C’view bd. updated on voucher testimony

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent writer

CONVOY — Crestview Local Schools Superintendent Kathy Mollenkopf, along with Lincolnview Local Schools Superintendent Jeff Snyder and Van Wert City Schools Superintendent Vicki Brunn, will head to the Ohio Statehouse on Thursday to offer testimony on the state’s controversial EdChoice voucher program.

Mollenkopf informed the Crestview board of the pending trip during Monday night’s monthly meeting.

“The legislature opened it up to any parties interested in offering testimony, so the Van Wert County superintendents have elected to participate in this,” Mollenkopf said. “I’m going down as a bipartisan, but I’m going to present information why I believe that it would be beneficial to pay for EdChoice out of state dollars directly, rather than deducting from districts.”

The program was scheduled to go into effect February 1, but it was delayed due to numerous complaints from school officials around the state. Since then, the Ohio House has introduced a different version of the voucher program called Buckeye Opportunity Scholarships.

“Superintendent organization wise, we can support the House of version of it because it broadens to include not just the report card driven voucher piece, but a poverty-income based piece,” Mollenkopf explained. “There are questions about if it’s really a legal system, because there’s a separation of public monies being spent for religious education, so there’s somewhat of a constitutional piece around it.”

Mollenkopf also updated the board on work at the Early Childhood Center.

“Everything is now drywalled and sanded and some of the closet areas are painted,” the superintendent said. “In the gymnasium area everything has been framed and they’re getting ready to install the walls there. It’s progressing very nicely.”

The Early Childhood Center is expected to be ready in time for the 2020-2021 school year.

The board heard a brief presentation from Crestview Elementary Principal Jessica Schuette and paraprofessional Robin Schumm on ways the school library is being made into a welcoming environment for students.

Schumm noted she talked to different teachers at different schools and spoke with the librarian at Van Wert, then set about the task of reorganizing Crestview’s library.

“I moved every book except for one shelf that kindergartners and first graders use and I reorganized by picture books, chapter, non-fiction books and a bibliography corner,” Schumm told the board. “It wasn’t separated like that before, the books were all mixed together, but the Van Wert librarian said it would be easier for the kids to find the books if they were broken down into fiction, non-fiction and that kind of thing.”

Schumm noted that various educational activities are offered in the library, which has been named “Curiosity Castle” and features seasonal themes. She also noted that between 75-100 books are checked out on light days and 150-200 books on busy days.

Matt Perkins was approved as Athletic Administrator. Perkins, who was given a two-year contract, is taking over for Trent Kreischer, effective August 1.

The board accepted several resignations, including art teacher Nicole Kirkpatrick; foreign language teacher Erin Camenisch; athletic department secretary Sherri Springer; food service worker Bonnie Martyne and paraprofessional Marcie Eberle.

In other business, the board agreed to renew membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association for the 2020-2021 school year, and Shane Mills was hired as middle school track coach, while Ali Sawmiller was approved as a volunteer coach for the middle school softball program.

Board members approved a March 13-14 trip to Rossford for the girls softball team and head coach Carl Etzler and staff and a physics class trip to Cedar Point with teacher Matt Holden on May 18, and the board announced that the district will offer parents the opportunity to provide recommendations or suggestions for special educational programs and services from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, in the elementary conference room.

The next meeting of the Crestview Local Schools Board of Education will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, March 30, in the Board of Education Administrative Office.