LIBERTY-BENTON LOCAL SCHOOLS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2007

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 ……………………………………………Jeff Shadle, Board President

II.                 Recognition of Visitors

III.               Approval of minutes from the Tuesday, February 20, 2007 regular board of education meeting

IV.              Communications and Discussion

Third reading NEOLA policies

V.                 Principals’ Reports

Brian Burkett, Bruce Otley, Brenda Frankart

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

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

VIII.         New Business

A.     Approve Consent Agenda, to include:

1.       Listing of bills, expenditures, and investments through 2/28/07, and monthly financial report of the Treasurer.

2.       Approve appropriation modifications for March 2007

3.       Accept the amounts and rates as determined by the County Budget Commission for the 2007 tax year

4.       Approve listing of obsolete/disposed inventory items

5.       Approve fund 200-9134, Gifted Support fund for the purpose of providing additional financial support to the gifted program

6.       Accept FY2007 gifted supplement in the amount of $3486.54

7.       Approve 2007-08 Educational Service Center Special Education contract

8.       Approve a resolution to accept ECLIPSe Dance Marathon Grant for the Liberty-Benton High School “STRIDES” Program in the amount of $800.00

9.       Approve the following policies:  1200-Administrator Ethics, 1220-Employment of the Superintendent, 1310-Employment of Administrators, 2260-Nondiscrimination and Access to Equal Educational Opportunity, 2260.01 Section 504/ADA Prohibition Against Discrimination Based on Disability, 3120-Employment of Professional Staff, 3120.04 Employment of Substitute Teachers, 3120.05-Employment of Personnel in Summer School and Adult Education Programs, 3120.06-Selecting Student teachers/Administrative Interns, 3120.07-Employment of Casual Resource Personnel, 3120.08-Employement of Personnel for Co-Curricular/Extra-Curricular Activities, 3120.09-Volunteers, 3217-Weapons, 4120-Employment of Classified Staff, 4120.04-Employment of Substitutes, 4120.09-Volunteers, 4217-Weapons, 5112 – Entrance Requirements, 5320-Immunizations, 5409-Student Acceleration, 5410- Promotion, Academic Acceleration, Placement and Retention, 5464-Early High School Graduation, 5540-Interrogation of Students, 6320-Purchases, 6350-Prohibition Against Contracting, 6440-Cooperative Purchasing, 6450-Local Purchasing, 6460-Vendor Relations, 6520-Payroll Deductions, 6600-Deposit of Public Funds, 6635-Petty Cash Accounts, 6835-Audit Committee, 7217-Weapons, 7455-Accounting System-Fixed Assets, 8120-DMA, 8400-School Safety, 8420-Emergency Situations at Schools, 8442-Reporting Accidents, 8442.01-Workers’ Compensation, 8462-Student Abuse and Neglect, 8500-Food Services, 8650-Transportation by School Van, 9800-High School Diplomas.

10.   Approve 2007-08 school calendar

11.   Approve Brenda Hoyt-Brackman, increase time an additional .06 per day effective 2006-07 school year

12.   Approve graduation date for Sunday, June 10, 2007 for those seniors fulfilling all state and local requirements necessary for graduation

13.   Approve Karen Walker, Odyssey of the Mind/MORE Advisor

14.   Approve Lindsey Chambers tuition free status the remainder of her senior year 2006-07

      IX.        Other Business

X.                 Executive Session

XI.               Adjournment

 

LIBERTY-BENTON LOCAL SCHOOLS

MARCH 2007 DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT

DENNIS L. RECKER, SUPERINTENDENT

 

  1. On February 21, Vern and I attended an annual meeting regarding our TIF agreement with Hancock County and Findlay City.
  2. Liberty-Benton has been asked to participate in helping The Family and Children First Council in some long range planning.  At different meetings, we’ll have different school personnel attend.
  3. Ethics has taken a “front seat” in the lives of superintendent, treasurers and board members.  I’ve just filed my annual report with the State Ethics Commission.  This brief on individual school board member ethics was just posted and really shows, through the history of this case, the high degree of integrity a board member must have, and how easily one can (unwittingly hopefully) violate Ohio ethics law.  I thought that, since it has been a year ago that we went through ethics training, this piece might be a good review.  (Item A)
  4. The state board of education just received the attached seven recommendations from yet another “policy think tank”.  I’ve attached these, plus added some of my “professionally biased” opinions.  (Item B)
  5. Will need executive session to discuss bargaining.
  6. Since there has been a perceived need of new or updated space for elementary and middle school students, I spent a couple of days talking to architects and Ohio School Facilities Commission members.

