The Van Wert County Courthouse

Thursday, Mar. 28, 2024

Lincolnview board meets new teachers

KELSEY CLEMONS/independent correspondent

The Lincolnview Local Board of Education welcomed 14 new staff members to the district during its August meeting. New staff experience ranged from fresh out of college to 20 years of past experience.

Board members and administrators also said the August 18 open house was a success, and described participation by students, parents, and staff as exceeding expectations.

“My hallways were full last night,” said High School-Junior High School Principal Brad Mendenhall. “I was really pleased to see all the new faces and all the familiar faces back here.”

The board also discussed the rising district student population. Elementary Principal Nita McKinney said the sixth grade is at maximum capacity at 84 students, while Lincolnview was forced to turn away students on the waiting list for kindergarten, due to being at maximum capacity already, with approximately 70 students enrolled.

During his report as legislative liaison, Board President Eric Germann spoke of concerns he had with appending state measure, House Bill 597, which would eliminate Common Code state standards, as well as related questions on various proficiency tests, noting that the legislation would create serious problems for local school districts.

“I’m worried about the chaos it would create,” Germann said of the proposed legislation, while also noting that it could negatively affect local curriculum control, since it sought to legislate what books and other materials could be used by school districts.

The board president added that many Common Core concerns were curriculum and assessment issues that are the purview of individual school districts.

Treasurer Troy Bowersock said during his report that the district paid out approximately $404,000 in transportation expenses, as well as $35,000 as part of a contract to transport two students to another district.

Most of Lincolnview Local Schools' new teachers (above) attended the August meeting of the Lincolnview Local Board of Education (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)
Most of Lincolnview Local Schools’ new teachers (above) attended the August meeting of the Lincolnview Local Board of Education (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)

Several supplemental contracts were also approved, as follows: Jonathan Cruise, junior varsity girls’ basketball; Eric Fishpaw; assistant athletic director, and Kris Tow; Senior Class advisor. Volunteer coaches include Rachel Alvarez, varsity volleyball; Dianna Hicks, seventh grade volleyball; and Jason Miller, boys’ golf.

The board approved purchases of supplies, services, equipment, and materials through participation in the State of Ohio Cooperative Purchasing Program for 2014-2015 school year, and also approved elementary workbook fees.

The Ohio Department of Education and State Board of Education developed new standards in four subject areas starting 2017-2018. The board learned that, starting this year, high school freshmen would follow three different standards by the time they graduate.

In other news, the board:

  • Approved a 5-percent increase in dental insurance rates by the Van Wert Area Schools Insurance Group (VWASIG) and approved a switch in third-party administrators from Anthem to Aetna, effective October 1.
  • Received two new buses, purchased at a cost of $153,542, and approved 2014-2015 bus routes.
  • Adjusted Krista Seibert’s placement on the salary schedule to three years’ experience with a bachelor’s degree.
  • Approved fleet, liability and property insurance coverage with Phelan Insurance Agency, effective September 1, 2014, to September 1, 2015.
  • Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Lincolnview Local Education Association in reference to the standards-based Ohio Teacher Evaluation System.
  • Approved Kevin Longstreth’s resignation as varsity baseball coach.
  • Accepted, with thanks, an annual advertising payment of $5,000 from Van Wert Federal Savings Bank to benefit the Lincolnview Athletic Department.
  • Approved a one-year contract for Teresa Dunlap as a part-time cook for the upcoming school year.
  • Approved an outside third party contract of $35,000 for transportation
  • Approved the Workers Compensation Retrospective program, which includes a 50 percent rebate based on 100 percent premium paid up front.
  • Acknowledged the 2014-2015 state tuition rate at $3,860.51 per year per Section 3317.08 of the Ohio Revised Code.
  • Approved application for national school lunch, breakfast, and snack program and the government food program for 2014-2015.
  • Approved the addition of Ed Gebert of Times Bulletin Media and David Mosier of the Van Wert independent to 2014 OSBA Media Honor Roll.
  • Went into executive session to discuss personnel matters concerning public employee employment/compensation, with no action taken afterwards.
  • Approved the lists of substitute teachers and classified substitutes for the 2014-2015 school year.

The next Lincolnview Local Board of Education meeting will be held at 8 p.m. Tuesday, September 23, in the Neubrecht Lecture Hall.

POSTED: 08/21/14 at 7:35 am. FILED UNDER: News