Crestview board OKs personnel items

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

CONVOY — Personnel actions were the focus of the Crestview Local Board of Education during its June meeting Monday evening.

The board accepted the resignation of elementary teacher Mary Lautzenheiser, who is retiring after 39 years with the district, effective the end of the 2011-2012 school year. Superintendent Mike Estes thanked Lautzenheiser for her years of service to the district, noting that she attended many school-related events. “She was a fixture around here, and we appreciate her contributions,” Estes noted.

Three new teachers were also hired on Monday. They include high school math and science teacher Laura Monfort, who attended the board meeting; family and consumer science teacher Christa Gasser and elementary teacher Sarah Brenneman.

Kristy Bagley was also given a one-year contract as an elementary teacher, while Sandra Etzler, Jennifer Daugherty and Sara Owens were hired as paraprofessionals and Janice Lichtensteiger employed as an elementary building secretary.

Several teachers were also reassigned to fill open positions on the roster. Board members were informed of the following reassignments: Becki Macki as sixth grade mathematics teacher, Deanna Ray as middle school math teacher and Lora Karcher as a first grade teacher.

Supplemental contracts were also approved for Lindsay Ebbeskotte as middle school football cheerleading coach and Jane Genter as varsity assistant cross country coach.

Also during Monday’s meeting, graduating senior Josh Ray gave a presentation to the board on the government project he did on the Declaration of Independence, while the board also congratulated the softball team for winning the Division IV state softball championship.

During his report, Estes talked about the state report card and work that remains from the facilities renovation project, noting that rubber tile flooring has been removed and new tiles will be installed. Interior doors will also be installed this summer.

High School Principal Mike Biro updated the board on preliminary Ohio Graduation Testing results, and noted that summer OGT testing would begin next week. Planning for the Meet the Teams event for fall sports is also underway at this point.

A total of 41 athletes were listed as scholar-athletes for spring sports.

In other action, the board:

• Approved middle school and high school textbook adoptions as presented.
• Authorized the following overnight and out-of-state trips: the band to Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., on June 29; the yearbook staff to Heidelberg University in Tiffin July 24-26; and the cross country team to Marmon Valley Farm in Zanesfield on August 13-15.
• Approved a contract for services with the Western Buckeye Educational Service Center.
• Appointed Estes as Crestview’s administrative representative on the Van Wert Area Schools Insurance Group (VWASIG) for the 2012-2013 school year. Estes said VWASIG recently approved a 2-percent increase in health-care insurance premiums, as well as higher deductibles and slightly higher prescription costs.
• Approved the following transfers: $35,000 from the lunchroom account to the General Fund to repay an advance made in June 2011; $100,000 from the General Fund to Retirement Benefits Fund; and $1,000 from the General Fund to the Latchkey Fund.
• Approved Fiscal Year 2012 permanent appropriations and FY 2013 temporary appropriations.
• Went into executive session to discuss personnel items with no action taken afterward.

The next meeting of the Crestview Local Board of Education will be at 6 p.m. Monday, July 16.