MOUNT VERNON — Awards and commendations led off Monday’s meeting of the Mount Vernon Board of Education. The board first commended Columbia Elementary students Heather Tharp and Erica Wilcox for placing in the national Reading Recovery art contest. Heather was a regional winner, Erica one of 12 national winners. Her artwork is featured on note cards distributed by the national organization.
“Behind the Scenes” honors went to Columbia Elementary parent volunteers Toni Day and Catherine Carney, and to Twin Oak volunteers Jane Stewart and Cherese McKnight.
Superintendent Jeff Maley, on behalf of the school board, presented high school social studies teacher Janet Quinn with the Distinguished Service Award for being named the DAR American History Teacher of the Year for the state of Ohio. As the state winner, Quinn has been entered into the regional competition.
Special reports to the board included information about programs at Twin Oak Elementary, Columbia Elementary and the high school. Twin Oak fifth-grade teacher Rob Murphy demonstrated the use of technology in the classroom, in accordance with the Ohio Academic Technology Standards. Using a SmartBoard, math software and wireless access, Murphy tapped into Twin Oak’s program and showed the board how technology facilitates math learning. A video highlighted students using the equipment in the classroom, and a live demonstration showcased the interactive capabilities of a wireless student response device, the “clicker.” Students Austin Goetzman, Jacob Martin, Greg Briggs, Emily Williams, Anne Baldwin, Lauren Bryant, Lauren Furno and Logan Rhea used the clicker system to answer math questions dealing with algebra and geometry in a “Jeopardy”-type format.
The after-school science club at Columbia Elementary was featured next. Pupils Tyler McCann, Casey McNamara and Vivian Carney described some of the field trips club members have taken, and told what they learned in the process. Board president Sam Laudeman and vice president Margie Bennett were drafted to help Vivian demonstrate a seining technique she called the “fish shuffle.”
High school seniors Mark Henry and Seth Bainbridge joined instructors Quinn and Dave Caldwell in highlighting Learn and Serve activities at the high school. Counting activities such as election poll work, senior mentoring of students and Veterans Day projects, the seniors all together have provided 4500 hours of service to the community.
After a presentation regarding a proposed outdoor learning site on the land next to Twin Oak school, the board resolved to support the project, which will be a “Discovery Trails to Learning” outdoor classroom for all the schools in the district.
Upon the recommendation of the administration, the board discontinued three certified teaching positions for the 2007-08 school year. The Mount Vernon Teachers Association has been informed of the decision, which is due to the projected lack of the federal funds which currently fund three extended day kindergarten programs. The action, at this time, does not require a reduction in staff. Board member Kathy Sherman asked that the administration evaluate the program’s benefits and report back as to choices and options available to maintain extended-day kindergarten options, if warranted.
Other personnel actions taken by the board included the acceptance of retirement requests from Connie Cline, middle school work and family life teacher, effective June 1; Deborah McDaniel, middle school teacher, effective June 29; and Bruce Boyd, bus driver, effective May 31, with 30 years of service. The board also accepted resignations from Bridget Menapace, inclusion assistant at Dan Emmett Elementary, retroactive to Feb. 23; Jeffrey Jarosz, head girls tennis coach, effective at the end of the 2006-07 season; James Lindsey, assistant girls track coach, retroactive to March 1; and Keith Norris, freshman softball coach, effective at the beginning of the 2006-07 season. Lindsey was subsequently hired to serve as assistant boys track coach.
Sam Shuman, assistant high school principal, was granted a new two-year administrator contract, and Timothy Keib was confirmed as interim middle school principal, effective Feb. 26 through July 31. The board approved a number of supplemental and extra-service contracts, added to the substitute teacher and substitute aide lists and approved Fred Deem as a volunteer for the middle school talent show.
In addition to approving routine fiscal reports and actions, the board accepted the following memorial book donations: “Whose Garden Is It?” presented to the Dan Emmett library in memory of Joyce Garvic, wife of Don Garvic, retired administrator; “Laura’s Album,” to East Elementary, in memory of Carolyn Laughman, mother of Carol Carpenter, inclusion assistant at the middle school; “Sports Illustrated: The Baseball Book,” to the high school, in memory of Stanley John Troy, father of Holly Troy Brandes, English teacher at the high school; “The Louisville Slugger Complete Book of Women’s Fast-Pitch Softball,” to the high school, in memory of Roger Wells, father of Donna Hochstetler, bus driver, and grandfather of Robyn Hochstetler; and “Smart Girls: A New Psychology of Girls, Women and Giftedness, “ to the high school library in memory of Lois Shultz Ashworth, sister of Jan Quinn, high school social studies teacher.
The board also gave permission for the administration to re-bid two new school buses, due to the fact that the bids received exceeded the bid ceiling. Director of Business Al Haschak said the bids were higher than anticipated due to more stringent federal emission standards. The bus bids will be re-advertised with a cap of $160,000.
The board also granted permission to advertise for bids to re-grass and reconstruct the irrigation/dranage system at Stadium Field, and approved contracts with Knox County Educational Service Center and North Central Ohio Special Education Regional Resource Center for educational audiology and educational assistive technology services.
Other actions taken by the board included the approval of the school calendar for the 2007-08 school year and the addition of an elementary library program to the previously-approved summer school lineup. The board, upon the recommendation of the high school English department, approved the addition of a second mythology course to the English Language Arts curriculum. Also approved was a student educational tour of Equador and the Galapagos Islands during spring break of 2008, as proposed by science teacher Marcie Steen.
After an executive session to discuss personnel, Steve Short, director of student services, was appointed to act as interim superintendent, effective March 13 through the duration of Maley’s medical leave.
Prior to adjournment, the board approved two special meeting dates, March 12 and 13, for the purpose of discussing personnel issues in executive session. the meetings will begin at 5 p.m. in the board offices. No action will be taken.