We conducted a full assessment of the district in 2000 and were projected to have shared costs paid at a rate of 60% local and 40% state.  Currently, (2006) this rate has changed to 50% state and 50% local, due to us becoming “poorer”.  We are 304 on “the list” and Ohio funded up to school #207 last year.  They are able to serve 22 districts per year based on this list, so we are 4 to 5 years away from being served.  (Best keep an eye on Ohio’s bond rating).

Two years prior to “our turn”, the Ohio School Facilities Commission will contact us and begin the planning process for construction and/or remodeling our district facilities.

In 2000, the estimated cost of the total project was $17,740,056 for updating and/or reconstructing our facilities.  (Since then, we’ve added all day, every day kindergarten, handicapped pre-school,, and eight intervention specialists for special needs children, which would call for even additional space.)

In the 2000 study, we needed 141,580 square feet of new space.  (Approximately 121,100-128,156 square feet dedicated for elementary/middle school and 13,424 square feet needed for high school.)  Also, these numbers are now “low” because of our additional needed space for kindergarten, pre-school, and special needs purposes.

Assuming a K-8 building alone at 128,156 square feet (still undersized), we face the following projected costs.  This year, these building construction costs have averaged $180/square foot, or $26,000 per student.  Based on our current student population (865 PreK-8), this is $23,068,080 based on square footage, or $22,490,000 based on a per student cost.  If we wait five years, Ohio will pay up to half (based on 50/50 split), or more, if we continue to get “poorer”, but less if we get “richer”.  The current rend would indicate a lesser local cost, and greater state share, looking out five years. 

We’d still need an additional $2,416,320 for the high school, since this has to be a comprehensive plan.  The total district commitment would be $24,484,400.

If we choose to “go it alone”, the state would reimburse us their share, but we’d need to build everything and get reimbursement, or build “half a building” and wait on the state share to build the rest.  The buildings would need to meet Ohio School Facilities Commission standards.  Since we have additional services in kindergarten, art, music, and special education over minimum standards, these extra rooms would be at 100% of our cost, over and above what OSFC would allow.

In speaking with the Buehrer Group, and getting their cost estimate, we’d be looking at a cost of $18,405,400 for K-8 plus $1,900,000 for the high school based upon their building costs to date.  Again, this is a low estimate because we have more need for more rooms, due to our additional services provided.

The $25,484,400 figure is 16.3% of our valuation.  If we did K-8 above at $18,405,400, which would be undersized, unless we eliminated all day kindergarten and cut back on music rooms, art rooms, and resource rooms.  We’d still be at 11.8% bond indebtedness, plus our 3.9% current bond indebtedness, or at 15.7% total bond indebtedness.  This is compared to the high end possibility of 20.2% bond indebtedness, if we were to cost out at 25 million dollars, plus our current debt.

Ohio law created a debt limitation “cap” of 9%, and we exceeded this when we built the high school.  We were at 12% for three years until re tired debt.  We currently have no short term debt we can retire.  The local superintendent needs to seek permission to exceed 9%, plus show how this would be short term.  Currently, these conditions do not exist.

If we wait on “our turn” with Ohio School Facilities, depending on what we do K-8 only to meeting all needs, our debt load would be a minimum of 9.4% (one half of 11.8% plus approximately a current 3.5% debt load).

Hopefully, this explains why we’ve not aggressively pursued the “lets build a school” approach.  By our current actions to date, we’ve, in effect, shifted the cost in this manner:

Had we acted on the 2000 report of $17,740,056 the break out is:

            2000                                         2006                             Difference

State     $7,096,023         to         State     $12,742,200                   +79%

Local    $10,644,034                   Local    $12,742,220                   +19%

Total     $17,740,056                   Total     $25,484,400

Valuation 106 million                  Valuation 156 million                  +47%

We need to remember that the Ohio School Facilities Commission funds projects that are minimal in terms of areas of service.  Anything over and above what OSFC deems necessary is a 100% local cost.  Therefore, in all probability, the “numbers” presented in this segment are low, relative to what the actual cost would be.

