information about the new after-school tutoring program, which meets four days a week with students in grades K-4. The program focuses mainly on reading and math and has a different theme each day. Structuring a well-thought-out schedule, the program is organized to help students get used to a routine as well and also enjoy themselves.

Parents have the opportunity to join their children during special events conducted as part of the program. The presentation also demonstrated students’ success by showing statistics on how students have progressed since starting the program.

Lincolnview High School Principal Brad Mendenhall spoke to the board about recent events in the district, including the upcoming implementation of a Career Connections program that would go into effect next year. The class will teach students resume building, job shadowing, financial awareness, and other skills helpful to get students on the path to college and/or career building.

Mendenhall also noted that the Niswonger Performing Arts Center will host a countywide course for the College Credit Plus Program, and he has high hopes for the program.

Mendenhall also introduced Band Director Anna Baker, who expressed her appreciation for the new band uniforms. The uniform change has been in the works for several years and Baker brought in students to show the board how attractive the new uniform design turned out.

Elementary Principal Nita McKinney reported to the board on the success of the DARE program students put on. McKinney thanked the Venedocia Lions Club for the donation of t-shirts, as well as the Sheriff’s Department for all its help.

Both McKinney and Mendenhall mentioned the outstanding turnout of the staff inservice day, with Mendenhall noting it was the best he’d ever been a part of. Snyder also spoke highly of the tours, as they allowed Lincolnview staff to get out in the community and learn about different businesses and were highly informative.

Superintendent Jeffrey Snyder also discussed concerns he has with the Ohio Department of Education State Report card (see full story on Ohio Report Cards in Tuesday’s edition).

The board accepted, with thanks, a $7,150 donation from the Mary Marxen Scholarship Fund and a $100 donation from the Women’s Fellowship at St. Paul’s Reformed Church to benefit the needy student fund.

Personal contracts were granted to Morgan Williams as assistant softball coach and John Staten as junior high softball coach. Doug Price was also approved as an unpaid volunteer junior high softball coach and Stoney Beair was approved as a coaching volunteer for both junior high and high school softball. Whitney Bigham was also employed as a substitute teacher’s aide.

In other action, the board also:

Approved the purchase of technology equipment in the amount of $26,160 from Xtek Partners Inc.

Approved a cost of $18 each for the Ohio School Boards Association business travel accident certificate of Coverage for Superintendent Jeffrey Snyder and Treasurer Troy Bowersock, a cost of $18 each.

The next meeting for the Lincolnview Local Board of Education will take place on Wednesday, March 23, at 6:30 p.m., in the Neubrecht Lecture Hall.