Crestview board learns about science

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

CONVOY — The Crestview Local Board of Education received an update on homework help services provided by Convoy Village Ministry and also heard presentations from several Crestview High School students related to the school’s science programs and 1:1 computer initiative.

Pastor Mike Saylor of Redeemer Lutheran Church near Convoy, one of the founders of the Village Ministry Center, talked about after-school homework services provided by the center for students in grades K-8. Saylor said 35 students have used the services, provided by current and retired teachers, so far this school year.

“It is a great experience and fantastic for students,” Pastor Saylor said of the program, which includes notations by tutors on what subjects and specific areas the students received help with during previous visits.

In addition to homework assistance, the Village Ministry Center also provides many other activities for young people and adults.

Pastor Saylor also thanked Crestview administrators and the board for their support of the center and its programs.

Several students accompanied science teachers Jeff Bagley and Ali Sawmiller to the board meeting to give presentations on various Crestview science classes. Cam Etzler, a student in Crestview’s new forensic science class, provided information on a facial reconstruction computer program being used that is similar to those used by crime scene investigators and law enforcement agencies.

Other students making presentations included Taylor Hughes (chemistry), Sarah Klinger (physics) and Caleb Bagley (biology). Projects included determining the speed of vehicles driving down Tully Street in front of the school, identifying various tree leaves and bird songs and the use of special paint to identify laboratory equipment.

The students and teachers also talked about how students having their own laptop computers as part of the 1:1 computer technology initiative has provided more learning opportunities.

Superintendent Mike Estes talked about the district effort to renew its income tax levy, which provides money to fund school operations. Board members and school administrators have been answering questions and distributing literature at home athletic contests, while Estes said he will be talking with grandparents of students in grades K-3 this Friday afternoon during a Grandparents Day event being held in the elementary school.

On a related fiscal note, Treasurer Laura Metzger said some research she did on wind farm revenues Crestview will receive on wind turbines located in the district indicates the money doesn’t have to go into the district’s General Fund, but can also be earmarked for specific projects and uses, such as bond repayment, which was her recommendation.

Estes said he feels district residents should have a say in what the money is used for and suggested a meeting be held for that purpose sometime before the funds are received by the district, which is scheduled now for sometime early next year.

Elementary Principal Kathy Mollenkopf talked about an upcoming Fall Extravaganza and Halloween parade at the school, while Middle School Principal Dave Bowen noted that a new baseball-softball scoreboard has now been installed, and also talked about new Ohio High School Athletic Association regulations on athletic workouts.

Also Monday, the board approved a motion to purchase a new school bus from Cardinal Bus Sales at a cost of $85,112. Estes also noted that more buses may need to be purchased as the current fleet ages.

In personnel action, the board approved a one-year contract to Joellen McGinnis as a part-time custodian and also authorized the following supplemental contracts: Brittany Helt, middle school basketball cheerleader coach; Chad Pugh, softball varsity assistant; Melissa Eickholt and Lindsay Ebbeskotte, junior varsity softball coaches; and Lori Hammons, eighth grade softball coach. Mike Hammons was also approved as a volunteer eighth grade softball coach.

In other action, the board:

• Approved compensation schedules for the 2013-2014 Resident Educator Program and the Local Professional Development Committee.
• Approved the assessment instruments for gifted student identification.
• Authorized the following overnight trips: Model UN trip to Dayton on October 19 (retroactive) and November 15 and to Hope College in Michigan on March 6-7, 2014; National FFA Convention in Louisville, Ky., October 30-November 1; a girls’ basketball scrimmage at Berlin Hiland High School November 8-9; band and choir trip to Orlando, Fla., March 22-27, 2014; Ohio FFA Convention in Columbus May 1-2, 2014; and eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C., May 11-16.
• Went into executive session to discuss personnel matters, with no action taken afterward.

The next regular meeting of the Crestview Local Board of Education will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, November 18, in the district boardroom.