Since some of the neighbors are seeking bond issues, here is what their local share, as a percentage of cost will be, as of today:             Vanlue 25% (levy failed), Arlington 34%, Cory-Rawson 48%, McComb 44%.  Typically, the longer you can wait, the greater the state share, and the less debt load we absorb.

Why would we wait 5 years? 

1.       We have no choice.  We’d be violating current law and at this point, I can’t ethically present a debt reduction plan.

2.       The year will be 2012, one year after reimbursements are discontinued for tangible personal property elimination.

3.       2012 will be the second funding year for Ohio’s reformed funding system, IF the constitutional amendment passes, holding us to a 5% local cap, with the “state” required to provide the rest.

4.       With the state funding being shifted away from us, our bonded amount will hopefully not exceed the 9% limitation.

Also, I’ve submitted requests in 2005 and 2006 for state funding under the Exceptional Needs Program, and in 2005 we did not qualify and in 2006 we were ignored.

  1. Regarding our academic performance as a school district, I attended a session conducted by the Ohio Board of Regents to look at different approaches of high schools and colleges working together.  There were over 180 public university officials and one superintendent in attendance.  I found that L-B is “known” for its high academic reputation and its extra-curriculars.  I was actually “floored” by how highly regarded we actually are.  I spent a great deal of time with the Executive Director of ODE’s Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Division and provided her a copy of our study involving concurrent enrollment, post-secondary options, and PSO programming for more traditional students.  L-B is “cutting edge”, and the data we are supplying are “hard numbers” and our student success is recognized by these state colleges and universities.  I felt honored that we were invited to attend this session.  (Item C)
  2. Enclosed is an article about dual enrollment in Iowa.  This provides some perspective with relationships between high schools and community colleges.  We’ve elevated the threshold of performance by working with a top flight private college.  (Item D)
  3. Heading into the new legislative season, we see the biennial budgetary cycle beginning, and everyone clamoring for more funding.  We are also seeing a constitutional amendment being sought to address school funding.  I’m attaching three articles, one dealing with “weakening” state support, one being a news article based on study sponsored by the Gates Foundation, and a third article published by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, “grading” Ohio educationally.  (Item E)
  1. What I also learned regarding “vocational” education at this conference was new to me.  Ohio is 40th of 50 states with citizens holding higher education degrees (associate and bachelors degrees).  The job outlook presented was dim, especially in the area of “knowledge work”.  Therefore, statewide emphasis is being placed on higher education and a minimum expectation of having credentials or “certificates” for the work world, which is demonstrated competency.  College “skills” and workplace “skills” have converged and these are a “core set” of skills needed for upward mobility.  This is a new message and a new reality.  If we believe we are providing our children a chance in today’s world with what we adults traditionally think of as a “vocational” or “hands on” experience, we are actually relegating our children to a lower class future.  Thank goodness we’ve modernized our vocational curriculum by moving to CAD and using our agriculture program to introduce engineering and agriculture related programming with Owens Community College, but these students will need to have master in Algebra I, II, and Geometry in these areas.  12 states now require this, up from two states two years ago.  In communication, “vocational” students now need logic, writing and organizational skills, and “team” writing (whatever that is). 

This also explains why Millstream is working hard to have its students perform at these higher levels.  It’s not that they are trying to take our best students from us (my original “fear”) but the reality that the students they serve must perform at higher levels.

How are we doing?  As I reviewed the PLAN test results (pre-ACT) we administered our sophomore, the class of 114 students performed in the 63rd percentile overall (composite), and in the 59th percentile in English and the 66th percentile in mathematics.  This data strongly suggests that overall, we are doing well.  However, we have deficits with some of our students, but we added teachers to serve these children the past summer.  (Item F)

  1. I received this information from ING, referring to board members.  Lisa Dobbins is our resident expert on the “ins and outs” of this program.  (Item G)
  2. I’m investigating options we can use regarding our situation, where we’ve exceeded our calamity days.  I’ve been working closely with the Ohio Department of Education’s Division of School Finance, our union leaders, and legal counsel, to make sure we fulfill the school year, as statute requires.

