CENTERBURG — The Centerburg Wellness Center may have gotten a new lease on life. On Monday, the Centerburg Board of Education reached a tentative agreement with Knox Community Hospital regarding the facility. Superintendent Dorothy Holden told the News the board is pleased with the possibilities because the board and administration have been “trying every way to honor the commitment we made to make [the wellness center] available to the community.”
Holden said the district is in the process of purchasing new or reconditioned commercial-grade equipment for the wellness center, and has already received $17,000 in donations to cover that cost.
With some small details still to be worked out, final approval of the arrangement is expected at the Jan. 10 school board meeting. Further information, such as reciprocal membership privileges with the KCH wellness center and times of operation will be released at that time.
Also at Monday’s meeting, the board formally commended coach Ami Stevens and the members of the girls volleyball team for their outstanding season.
Regarding personnel, the board granted the retirement request of elementary principal Chuck Davis, effective July 1, and accepted the resignation of freshman volleyball coach Sally Simpson. It approved Susan Chesnut as site coordinator for the high school’s 21st century grant and Rachelle Kibler and Bethany Miles were approved as 21st Century Grant aides. The trio will be paid through grant funds. The board also approved Jackie Holsopple as a substitute aide, issued a supplemental contract to Tracey Myers as assistant boys basketball coach and accepted Gary Lambert, Danae Beeler and Jes Ramsey as softball program volunteers.
Concerning finances, Holden said the board is uneasy due to the uncertainty and state of flux in the state budget. With current and anticipated school funding reductions by the state, she said the board is very concerned with how a school district can be as fiscally conservative as Centerburg has been and still face the need to “make some tough decisions” when the new fiscal year starts July 1. Holden said the district is tapping into reserves, and will have spent $800,000 more than it took in this year, in spite of staff and program cuts.
“We are anticipating having to make substantial cuts next year,” she said.
Also regarding finances, the board approved routine fiscal actions and accepted the following donations: $200 from the Oldtime Farm Festival for the high school Frisbee golf course; $100 from the Knox County Pork Council to Family and Consumer Science; $2,000 from Dorothy Holden for wellness and fitness equipment; and $440.62 from Amvets Post 59 to the Amvets Trust Fund. The board also reviewed membership in the Ohio School Boards Association and resolved to participate in the OSBA Legal Assistance Fund.
In other action, the board approved an overnight trip for the wrestling team to compete at Cincinnati Reading High School in January, and set Jan. 10 as the date for its 2011 organizational meeting, budget hearing and regular monthly meeting. The meetings will begin at 6 p.m. with Roger Clark serving as president pro tempore until new officers are elected.
Prior to adjournment, the board went into executive session to discuss the employment and compensation of personnel.
No further action was taken.
