HOWARD — East Knox Local Schools have received a 21st Century grant to benefit middle and high school students, Superintendent Matt Caputo told the school board at its meeting on Wednesday. He said it is a five-year grant that is to focus on afterschool programs to enrich and intervene with students.
There are four major components to the grant: Provide educational support to students; incorporate social skills instruction based on identified school climate needs; incorporate a physical fitness component; and collaborate with outside agencies to implement programming. Due to the nature of the grant, Caputo added, the funds cannot be used for any of the district’s general operating expenses.
Related to the grant, the board created a job description for a grant program director, to be paid through grant funds, and also contracted with Health Assessment and Planning Partners for training and technical assistance with the 21st Century grant project.
Treasurer Jessi Busenburg told the News on Thursday the board also voted to submit a waiver request to the Ohio Department of Education regarding body mass index screening and weight status reporting for kindergarten, third-grade, fifth-grade and ninth-grade students. The board prefers, at this time, not to expend the funds to complete the screening, wanting instead to spend the district’s limited resources on helping students in other ways.
In addition to approving routine fiscal actions, the board accepted Shirley Pike’s donation of various school supplies. Every year, Caputo said, Pike makes a delivery to the board office so supplies can be shared with students who may have a need. The board also approved a contract with the Knox County Educational Service Center for Alternative Center instructional services.
Regarding personnel, the board advanced Kayla Fuller on the salary schedule due to completion of requirements, approved substitute teacher and substitute aide lists, issued several supplemental contracts for the 2010-11 school year, and employed a number of aides through the ESC. It also approved Denise Campbell as a testing coordinator, with board member Craig Campbell abstaining from that vote.
In other action, the board approved bus routes and stops and awarded a diploma to a student who completed graduation requirements by successfully passing the summer Ohio Graduation Test.
