CENTERBURG — At its meeting Monday, the Centerburg school board learned the Centerburg Trojans Robotics team, The Red Plague, has been invited to participate in the Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference and Trade Show in November. They will be featured at the Student Achievement Fair, which showcases the many innovative projects and programs created to boost student achievement and engage youngsters in learning and growth. Participation by students in the Achievement Fair is by invitation only.
The board also received data concerning the 2010 state indicators and rating for Centerburg schools. All indicators related to state testing were met except for fifth-grade math and science. The overall district rating is effective, and middle school/high school principal Mike Hebenthal said the middle school received an excellent rating for the first time ever.
Representatives from the Athletic Boosters addressed the board during the public participation portion of the meeting. They highlighted some of the contributions the boosters have made to the district, and asked the board to consider providing some financial assistance to help defray utility costs in the locker room building during football season. Dan Stevens also addressed the board. He discussed plans for a Frisbee Golf course to be constructed around the perimeter of the high school/middle school campus.
Treasurer Ellen Scott, in presenting the latest five-year financial forecast, said state aid in the form of foundation funding is decreasing, and is expected to continue to decline. School treasurers have received no word as to if, or how, the state is going to make up funding which is now being paid with federal stimulus dollars.
Besides approving the forecast and routine fiscal actions, the board accepted the donation of $409 from AMVETS Post 59 to be used where needed; $220 to the elementary from the parents of Tyler Kopycinski; and $2,000 from Abbott Labs to the Cordle Family Scholarship Fund.
The board approved participation in the Ohio School Boards Association workers compensation plan. Scott said this will save the district $16,000 a year. The board also approved an agreement with the Knox County Educational Service Center for services provided to Centerburg students at the Alternative Center, ratified an agreement with Rehab Right Inc. for speech and language therapy services,
Regarding personnel, the board moved Ron Francis and Vicki Eckhart on the salary schedule due to completion of requirements, granted a family medical leave of absence to Isaiah Hatfield effective July 14, effective for approximately six weeks, approved several volunteers and added Joyce Wade and Billie Salisbury to the substitute cook list. It also approved supplemental contracts for Kacy Pinkerton, assistant cross country coach; Teresa Klopfenstein, junior class advisor; and Rachael Walpole, yearbook advisor.
Other business conducted by the board included:
•The approval of attendance at the Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference in November by school board members and administrative personnel.
•The adoption of a number of new/revised policies in order to comply with changes in state and federal regulation.
•The approval of changes to the parent/student handbooks for 2010-11. Hebenthal said the major change was the reduction of the number of allowed absences each quarter to four.
The board also approved a cross country camping trip to Delaware State Park in August, an educational service agreement with Excel Academy for the 2010-11 school year and a memorandum of understanding with DELTA/New Directions for a two-year pilot program in violence prevention.
Prior to adjournment, the board went into executive session to discuss the employment of personnel. No further action was taken.
