Crestview bd. OKs contracts, honors Estes

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent writer

CONVOY — Crestview teachers and other school district employees have a new three-year contract.

The Crestview Local Board of Education approved the agreement with the Crestview Employees Association during Monday night’s monthly meeting. According to Treasurer Ashley Whetsel, certified staff will receive a 1.5 percent raise the first year, 2 percent the second year, and 2.5 percent in the third year of the contract.

Classified staff members, including bus drivers, custodians, and cooks, will receive a 7 percent raise the first year, 5 percent in the second year, and 2 percent in the final year of the agreement. The deal also includes some health insurance changes.

“I’d thank to thank the CEA side as well as the board’s side for a lot of hard work to get this thing pulled together,” Crestview Board President John Auld said. “It’s greatly appreciated.”

“We really appreciated the collaboration that was involved in negotiations, and that just made this so much better, so thank you to the board,” said CEA Vice President Karen Germann.

In other business, the board approved a number of routine budgetary items, and board members approved the first of two pieces of legislation necessary to place the district’s traditional one percent income tax renewal on the November ballot.

The board also agreed to increase the daily pay rate for substitute teachers from $80 to $90, approved an agreement with Van Wert Health for athletic training services, and approved the elementary and athletic department handbooks, along with information for the district’s Latchkey Program.

Board members approved a two-year contract for Lindsay Breese as director of curriculum and Instruction, while the board also hired Shawna Putnam as a middle school language arts teacher and Ami Callow as a math teacher. It was noted during the meeting that the district is in need of a paraprofessional at the elementary level and a bus driver.

The board also gave approval for the volleyball team to make an overnight trip July 13 and 14 to Findlay for the Coaches to Coaches Tournament.

Before the meeting, board members and many others gathered for a recognition reception to honor superintendent Mike Estes, who is stepping down at the end of July, after 10 years at the helm.

The next regular meeting of the Crestview Board of Education is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, July 23, in the district board room.