BOARD IN REVIEW
Regular Session
September 13, 2010
The Board of Education of Eaton Community Schools met in Regular Session on September 13, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. in the East Elementary cafeteria. All board members were present. President Rick McKinney called the meeting to order and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The agenda was adopted as presented.
Shelley Moore, ECTA President, addressed the board on behalf of the teachers regarding negative comments made by the board president on opening day. Mr. McKinney responded that over 40 people voiced their appreciation to him for his speech. Mr. Renner also addressed the teachers’ concerns. Mr. Ferriell stated that he was not present at the opening day breakfast but spoke to the teachers’ concerns. Judy Fellner, a parent, addressed the board about student discipline. Her son spilled water in his locker, went to get paper towels to clean it up, was 7 minutes late to class and, consequently, received a detention. Mrs. Fellner had not yet met with the superintendent so plans were made for her to meet with him on Wednesday, September 15.
Under Other Opening Business, Mr. McKinney spoke about boys and girls cross country teams going to Gettysburg, PA. It was an amazing experience. He thanked the board for approving the out-of-state trip. Mr. Mowen also commented about his experience on this trip.
All business of the treasurer, Priscilla Dodson, was approved. Under Old Business, the board approved the second reading and final approval of Drug Testing Policy IGDJA and Regulation IGDJA-A. Mr. Pool asked what would happen if students who had already received parking passes decided to refuse to sign the random drug test form? Mr. Neavin stated the parking pass would be taken away and money paid for it would be refunded on a pro-rated basis.
Doug Mowen, MVCTC representative, stated that there is much construction going on at MVCTC. He had no Parks and Recreation Board report as there had not been a meeting.
Superintendent Brad Neavin introduced Joe Scholler, our school attorney with Frost, Brown, Todd, LLC. Mr. Neavin gave an appraisal update for Bruce Elementary. He also had a construction update and thanked the Bruce and Middle School design teams for their input to date. He mentioned the upcoming special meeting/work session on Thursday, September 16, 2010 for the purpose of discussing the Locally Funded Initiatives (LFI’s) which are construction items paid for with money available in our budget, not bond issue funds.. Another special meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 22, 2010, to work with the Middle School design team, the architect, etc. Mr. Neavin then presented updates on the middle school roofing project and HB 264 (energy conservation). Mr. McKinney then thanked Mr. Neavin and the design teams for all the extra work they are doing.
Director of Education Cindy Neanendiscussed the newly passed Senate Bill 210 requiring Body Mass Index (BMI) reporting in 2010-11to help combat childhood obesity. This is something that is not easily put into place. The state did allow for a waiver of this requirement in the form of the BMI Screening Program Waiver Affidavit which we are applying for. Mrs. Neanen stated that we have old textbooks to be disposed of. She will be working with a company to see if any of these can be sold as used books or recycled in some way. The State of Ohio received the Race to the Top grant from the federal government at the end of July. Eaton Schools joined the state application last May which means our district will receive just over $147,000 from this grant. The Ohio ED Jobs grant allocations were recently released with an allocation for Eaton Schools of over $400,000.00. Guidelines for spending of these funds are still being developed but will have a very specific focus. Mrs. Neanen spoke on the opening day professional development with Align, Assess, Achieve which brought everyone back to the same page and set the stage for the focus of strategies this year in differentiated instruction.
Kern Carpenter, Middle School principal, stated the Eaton Middle School was designated EXCELLENT by the ODE for the 2009-2010 school year. He attended the Administrative Retreat at Miami University in August and, along with other administrators, gave a presentation on walk-throughs by administrators and faculty. Grade 6 orientation was held on August 17 with good attendance. The middle school had a good opening day on August 23. Also that week class meetings were held to cover middle school expectations. On August 25, the Building Leadership Team met and organized our PBS kick-off assembly. Written reports from Pam Friesel, East Elementary principal; Kip Powell; Bruce Elementary principal; and Jim Ingham, EHS principal can be seen in the Treasurer’s office.
Mr. Pool reiterated his previous request to complete the Walk-Through Log in monthly reports to the board utilizing the format used by Bruce Elementary. Mr. Mowen gave kudos to the school buildings. They looked awesome on opening day. He thanked the staff for all their hard work in getting the buildings ready for the start of school. The board questioned if the ECO lab next to the football field was still being used. If not, it needs to be torn down as it is very overgrown and an eyesore.
The board accepted resignations from Alan Pennington, Student Monitor and Linda Yocom, Math Department Head – Middle School.
