LIBERTY-BENTON LOCAL SCHOOLS

MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2008

REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

BOARD OF EDUCATION OFFICE 9190 CO. RD. 9, FINDLAY OHIO  6:00 P.M.

 

 

I.                    Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance ……………………………………………Anita Schoonover, Board President

II.                 Oath of Office administered to new Board Member

III.               Recognition of Visitors

IV.              Approval of minutes from the Monday, February 18, 2008 regular board of education meeting, and the March 8, and March 11, 2008 special board of education meetings.

V.                 Communications and Discussion

Kent Buehrer, The Buehrer Group

VI.              Principals’ Reports

Brian Burkett, Bruce Otley, Brenda Frankart

VII.            Treasurer’s Report ………………………………………………………………Lisa Dobbins

VIII.         Superintendent’s Report ……………………………………………………….Dennis Recker

IX.              New Business

A.     Approve Consent Agenda, to include:

1.      Listing of bills, expenditures, and investments through 2/29/08, and monthly financial report of the Treasurer

2.      Approve appropriation modifications for March 2008

3.      Accept the amounts and rates as determined by the County Budget Commission for the 2008 tax year.

4.      Accept donation in the amount of $800.00 from the L-B Athletic Boosters

5.      Approve the following resignations:

Cathy Davis, Cook, effective April 1, 2008

Pat Heavrin, MS teacher, effective June 9, 2008, for purposes of retirement

Amy Teders, sophomore class advisor for the 2008-09 school year

6.      Approve the following classified staff:

Mary Riccardi, substitute

Sharon McCartney, additional 10 minutes per day effective 3-3-2008 through the end of the 2007-08 school year due to the breakfast program

Sharon Freed, additional 10 minutes per day effective 3-3-2008 through the end of the 2007-08 school year due to the breakfast program

7.      Approve Jade Kuhn, long term substitute teaching effective March 3 through end of 2007-08 school year

8.      Approve authorizing compensation payment for the following individuals pending Ohio Department of Education approved pupil activity permits for the 07/08 school year:

Scott Snider, Andrew Schafer, Aaron Dietsch, Lance Stevens, James Speyer, Shawn Martien, Brandon Cupples, Dave Rath, Ryan Lieb, Nathan Bland, Shirley Reed, Jeff Craig, Scott Garlock, Andrew Aukerman, David Larocca, Jim Hayes, Anne Hayes, Carrie McMillen, Jill Erickson, Zach Thomas

9.      Approve 2008-09 Educational Service Center Special Education contract

10.  Approve graduation date for Sunday, June 8, 2008 for those seniors fulfilling all state and local requirements necessary for graduation.

B.     Approve the cross country trip to Florida, October 2008

C.     Approve a resolution authorizing the School District Board to enter into a resolution of acceptance in the Ohio School Facilities Commission Classroom Facilities Assistance Program

X.                 Other Business

XI.              Executive Session

XII.            Adjournment

 

LIBERTY-BENTON LOCAL SCHOOLS

DENNIS L. RECKER, SUPERINTENDENT

MARCH 2008 DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT

 

  1. ACT has established benchmark scores for English, Math, Reading, and Science to predict college success.  We’ve had our performance broken out, and you can see just how strong our students are in these subject areas.  This is for the class of 2007.  (Item A)
  2. Four finalists met with eTech of Ohio to discuss strengths and weaknesses of education and technology.  The results of that discussion are attached.  (Item B)
  3. Vern and I attended our annual TIF meeting with the county and the city.  Changes in case law have changed the scope of the agreement, i.e. updated values of existing property how being transferred to the TIF.  Vern will give his BOE perspective at our next meeting.  One thing we are finding out is how we are at the mercy of legislation which can change overnight.
  4. Governor Strickland presented two ideas in his “state of the state” address that I took the liberty of following up on.  Since the one area of governance could eventually impact you as a board of education (you could also become “advisory”).  I sent the attached letter.  (Item C)
  5. As we fret over construction costs, a magnet school in Connecticut for 300 students is costing $280 per square foot, and at Notre Dame, a new engineering building is being constructed for $431 per square foot.
  6. The commodity meat we had that was highlighted in the news, has all been destroyed.
  7. Mr. Fingerhut, Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor, invited L-B to participate in a “Call for Collaboration” to participate in the implementation of the Ohio Skills Bank involving our economic development region.
  8. After one sees how the triennial update affected property values and the distribution of those tax dollars to the different governmental entities, we should look at how we compare among the rest of the county for school purposes.  This graph shows the effect in school tax rate, the equivalent millage for these schools with an income tax, the total effective school tax rate in terms of mills, and how we currently rank among all other schools in Hancock County.

    District        School Millage    Income Tax         Total In Mills           Rank    

                      (effective rate)       In Mills            (effective)

    Arcadia           30.01                 9.7                       9.7                         5

    Arlington         22.00                 13.2                     35.5                        7         

    Cory Rawson  28.18                 16.8                     44.98                       3         

    Findlay            45.63                  0                        45.63                       2         

    L-B                 28.15                7.7                      35.85                        6         

    McComb         30.41                13.1                     43.51                       4         

    Van Buren      34.10                 0                         34.10                       8         

    Vanlue            33.70                14.7                     48.4                         1         

    County Avg     31.52                9.36                     40.96  

    We also need to keep in the back of our minds that we eventually will need to pass an increase in taxes for operating purposes, plus the possibility of constructing new facilities with The Ohio School Facilities Commission.  If and when these issues are brought forward and are approved, our rank order will probably not change.

  9. ODE will be cutting payments to Hancock County Educational Service Center by $39,623 for the remainder of the fiscal year.  Since L-B has 27% of the student population, don’t be surprised if we are required to pay an additional $10,698 (or more) to make up the shortfall.  Eventually, any cuts made do impact us financially.  Findlay City Schools contracts with the ESC, so this should reduce our cost in half.
  10. Enclosed is a response from State Superintendent Zelman regarding L-B’s initiative regarding dual enrollment.  (Item D) 
  11. I attended a meeting on Workforce Development Collaboration called by the Ohio Board of Regents.  We talked about the charges forthcoming in higher education and workforce development, plus how that will impact schools.  Ohio has a goal of an additional 230,000 college graduates by 2017.  The problem is we don’t have enough students to even come close to attaining that number.  Therefore, higher education is the goal for the current work force, plus an increase in the number of students pursuing higher education.  On top of that, our 8 county region (of 12) is only one of four that will experience job growth in the next seven years.  (12,000 new jobs.)  What makes this more challenging is that in two years, a wave of retirements will hit.  In a word, everyone is scrambling to create higher educated people to handle the work that will be expected, or we could see companies leaving the area.  Attached is a power point of part of the presentation.  What is somewhat “maddening” is the pay structure, and a 20% decline in wages the past three years, with a demand for higher level skills.  Note pages 10, 11, and 12.  (Item E)
  12. Mrs. Heavrin has notified us of her retirement, effective June 9, 2008.
  13. Since this is March we are to consider participation in inter-district open enrollment.  Board action needs to be taken only if we change our current position on the issue.  Any interest in changing?
  14. Prior to our community meeting on the 11th, we’ll be meeting at 5:30 with our attorney to discuss upcoming negotiations, and to ensure that we do everything the right way.
  15. Attached are the Liberty-Benton Local Board of Education proposals for negotiations with OAPSE Local #777 for your review.  (Item F)
  16. We will need to approve Jade Kuhn as a long term teaching substitute effective March 3.
  17. Attached are minutes from the Tax Incentive Review Council annual meeting.  I’ve highlighted those items specific to Liberty-Benton.  (Item G)
  18. It was asked that I get an attorney opinion regarding a 2003 issue.  I’ve received a response.
  19. I was greatly impressed with the quality and depth of questioning from our community at our last community meeting.  The people in attendance really want to see how we can provide the best solution possible for our facilities.  To move forward with OSFC, we need to pass a “Resolution Authorizing the School District Board to enter into a Resolution of Acceptance in the Ohio School Facilities Commission Classroom Facilities Assistance Program”.  I’ve attached the required resolution for your perusal.  (Item H)
  20. A most interesting phenomenon occurs with state cuts.  We’re told we’ll not be negatively impacted by having our per pupil dollars reduced, but other items will be reduced.  The result is increases in other areas of cost to make up the lost revenue.  For example, our ESC just got hit with two 10% reductions over the next two years.  The result is a new contract for services next fiscal year which is 15% greater than this year.  At the end of the day, any cuts do filter back to us.  Again, I need to say that my personal projections last year were predicting this, and what we would experience in state cuts.  All this was based on the previous economic downturns I’ve had experience with.  Our ESC contract costs have increased 39% the past two years.  Also, our bus reimbursement dollars were slashed.
  21. I just received a call from OSFC and am being “asked” to attend a meeting in Columbus on LEEDS this upcoming week.
  22. Please note the accompanying attachment regarding more research on possible OSFC costs.  (Item I)
  23. We need to accept a donation from the athletic boosters.
  24. As we get our extra-curricular staff aligned to the state requirements for pupil activity permits and fingerprinting, we need to allow payment for services as they become fully compliant.  This motion, A(8), allows this to happen.

ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Liberty-Benton Board of Education

March 17, 2008

 

1.   As of today, we have the following number of students in our elementary program:

                                                                                                  Feb. 2008

Pre-school        -    24  (1 section – ½ a.m. & ½ p.m.)             (  23)

Kindergarten    -    67 (4 sections – avg. class 16.8)                 (  68)

First Grade       -    96 (5 sections – avg. class 19.2)                 (  96)                 

Second Grade  -    75 (4 sections – avg. class 18.8)                 (  76)

Third Grade     -    93 (4 sections – avg. class 23.3)                 (  94)   

Fourth Grade   -  106 (5 sections – avg. class 21.2)                 (105)               

Fifth Grade      -    86 (4 sections – avg. class 21.5)                 (  86)   

TOTAL (K-5):      523  School Average:  20.1                         (525)               

                                     (547 with pre-school)                                         Average (20.2) 

  1. Right to Read Week Celebrated

The elementary building celebrated its “Right to Read Week” Feb. 22 through Feb. 29 with the Leap year theme “Leap into a Good Book!”.  The school set a goal to reach or exceed 83,000 cumulative minutes/pages read during the week (20 minutes per student per day as a minimum). If the students reached this goal, Mr. Burkett and Mr. Horstman would dress up as frogs and compete against each other in a “Hopstacle Course.”  As you could guess, they made it and we hopped on through an obstacle course.  The students more than beat their goal again this year with the total ending up 92,514 minutes read.  Thank you to the Right to Read committee for all their hard work:  Alida Hause, Lori York, Carol Waldman, Kelley Lackey,  Denise Lytle, and Angie Garlock.  Also a big thank you to Denise Matson for setting up such an exhausting obstacle “hopstacle” course for the two frogs!  Thank you PTO for funding our Right to Read Week activities!!!

  1. Author Louise Borden Visits during Right to Read Week

We were very fortunate to have had guest author, Louise Borden, visit and spend the day with our teachers and students on February 28th during our Right to Read Week celebration.  Mrs. Borden has written and published over twenty-five books and counting. Some of her best known books, which students also had an opportunity to purchase and have autographed included:  America Is, A+ Custodian, The Last Day of School, Good Luck Mrs. K!, and Caps, Hats, Socks & Mittens.Mrs. Borden grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and still lives there today.  She conducted three assemblies for our K-1st , 2-3rd , and 4-5th grades, as well as autographed books for students and enjoyed a carry-in luncheon with the staff.  She provided an outstanding experience for our students and did a wonderful job of “showing” the kids how a book is published (from idea to the store shelves).  Thank you PTO for sponsoring our author visit!!!!

  1. Breakfast Program a Big Hit

A breakfast program started on Monday, March 3rd for our students.  It has been growing and growing in numbers each and every day.  As of the last two days (Thursday and Friday, March 13-14) we served 110 students between the elementary and middle school.  This program helps provide students with a nutritious breakfast before school each day for the cost of $1.00.  Thank you to Judy Shivers, our cafeteria supervisor, for writing a grant and spearheading the implementation of such a needed service.  It has gone almost seamlessly for the elementary and we are excited that more kids have an opportunity to start the day off right.

  1. Kindergarten Enrollment for 2008-09

We currently have 72 students scheduled for kindergarten screening on Friday, April 11th for

the upcoming 2008-09 school year.  Last year at this time, we had 73 students.  We

anticipate an additional 6-8 students by screening for an approximate 80 students to screen.

Our current kindergarten enrollment this year is 67 students, which started at 75 students).

  1.  UPCOMING ELEMENTARY EVENTS:

 

March 18         Scheduled 2-hour Delay

                        PTO Meeting 7:00 p.m.

March 20         End of the 3rd Grading Period – Progress reports go home April 4th

March 21-27    Spring Break –School resumes March 28th

April 3             Ohio Achievement Test Assessment Meeting for Parents 7:00 p.m.

April 7             LB Night at Stevi B’s Pizza

April 8             BGSU Treehouse Troupe Play:  “The Ugly Duckling”

April 11           Kindergarten Screening at the Liberty-Township Building 8:30a.m.-3:30 p.m.

April 14           5th Grade Camp Storer Informational Meeting 7:00 p.m.

April 16           Scheduled 2-hour Delay (Teacher Collaboration)

April 18           5th Grade Fieldtrip “Hands-on-History” @ Hancock Historical Museum

                                    K-12 Arts Festival 6-8 p.m. @ H.S. Gym and Cafetorium

April 19           K-12 Arts Festival 10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

April 21           5th Grade Fieldtrip “Hands-on-History” @ Hancock Historical Museum

April 24           Kindergarten Fieldtrip to Central Middle School

                                    Market Day Pick-up

                                    5th Grade Band & Eagle Singers Spring Concert 7:30 p.m.



MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Liberty-Benton Board of Education

March 17, 2008

6:00 p.m.

 

1.  Talent Show:  I am extremely proud of the middle school students that participated in the talent show this spring.  The show is a great opportunity for our students to showcase hidden and well known talents. 

 

2.  Camp Storer Meeting Scheduled for April 14, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.:  There will be an informational meeting for all current 5th grade parents and students regarding next year’s sixth grade class trip to Camp Storer at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 14 in the middle school gym.  A representative for the camp will be here to give an informational presentation and to answer questions about camp.  Once again, I have established a payment schedule so that parents will have the trip paid for before the beginning of next school year.  A fund raiser will also be available to help offset the cost of the trip. 

 

3. Observations/Evaluations:  My second round of observations and evaluations will be completed before we leave for spring break.  Though I am anecdotally observing the educational process every day, it is very affirming to see the talent and skill of our teaching staff through formal observations.   

 

4.  Keith Davis Assembly, April 8, 2008: Keith Davis will be coming to Liberty-Benton Middle School with a positive message.  Mr. Davis is a former New York Giant Line Backer and  Power Team member and will perform feats of strength (bending bars, tearing phone boos etc..) while discussing topics such as peer pressure, drugs/alcohol awareness and abstinence.  In light of our recent policy revisions, have also requested that he work into his discussion the topic of harassment and bullying. 

 

5.  Practice Tests Given:  Students at the middle school will be given another practice test in preparation for the April/May OAT before we leave for spring break so that there will be time to make adjustments/reinforcements.  Students were initially tested before Christmas Break.  Our teachers have been working hard all year designing lessons and assignments that are both academically rigorous as well as standards based.    

 

8. Track: We currently have 67 middle school students participating in track this year (roughly half boys and half girls).  This is an increase of about 15 students compared to last season!  The kids are working hard, but the weather is not cooperating.  Hopefully, we will get a break from all of this rain and snow!

 

9.  Northwest Ohio Spelling Bee: Megan Dailey, a sixth grader at LBMS, competed in the Northwest Ohio Blade Spelling Bee Championship Thursday night, March 13, 2008, at Owens Community College Toledo, Ohio.  Megan was one of 15 spellers left in the bee of 65 spellers from the entire Northwest Ohio area.  We are very proud of her!  Way to go Megan!

 

10.  Student Breakfast Program: Breakfast is now available for middle school students each school day.  The cost is only $1.00, reduced breakfast $0.10, and free breakfast $0.00.  The breakfast meets the state breakfast standards for the School Breakfast Program.  Those requirements are:

                              Or

                              Or

 

At the middle school, we have been averaging between 30-40 students per day.  Students enter the building at 7:40 a.m. and go to the locker first before going to the cafeteria.  Because the response has exceeded our initial expectations, there menu items may be expanded to include items such as hot egg and cheese bagels and even possibly pancakes. 

 

11.  Current Enrollment

 

Grade               Male                Female            Total

    06                  49                     57                    106

    07                  57                     51                    108

    08                  44                     44                      88

 

Total Students:  302                                  

 

Upcoming Dates….

03/20/08                      End of third grading period

03/21/08                      Spring Break begins

03/27/08                      Spring Break ends

04/08/08                      Keith Davis Assembly 1:15 p.m.

04/14/08                      Camp Storer informational meeting 7:00 p.m. in M.S. gym

04/16/08                      2 hour collaboration day

04/18/08                      Market Day Orders Due

04/19/08                      K-12 Arts Festival 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. @ HS

04/24/08                      Market Day Pick Up

04/28/08                      OAT testing begins

05/01/08                      OAT testing ends

05/05/08-                     Teacher Appreciation Week

05/09/08

05/26/08                      No School, Memorial Day

 HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Liberty-Benton Board of Education Meeting

March 17, 2008

6:00 P.M.

 

1.)                OGT Testing Week -  Our OGT Week of testing went pretty smoothly last week.  I am thankful that our weather cooperated during this important week.  Some schools were delayed or closed for fog, but we were fortunate to not have the dense fog in our area.  I thank Mrs. Joyce Jackson for overseeing all of the test administration, and there only a few students working on the make-ups this week.  Also, thank you to our high school staff and students for cooperating with a crazy testing week schedule to benefit the sophomores.  Reversing our class periods on Tuesday and Thursday to balance out the sophomore classes sounds like a much easier task than it is, and it takes everyone’s full cooperation to make this week work out smoothly.  Now, we are just eager to get our OGT results back!

2.)                Student Handbook Updates -  It is that time of the year already where we start to look at handbook revisions for next school year.  Once we have our revisions ready, I will e-mail them to you for your review.  I will try to get the handbook to the printer in May for some discounted rates.

3.)                Talent Show -  Our district wide “Talent Showcase” was held successfully on March 9 & 10.  Congratulations to our director, Mrs. Brenda Hoyt-Brackman, and all of the student performers and crew!  Special thanks to the faculty rock band members for a performance by “Staff Infection.”  The academic boosters distributed a survey to the audience members during both shows to gauge everyone’s interest in the new non-competitive format of the talent showcase.  They will then review this feedback to see what they want to do for future shows.

4.)                3.5 Banquet -  Our 3.5 Banquet is tonight so I am working with the boosters on the final touches and welcoming our guests.  The event begins at 6:30 p.m.  I thank our academic boosters for all of their work in helping to arrange the event, and I thank tonight’s alumni speaker, Mrs. Jill (Haggerty) Ohs, from the Class of 2000 for joining us from her home in Dayton.  Jill has her doctorate degree in pharmacy, and we are happy that she is available to speak to our students this evening.

5.)                Fire Drill & Tornado Drill -  During our last fire drill, none of the fire alarms worked in the classroom areas.  Only the office, cafeteria, and gym areas had alarms work.  Since then, everything has been repaired again, and we will have another fire drill yet this month.  Since the statewide tornado drill falls during our Spring Break, we are to select our own date for the March tornado drill, and we will take care of that drill this month as well.

6.)                Band Update -  As you know, we are extending the medical leave for Mr. Thomas to run through the remainder of the school year.  It is important for everyone to remember that we are doing the best that we can to keep this program going.  A program of this size, such as band, is a difficult program to run at the same level of excellence and expectations with any substitute teacher.  I greatly thank Miss Sarah Santilli for helping with all that she can during Mr. Thomas’ absence.  Miss Santilli and I did address the band students on Friday, March 7th, and we are hoping that as many of them as possible will hang in there with us and remain in the program.  The program is struggling, and many students are not scheduling band for next school year.  We were quite fortunate that our Fall student teacher graduated in December and was able to step in as the teacher for this entire leave of absence time period.  There simply aren’t band directors out there on the street looking for a substitute position like this.  I just wanted to let you know that Mr. Otley and I are working to do as much as we can do at this point in time for this music program.

7.)                Progressbooks Training -  Some teachers from each building have been selected to participate in some special training on the Progressbooks software.  These teachers will be trained Tuesday morning in conjunction with our collaboration time.  In the Fall, when we switch over from Grade Quick and Edline to Progressbooks, these teachers will help to train their colleagues.

8.)                Champions For Today -  Keith Davis will be returning to LBHS for a Champions for Today assembly on April 10th.  All high school students will attend this assembly in our gymnasium.

9.)                Congratulations To Mrs. Patti Spiegel -  Mrs. Patti Spiegel, one of our high school Spanish teachers, has been selected as one of three finalists for the high school Rotary Golden Apple Teacher of the Year.  The Rotary committee members will observe her teaching a class, she will be videotaped for the selection committee, and she will be honored at an upcoming banquet.  This is a great honor.  Congratulations, Mrs. Spiegel!

10.)            Upcoming Events:

March 17         3.5 Banquet

March 18         Two-Hour Collaboration Meeting

March 18         Relay For Life Meetings – 5:30 Committees, 6:30 Teams

March 21-30    Spring Break

March 28         Make-Up School Day

April 4             Ralphie’s Relays

April 10           Keith Davis Assembly, 1:00

April 10           Academic Boosters, 6:30

April 11           Alumni Basketball Game, 6:00-9:00

April 12           ACT & International Meal

April 18 & 19  Arts Festival K-12

April 25           Music Booster BBQ/ Academic Booster BINGO Night

May 3              LB Track Invitational

May 10            Prom

May 14 & 16   BVC Track Meet @ LBHS

May 20            Spring Concert

May 30 & 31   Relay For Life, 6:00 p.m. – Noon

June 8              Graduation, 2:00