Lincolnview board of ed. honors students

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Lincolnview Local Board of Education heard a presentation from elementary students who visited a freshwater biology field station on Lake Erie, and also honored three students for their accomplishments this past school year during its June meeting on Thursday.

First up was a group of last year’s fifth-grade students from Lincolnview Elementary School and their teacher, Brian Niemeyer, who recently visited Ohio State University’s Stone Laboratory on Gibraltar Island in Lake Erie. Students studied microorganisms, as well as birds, fish, snakes, and other lake animals during the visit.

Secondly, three-time Scripps National Spelling Bee participant Una VanWynsberghe was honored by the board for her inspiring accomplishments. VanWynsberghe talked about her experiences at this year’s spelling bee, noting that she did better on the written test each competitor must take than she did the other two years, but was somewhat disappointed in how she did in the actual spelling bee this year. She also noted that, because of the record number of competitors — more than 500 — she was unable to do as much sightseeing as she has the past two years.

Superintendent Jeff Snyder said it was quite an accomplishment to participate in the national spelling bee three times, especially since she must beat out 75-100 students from 13 counties in Ohio and Indiana at the regional spelling bee in Fort Wayne, Indiana, each year.

Snyder, in honoring VanWynsberghe, said she was “committed and dedicated to doing her best job.”

Also honored Thursday were Evan Cox and Brad Korte from the varsity track and field team. Although only sophomores, Cox and Korte both competed in the Division IV State Track and Field Meet, with Cox doing well in the high jump and Korte participating in the long jump. Korte said his favorite track and field event is the 100-meter sprint, and hopes to be able to compete at the state level in that event in coming years.

Principal Brad Mendenhall talked about spring testing during his report on junior high and high school activities, and also said classes for next year, with the exception of the seventh grade, are mostly full for the junior high and high school.

He also noted that a software error had changed grades to a different grading scale, but added that the change had little effect on most students’ grades. The grades were recently corrected and students will receive an updated grade card when they come to the school to get schedules for the upcoming school year, Mendenhall said.

Snyder reported on the community center progress, noting that the final painting was completed and that the center is expected to be completed sometime in late July or early August.

In personnel matters, Dianna Ashbaugh’s resignation as assistant to the treasurer after 24 years of service and her personal services contact as district public relations person were both accepted by the board. Treasurer Troy Bowersock praised Ashbaugh and thanked her for her service. The board hired Rebecca Gerschutz as interim assistant to the treasurer later in the meeting.

The board also approved a three-year administrative staff contract for Deb Miller and four-year administrative staff contracts for Greg Leeth and Eric Miglin, accepted Lindsay Breese’s resignation as an intervention specialist, and hired Craig Staley as an hourly bus maintenance worker and Lucy Rice as a “bus runner” who drives buses to and from Rodoc for maintenance. Cheryl Mongold was also hired as a kindergarten aide for the 2018-19 school year.

In other action, the board:

• Approved a resolution of necessity to place a 2.5-mill renewal permanent improvement property tax on the ballot, and requesting that the county auditor certify the levy.
• Approved an agreement with Van Wert City Schools for Lincolnview’s participation on the Career Education Opportunity (CEO) program for the coming school year.
• Authorized a pay increase for substitute teachers from $80 a day to $90 a day.
• Approved a professional compensation payment to Snyder.
• Went into executive session to discuss personnel issues, with no action taken following the session.

The next meeting of the Lincolnview Local Board of Education will be at 6 p.m. Monday, July 30, in the Neubrecht Lecture Hall.