Crestview board hires 2 new teachers

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

CONVOY — The Crestview Local Board of Education honored three retiring staff members and also received a hint from a group of current teachers unhappy with the progress of contract talks during its May meeting on Thursday.

Staff members Cindy Perkins, Bob Hall and Judy Wortman were each given a plaque by Superintendent Mike Estes to honor their years of service to the district.

Meanwhile, nearly 50 members of the Crestview Educators Association (CEA) lined the walls of the district boardroom wearing t-shirts saying, “Let’s talk”, on the back. The subject of contract negotiations, which is typically a topic taken up in executive session, wasn’t raised during the meeting, but the educators stayed the entire meeting to emphasize their message.

A group of Crestview FFA members were also recognized by the board for taking the eight of the top 10 places — including all of the first seven spots — in the FFA Farm Business Management competition. Those who attended the meeting include Hannah Bowen, first place; Ron Schumm, third place; Emily Bauer, fourth place; Jared Gibson, fifth place; Leslie Skelton, sixth place; Claire Zaleski, seventh place; and Kristen Cramer, 10th place. John Bauer placed second in the competition, but couldn’t attend the meeting.

FFA Advisor Paul Pohlman was pleased and proud of the students. “It makes me feel awesome, because I know how hard they work and how their hard work paid off,” he said.

Personnel items dominated the remainder of the meeting, as the board hired two new teachers, accepted the resignation of one teacher, approved new contracts for several administrators and a number of supplemental positions for the 2015-16 school year.

One-year contracts were approved for Victoria Hile and Anthony Springer as middle school intervention specialists. Both attended the meeting and were welcomed by the board, administrators and members of the CEA. Karen O’Hagan was also reassigned as a high school paraprofessional for the upcoming school year.

CHS Principal Mike Biro, Director of Curriculum/Instruction Trent Kreischer and Maintenance/Custodial Supervisor Geoff Waddles were given three-year administrative contracts, while Mary Strickler, food service supervisor, received a one-year contract.

The board also accepted the resignation of language arts teacher Christine Bloomfield after three years in the district, and approved a one-year contract for veteran educator Owen Pugh as a district bus driver.

Summer school/intervention staff members were also approved the board, and include Andrea Agler, Melissa Basinger, Deb Gehres, Ben Kaufman, Karen O’Hagan, Becky Macki, Allison Reindel, Zach Rosenbeck, Ali Sawmiller, Jim Wharton, Judy Wortman and Jenna Wurst.

Supplemental contracts approved include the following: Becky Macki, eighth grade girls’ basketball coach; Greg Rickard and Owen Pugh, athletic director/assistant athletic director; Joshua Thomas, band director; Jeremy Best, boys’ head basketball coach; Mark Gregory, varsity boys’ basketball assistant; Dave Bowen, junior varsity boys’ basketball coach; Mike Myers, freshman boys’ basketball coach; Frank Minnig, eighth grade boys’ basketball coach; Dan Miller, seventh grade boys’ basketball coach; Best, Mini Knights boys’ basketball; Erin Holden, cheer competition and high school basketball cheerleader coach; Brittany Heit, middle school basketball and football cheerleading coach; Lindsay Ebbeskotte, high school football cheerleading coach; Danille Hancock, chorus; Jordan Miller, Shawn Schuette, Tess Watson, Gregg Mosier and Hancock, sophomore class advisors; Mike Bowen, Paul Pohlman, Michelle Brinkman, Ben Kaufman and Allison Reindel, junior class advisors; Jeff Bagley, head cross country coach; Randy Grandstaff, varsity cross country assistant coach; Shaun Balliet, Ben Kaufman, Corbin Vance and Travis Cunningham, freshman football coaches; Chris Roop, Tom Riggenbach Cunningham and Zach Rosenbeck, middle school football coaches; Greg Rickard, head girls’ basketball coach; Trent Kreischer, girls’ basketball varsity assistant; Diane Wilson, junior varsity girls’ basketball coach; Melissa Eickholt, seventh grade girls’ basketball coach; Rickard, Mini Knights girls’ basketball; Joy Short, head girls’ soccer coach; Kyle Watson, girls’ soccer assistant; Jeremy Best, golf head coach; Tess Watson, government trip advisor; Danille Hancock, musical director; Doug Grooms, musical assistant director; Deanna Ray, National Honor Society advisor; Kristie McCormick and Ali Sawmiller, prom/class co-advisors; Sandy Grooms, high school/middle school Scholastic Bowl coach; Keith Rydell, district public relations; Mimi Wreath, Student Council advisor; Allison Reindel, middle school cross country coach; Ali Sawmiller, FCCLA advisor; Jared Owens, head football coach; Jon Van Cleave, James Lautzenheiser, Shaun Balliet, Ben Kaufman and Corbin Vance, junior varsity football coaches; Jon Van Cleave and James Lautzenheiser, freshman football coaches; Tammy Gregory, head volleyball coach; Kristy Bagley, volleyball varsity assistant; Sara Pugh, junior varsity volleyball coach; Hannah Phlipot, eighth grade volleyball coach; Trista Semer, seventh grade volleyball coach; James Lautzenheiser, eighth grade Washington, D.C., trip advisor; and Kristie McCormick, yearbook advisor.

The following volunteer coaches were also approved: Brian Brecht, football; Meghan Henry, girls’ basketball; Jessica Small, cheerleading; Ray Etzler, boys’ basketball; Meagan Fokker, girls’ soccer; and Tony Springer, boys’ basketball.

In other action, the board:

• Approved Jacob Lippi, Mary Mitchener and Ethan Waddles as summer custodial help on an as-needed basis.
• Approved a number of overnight trips, as follows: Boys’ basketball to Teays Valley High School on June 19-20; girls’ basketball to Oho State’s Team Camp on June 26-27; soccer team to Findlay on July 10-12; volleyball team to Maumee Bay Spike-tacular on July 16-18; and the cross country team to Skyvue Ranch in Millersburg on August 3-5.
• Approved the list of graduates for the Class of 2015, pending satisfactory completion of all graduation requirements.
• Renewed membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association for the 2015-16 school year.
• Accepted the district five-year forecast.
• Accepted, with thanks, a donation for $1,000 from Wren Community Chest for two senior scholarships.
• Went into executive session to discuss personnel, with no action taken following the session.

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