POMEROY — Reports about happenings in the first week of school and this year’s goals and objectives for student achievement were given by building principals at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Meigs Local Board of Education.

The general consensus of the principals was that the opening of schools in the district went well, that there was little confusion over the bus schedule revisions, and that students were quickly acclimating to their classes.

Meigs High School Principal Steve Ohlinger reported enrollment of 531 students and talked about the new way to track a student’s attendance. He noted that the after-school programming for students falling behind, funded by a 21st Century grant, is in place again this year and talked briefly about steps being taken to enhance learning skills. He also commended on the first football game in the new stadium Friday night and the tremendous crowd which attended. He said “the biggest ever to attend a Meigs game” was what he was hearing.

Vickie Jones, principal at the Meigs Middle School, noted that 437 students were enrolled in that building, with large sixth and eighth grades and a smaller seventh grade. She talked about the new 21st Century Grant awarded to the school this year and indicated the program for those needing extra assistance will get underway soon.

Assistant Principal David Deem reported on attending a conference in New York this summer which related to techniques of handling bullying in the schools and how to solve protective victim issues. He said that solving the problem takes a “change in culture which won’t happen overnight.”

Deem said that starting the program requires organization of a corps group and support system, but indicated that the first step is conducting a survey where the kids are asked what they think about their school. He also said that, according to information he obtained at the conference, that the majority of bullying happens at the primary level and decreases with age.

Kristin Baer, primary principal, reported an elementary enrollment of 447, and the process taking place to get the students acclimated to the schedule. As for bullying she equated it as sometimes including exclusion of students from play situations.

Michael Barnett, curriculum director and grants coordinator, talked about curriculum and textbook changes to be carried out over the next five years, particularly as they relate to science, math and history. He also reported on grant programs, technology based projects, and professional development opportunities for teachers as the curriculum transition moves forward. He referred to the coming procedural changes as being “all about higher order thinking.”

Superintendent Rusty Bookman reported that district enrollment figures are up this year with about 1800 students in school.

During the meeting the board approved tuition rates for students who do not qualify under open enrollment in the amounts of $173.50 for students residing instate, and $920.72 for students residing out of state, per month, for the current school year.

Board member Larry Tucker was named delegate with Ron Logan, alternate, to the 2012 Ohio School Board Association’s annual business meeting to be held Nov. 12.

Personnel hired for the school year included Yvonne Moore as a bus driver on a continuing contract; Ralph Werry, as co-cheerleader advisor; Sarah Lee as TAG coordinator ; and Penny Hysell, Andrew Vance and David Williams as substitute bus drivers.

The Board went into executive session for the purpose of discussing the hiring and compensation of personnel, as well as the sale of some property owned by the district.