L’view board talks technology, safety

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Lincolnview Local Board of Education discussed teacher evaluations and technology, approved resolutions opposing expanded education vouchers and budget cuts for educational service centers and also talked about school safety during its March meeting held Tuesday.

Superintendent Jeff Snyder noted that district teachers recently attended training on writing Student Learning Objectives, a component of the new state-mandated teacher evaluation program. Lincolnview is part of a 34-school consortium to provide training related to the new evaluation process.

The board also discussed technology, with Snyder noting that he and administration staff are currently reviewing a number of technology options to determine what technology infrastructure would be the best fit for the district’s students and teachers in the future.

“We might be looking at working with the Northwest Ohio Educational Technology group (on technology),” the superintendent said, noting that the board is also “looking at the idea of doing away with textbooks,” while also noting that no decision has been made on that subject.

He also said that the board must also work towards preparing for online achievement testing, which schools are supposed to implement in the spring of 2015.

“We’re just trying to get somebody who is out there working with schools to kind of help guide us down a path of many changes in the world of technology in schools,” Snyder said.

Safety was also a topic for the board meeting, with the superintendent touching on the recently completed tornado drill undertaken by Lincolnview, and an upcoming school safety training session that will be take place on a waiver day approved for May 13. That training will be completed in cooperation with Van Wert County Sheriff Tom Riggenbach and his deputies.

In another manifestation of student safety, coaches and volunteers must take some training on recognizing the signs of concussion, in order to protect student athletes’ physical safety. That subject has become more important with the revelations brought out during a study of retired NFL athletes.

Lincolnview was also the second county school to approve a resolution opposing House Bill 59, proposed legislation expanding the state’s education voucher program. The Lincolnview resolution noted that the bill would allow vouchers for charter schools getting D’s and F’s on the new K-3 Literacy component of the school report card, while taking money away from “already financially beleaguered” public schools.

The board also opposed cuts to educational service centers, noting that the local Western Buckeye ESC provides a number of services that Lincolnview and other county schools would have to fund themselves, without an increase in funding to pay for them.

In other action, the Lincolnview board:

• Approved a contract with Julian & Grube Inc. to audit the district’s Medicaid school program.
• Accepted Brenda Eickholt’s resignation as program services coordinator, effective May 31, after 30 years of service. A public hearing will be held April 16 to provide public input on Eickholt’s request to return under the retire-rehire program.
• Accepted the resignation of elementary teacher June Young after 34 years of service to the school district, effective May 31.
• Approved a resolution commending the Drama Club and those involved for the success of the school’s spring play.
• Authorized a tutoring contract to Gary Nolan for a maximum of 10 hours to tutor a student in science.
• Approved having summer school, as proposed.
• Accepted, with thanks, a donation of $1,000 from The Van Wert County Foundation on behalf of Amvets Post 698 in Middle Point to award two scholarships.
• Approved a contract with Community Health Professionals for substitute nursing services.

The next meeting of the Lincolnview Local Board of Education will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 23.