FREDERICKTOWN — Following a reception to welcome new teachers to the district, on Tuesday the Fredericktown Board of Education passed resolutions to place a replacement tax levy on the November ballot. The continuing levy will replace a five-year emergency levy, which generates $625,000 a year. The funds are used for general operating expenses.
Knox County Auditor Margaret Ann Ruhl was present at the meeting to certify the millage needed to raise that amount of money. Although the original levy was collected at 5.2 mills, Ruhl said 4.96 mills would be the millage required this time to bring in the same amount of money. Due to property reappraisals currently in progress, Ruhl said there is a very good possibility the actual millage amount will be lower.
The board also voted to convey two parcels of land to the village of Fredericktown. The land was sold five years ago as part of the former primary school on High Street, and is comprised of the driveways that were not previously conveyed to the village.
Building administrators reported everything is on track for the start of the new year. Candi Gallagher, Fredericktown Education Association president, said the staff is already in the new building and unpacking equipment and supplies.
“We’re all very excited about opening in a new building,” she said, “and looking forward to a great school year.”
An informal open house for kindergarten through grade five pupils and their parents is scheduled for Aug. 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Those attending will be able to locate their assigned classrooms, meet the teachers and tour the building. Sixth- through 12th-graders can visit the building from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and pick up their class schedules, pay fees and locate their lockers. Maps of the building layout are available in the offices.
School hours for the 2008-09 school year will be as follows: For grades six through 12, the start time is 7:50 a.m. and dismissal is 2:25 p.m. Grades one through five will start at 8:50 a.m. and dismiss at 3:25 p.m. Morning kindergarten will run from 8:50 to 11:25 a.m.; afternoon kindergarten is scheduled for 12:50 to 3:25 p.m.
Elementary Principal Matt Caputo said the PTO, under the direction of president Wendy Cunningham, has been busy all summer making plans for the upcoming school year. He reported that since community members have objected to the use of catalog fundraisers to raise money for the school, the PTO has decided to do a walkathon, which has been planned for Sept. 18; some corporate and community sponsors have already pledged their support. The PTO donates the money it raises for things such as playground equipment, literacy and math centers for the classrooms, and supplies and books for the book room.
Superintendent Dan Humphrey announced new terminology to refer to the district’s facilities:
•Fredericktown Schools Administration Building, formerly the “old high school.”
•High school, grades nine through 12.
•Middle school, grades six through eight.
•Elementary school, grades kindergarden through fifth.
• High School Commons — the open area used for cafeteria in the middle/high school.
•Elementary Commons — the open area used for cafeteria in the elementary school.
•High school gym — the varsity gym for volleyball and basketball on the middle/high school side of building.
•Elementary gym — used for physical education and for all junior high volleyball and basketball games.
•Admin gym — located in the newly named Fredericktown Schools Administration Building and will be used for wrestling and early season spring sports. This gym will also be available for tournament use such as league basketball or volleyball.
In addition to approving routine fiscal reports and actions, the board accepted the donation of office supplies from Lori Ackerman-Bechtel and moved to participate in the federal school lunch program; it set the price for a reduced lunch at 40 cents. The board also renewed a contract with Mid-Ohio Transit Authority on an as-needed basis for transportation of special education students.
Regarding personnel, the board granted a six-week maternity leave for Amber Parry, starting about Oct. 16; approved a job description for facility maintenance coordinator, and subsequently employed Randy Fisher in that capacity.
It also increased Jackie Strong’s contract hours to six per day, and added Melinda Thompson and Matt Shock to the classified substitute list. The classified substitute list was approved, as was the teacher substitute list.
Adrianne Golden and Shena Beheler were awarded contracts as seventh-grade and eight-grade volleyball coaches, respectively, and Tiffany Northrop was approved as high school cheerleading advisor.
Other actions taken by the board included the approval of bus routes and stops for the 2008-09 school year. Routes and stops include the village pick-up points of Warner Park, the municipal building, and the corner of Taylor and High streets. Children enrolled at Old School Child Care will be shuttled to and from the school daily.
Also approved were the continuous improvement plan and the parent-student handbooks for 2008-09. Board president Art Dremann was appointed delegate to the Ohio School Boards Association annual conference; Tom Seymour will serve as the alternate.
The next regularly schedule school board meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. in the elementary commons.
