POMEROY — Permanent appropriations of $28,595,430 for the operation of schools in the Meigs Local School District in fiscal year 2012-2013 were approved by the Meigs Local Board of Education at its Tuesday night meeting.

The figure includes all expenses relating to the operation of the district’s three schools with the exception of a minimal amount for student activities. Treasurer/CFO Mark Rhonemus said that figure is up about $2.7 million from the temporary appropriations amount passed earlier by the school board. The additional money comes as a result of a new round of federal funding for specialized programs in the schools.

During the meeting Frederick “Rick” Blaettnar was hired as a full time assistant principal at Meigs High School for the remainder of the current school year. Blaettnar has been serving as part-time principal since the first of this school year which continuing as a special education teacher at the high school. He resigned the teaching position and effective Jan. 1 will be taking over the position of full-time assistant principal.

Other personnel issues handled during the meeting included accepting the resignation of Phyllis Johnson as a personal assistant effective immediately, and hiring Dreama English Smith as a person assistant for the remainder of the current school year beginning on Jan. 2. Her salary will be paid from IDEA-B Special Education Federal Grant Funds.

Action was taken to establish a local Olweus Bullying Prevention Program fund with an initial donation by Holzer Clinic in the amount of $1,500, as requested by David Deem, Meigs Middle School assistant principal. Deem has been actively involved in programs to prevent bullying in the schools. Last summer he attended a seminar where various methods of prevention were explored and has been instituting anti-bullying programs at the Middle School level.

A donation of $350 to the Meigs Local General Scholarship Fund from the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation (OVEC) to be used for a science scholarship was made through the OVEC-Kyger Creek Science Scholarship fund to be granted to a student pursuing a science based major, with a minimum 3.0 GPA, ACT science score and financial need.

The Board approved an overnight field tri9p for Harley Fox to attend the mandatory Regional Officers Leadership Training Institute in Washington, D.C. being held from Jan. 13 through Jan. 18.

Bids were accepted on some excess vehicles and equipment to be sold by the District. Board member Larry Tucker who had bid on one of the vehicles abstained in the vote which passed by affirmative vote of the other members, Ryan Mahr, Roger Abbott, Todd Snowden and Ron Logan. Nine items were sold by the district at the bid price, while four of the items advertised received no bids. Financial reports were given by Rhonemus, financial officer. Also attending was Superintendent Rusty Bookman.

During the meeting’s opening ritual which includes a prayer and pledge to the American flag, Superintendent Bookman called for a moment of silent prayer for the children and their families involved in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut.