He explained that it is a one-time allocation to be spent over a two-year period and emphasized that “when it’s gone it’s gone.” The break-down for use of the money is $602,000 for Title One (remedial reading and math) and $529,000 for special education.
The funding can be used for instruction, equipment or facility improvements to benefit students falling under Title One or special education including those who are handicapped.
Buckley listed programs and projects which qualify for special education stimulus money as including assisting students in achieving test requirements through special tutoring programs, and improving technology equipment for students with special needs.
He also indicated a portion of it will go toward upgrading the elevator at the high school which is used by handicapped students, providing “stair” chairs, and purchasing a new handicapped-equipped school bus. The current bus transporting handicapped students is a 1995 model and needs replacing, the superintendent noted.
As for the Title I stimulus money, he said the reading and math assistance program is only in the elementary school and spoke of the need for adding the program to both the middle and high schools. This will require hiring additional teachers and aides. Buckley noted that preliminary results of the recent state test show a “serious gap in math test scores in the Middle School,” and described it as being an “area of concern” which needs to be addressed with some of the stimulus money.
It was reported by the superintendent that Marilyn Meier, food director for the district, had applied for and received stimulus grant money for a new steamer for the high school and point of sale machines (record-keeping equipment used in the nutrition program) for the elementary and high school.
She was also successful in retaining money for the fruit and vegetable program in the elementary school for the third year. The food is purchased through the grant money and provided at no cost to the students.
After a report from Mark Rhonemus, treasurer/CFO, the Board approved the final revised permanent appropriations for fiscal year 2008-09 of $28,046, 519 (which includes federal money) and a temporary appropriation for the 2009-10 year of $25,452,980 which does not include federal money.
The vision insurance renewal with Vision Plus for the next year was approved with no employee premium increase; the treasurer and superintendent were authorized to proceed with various insurance coverage from the Ohio School Plan for an annual premium of $62,135 for $5 million/occurence and $7 million aggregate coverage.
Personnel action included approving a one-year leave of absence to Jennifer Tesar, who is taking a year off to complete her PhD program; hiring Morgan Douglas Halley and Jacquelyn Buck Harsh as English teachers at Meigs High on one-year contracts; and hiring Jeffery Bissell, auto mechanics teacher on a 20-day extended service contract for the purpose of preparing the shop and classroom for instruction and to order, receive and store materials for auto mechanics.
Also hired or approved were Brent Bissell, Middle school football coach; Amber Baker, high school junior varsity basketball and softball coach; Della Wolfe and Missy Howard high school volunteer basketball coaches, and Shawn Hawley, high school junior varsity basketball coach.
The Board voted to renew the district’s membership in the Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools at a cost of $300 and in the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School funding at a cost of 50 cents per student for the coming school year.
Attending the meeting were Buckley and Rhonemus, and board members, Roger Abbott, Ron Logan, Barbara Musser, Larry Tucker, and Scott Walton.
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