Mark Carnahan was employed as an Intervention Specialist assigned to East Elementary. Angela Massie was employed as a 2-hour Student Monitor assigned to Eaton Middle School. The following Substitute Teachers/Home Instruction Tutors were employed for the 2010-2011 school year: Dana Baker, Ashley Ebersole, Jessica Sams, Laura Soper, Anna Thayer, John Ward, TonyaMcDivitt-Woodcock.The list of Substitute Teachers/Tutors as certified by the Preble County Educational Service Center was approved by the board. Mr. Pool questioned this new way of doing the sub list. Mr. Neavin stated we can use any of these subs from the ESC who are willing to come to Eaton.
Certificated Staff supplemental contracts approved by the board for the 2010-2011 school year were: Steve Moeller, Varsity Boys Tennis coach; ShaleighLarrick, Dramatics Director – HS (1/2); Mary Neavin, an additional twelve (12) hours to provide extended year services in literacy and math instruction for IEP at the rate of $20.00 per hour retroactive to July 27, 2010; Vicki Harshman, Kindergarten Grade Level Leader for the 2010-11 school year. Mr. Renner asked who the ½ time Dramatics Director was replacing? Mr. Ingham said she replaces Cheryl Mellen.
Two additional days (extended days) of pay for Linda Yocom for the 2010-2011 school year were approved.
Non-certificated substitutes employed for the 2010-11 school year were Kimberly Holland, substitute Secretary and Mileah Marion, substitute Health Aide.
The board granted a leave of absence without pay for maternity leave for Leslie Sparks beginning on or about January 11, 2011 and ending approximately February 18, 2011.
The board approved entering into an Investment Management Agreement with Baird Public Investment Advisors for investment services as needed. Mr. Mowen had some questions for Mrs. Dodson about this which she answered.
The board approved entering into an agreement with Four Seasons Environmental, Inc. to provide services as a Commissioning Agent for the new middle school and elementary school building projects. There was brief discussion as to other applicants.
The board approved the Resolution Requesting Waiver for Body Mass Index Screening Program.
The board approved authorization for the Southwestern Ohio Educational Purchasing Council to advertise and receive bids on behalf of the Board of Education for one (1) school bus with selected options. There was brief discussion on savings by using EPC.
Rebecca Holbrook was approved to operate a school van to transport students during the 2010-11 school year.
The following professional development activities were approved: Ron Neanen to attend ACP meeting at Indiana University East in Richmond, Indiana on December 8, 2010; Jim Ingham to attend ACP Conference at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana on October 4, 2010 and to attend ACP meeting at Indiana University East in Richmond, Indiana on December 8, 2010; Brad Neavin to attend the Center for Quality Leadership’s School Research Nexus in Orange County, California – September 29-October 1, 2010. (Expenses to be paid for by conference sponsors.)
Mike Paulus was approved as a volunteer for the 8th Grade Girls Basketball program.
The departure time of the 8th grade Washington, D.C. trip was approved to be changed from May 16, 2011 to May 15, 2011 at
11:00 p.m.
The board objected to the request for a liquor permit within 450 feet of a school building. Mr. Neavin was directed to contact legal counsel and request a hearing, then proceed accordingly.
The board approved the varsity and junior varsity baseball teams to go Vero Beach, Florida beginning Friday, March 25, 2011 – Saturday, April 2, 2011. The board approved the high school baseball program to host the Midwest Ohio Baseball Camp on six consecutive Sunday afternoons/evenings (February 13-March 20, 2011) at Eaton High School. Instruction will be provided by the Eaton baseball coaches for students in grades 1-12.
Numerous obsolete textbooks were approved for disposal. Other surplus/obsolete items were also approved for disposal.
Donations were gratefully accepted from William and Sandra Hildebolt in memory of Pete Holtzmuller for the Bruce Elementary Principal’s fund; from Bruce PTA for the Positive Behavior Support Program at Bruce Elementary; and from Kevin Svarda Enterprises LLC (AFLAC) for the Staff Opening Day Breakfast.
Under Other New Business, the board discussed the 2011 graduation date and time and expressed concern about state meets conflicting. Mr. Neavin was asked to do a survey on the issue. Mr. Renner stated that he is not happy with the cafeteria’s new policy of not returning change to a student but, rather, applying the change to the student’s lunch account. Mr. Pool had concerns that the spring baseball trip could encompass calamity days and how would those students make up the days they are gone? Also, what leave would faculty on that trip use if those days happen to be calamity days? The board also wanted to be sure that the Baseball Academy’s coaches are not being paid for their services.
The board convened executive session to discuss employment of a public employee at 8:04 p.m. The board resumed open session at 10:35 p.m.
The board adjourned the meeting at 10:36 p.m.
Special Meeting/Work Session scheduled for Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. at the High School to discuss the facility project.
Special Meeting/Work Session scheduled for Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at the High School to discuss the facility project.
Next Regular Session scheduled for Monday, October 11, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at the East Elementary cafeteria.