HOWARD — Upon the recommendation of superintendent John Marschhausen, who said, “We are losing some high-quality employees who are dedicated to our students’ needs here at East Knox,” the school board approved several personnel actions for financial reasons.
Suspended were Ann Henry, full-time physical education position; Danielle Black, full-time special education position, Jeanell Branstool and Teresa Pack, full-time building secretaries; Laurie Gallwitz, part-time aide; Nicole Peverly, full-time aide position; and Dayton Hub Reed, middle school principal. The term suspended does not imply disciplinary action — it is a legal contract term. The individuals involved have recall rights, if they are not employed elsewhere, should the positions be reinstated at a later date.
Heather Sorensen, art education, and Chelsea Foran, music education, were reduced to half-time positions. The contracts for Judith Slone, first-grade teacher; Kathy Hathaway transportation coordinator; and Timothy Hughes, high school math, were not renewed.
If the board desires, Marschhausen said, he would hold additional community forums to discuss further budget reductions and gain public input. Some possible adjustments, he said, would deal with school fees and cluster bus stops.
Athletic programs were the focus of the public participation portion of Wednesday’s meeting of the East Knox school board.
Jeff Cottrell expressed concerns about the girls basketball and the baseball programs, giving the board a packet of information with Ohio High School Athletic Association documents. Shawn Dennis told the board he was happy and grateful for his children’s experiences at East Knox, but said he had some concerns about the direction of the football program and leadership in the program.
Marschhausen reported the stadium renovation project is still on schedule to have graduation there this year. He said the visitor bleachers are nearly complete and the material for the home bleachers is on site. He also reported coaches have been working to fulfill new OHSAA requirements for coaches training, and anticipated that winter sports coaches will brief the board on their seasons at upcoming board meetings.
In other personnel actions, the board approved supplemental contracts for spring sports and accepted Alexandria Matheny and Kathy Nouse as long-term substitutes to cover maternity/medical leaves.
Besides approving routine fiscal actions, the board accepted a $60 donation to the East Knox FFA from Judy Riley, and two $500 donations from Rolls-Royce Employee Charity and Civic Fund — one to the East Knox High school principal’s fund, the other to East Knox athletics. The board also accepted the bid for a new school bus from Mansfield Truck Sales and Service Inc.
Marschhausen said he has submitted proposals requesting federal stimulus dollars for three projects, but doesn’t yet know whether the projects will be funded. The proposals are to rewire the elementary and high school for 21st century technology, renovate/rebuild the vocational agriculture lab, and collaborate with the village with regard to water treatment and sewer treatment in Bladensburg.
High school principal Ryan Gallwitz also applied for grant money on behalf of the Environmental Science Club. The funds would be used to purchase materials needed to conduct river and stream studies in collaboration with the Knox County Parks District.
In other action, the board approved the 2009-10 high school course of study, added to the graduation list and made changes to a number of policies in order to comply with state and federal regulations. It also accepted the summer school proposal. Session 1 will be held June 15 through June 26 for grades kindergarten through four at the elementary school. Session 2 will be from Aug. 3 -14 at the middle school for grades kindergarten through seven. Those daily sessions will be held from 8:45 a.m. to noon.
Marschhausen suggested the district shift summer school from June to August, because an August summer school session will provide students who struggle academically a “jump start” to the school year.