We’ve had great response from staff and parents from our administrative survey providing us their insights about the current situation of us exceeding calamity day limits.  I hope to have a solution, which will require board action, should we advance to the state tournaments.

  1. We needed to seek an exception to the “Cap” for Alternative Assessments: for this school year.  It appears, based on trend, that we’ll probably be doing this yearly.  This requires extensive teacher and building administrative training, plus coordination of counselors, and Mr. Horstman’s efforts who I’ve asked to coordinate this for the buildings and children districtwide.
  2. Senior student, Lindsey Chambers, just moved into Findlay.  I’m recommending that we allow her to complete her senior year as a tuition-free student.
  3. Extra-curriculum pay study enclosed, courtesy of teacher Dawn Blankenship, who did this for me as a graduate class project.  (Item H)
  4. We’re in our sixth year of having all day, every day kindergarten for all students.  This is a milestone of sorts because we’ve been able to provide this opportunity longer than other districts and hopefully we’ll continue this in the future, dependent upon funding (local and/or state).
  5. How lucky are we at L-B?  Sadly, I had to conduct an expulsion hearing on a student.  Our last expulsion hearing was in 2001.  In my tenure, we’ve now had 6 expulsion hearings.  Part of this is due to high expectations of how students are to behave and parents supportive of the school.
  6. Attached is a copy of the proposed 2007-08 school calendar.  (Item I)

 

  1. As you’ve seen from Lisa’s report on how county schools will be impacted by levies, I’ve noticed from newspaper articles how superintendents are retiring and the “new group” find themselves explaining “where has all the money gone”.  More schools are on “the edge of the cliff” so to speak, and this is based on circumstance and the result of legislation or abated agreements being reneged on, letting school districts “holding the bag”.  Realize that once one “deficit spends”, red lights should be going off.

To give you an idea of how schools normally thought to be “rich” will be impacted, look at their 5 year forecasts:

                                                FY09                                        FY10

North Baltimore                        (-$1,660,000)                             (-$2,610,080)

                        Cash Balance    (-$1,665,000)                             (-$4,776,000)

Anthony Wayne                        $542,789                                   (-$278,295)

                        Cash Balance    (-$278,295)                               (-$1,741,459)

Perrysburg                                (-$3,000,000)                             (-$6,310,000)

                        Cash Balance    (-$948,309)                               (-$7,322,390)

Liberty-Benton                          (-$1,569,132)                             (-$2,417,913)

                        Cash Balance    $4,330,481                                 $2,761,352

Van Buren                                (-$992,401)                               (-$2,301,248)

                        Cash Balance    $1,317,516                                 (-$986,672)

Realize that a district’s “needs” are based upon expenditure difference, and not the balance.  Since we are projected at ($930,027) in FY08, that is a 5.6 mil equivalency.  FY09 is 10.06 mil equivalency, and FY10 is 15.49 mil equivalency.           

  1. I’d ask that the board approve June 10 as graduation date for those seniors fulfilling all state and local requirements necessary for graduation.
  2. Mrs. Hoyt-Brackman is teaching an additional period therefore we need to adjust her time accordingly to reflect annual compensation.  

ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Liberty-Benton Board of Education

March 21, 2007

 

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

                                                                                                February 2007

Pre-school        -    22  (1 section – ½ a.m. & ½ p.m.)               (  21)

Kindergarten     -    96 (5 sections – avg. class 19.2)                    (  97)                 

First Grade        -    75 (4 sections – avg. class 18.8)                   (  77)                 

Second Grade   -    84 (4 sections – avg. class 21.0)                    (  83)                 

Third Grade      -  105 (5 sections – avg. class 21.0)                    (105)                 

Fourth Grade     -    85 (4 sections – avg. class 21.3)                    (  85)                 

Fifth Grade       -  105 (5 sections – avg. class 21.0)                                (105)                 

TOTAL (K-5):     550 School Average:  20.4                              (552)    Average (20.4)

                                     (572 with pre-school) 

  1. We currently have 73 students scheduled for kindergarten screening on March 28th for the upcoming 2007-08 school year.  Last year this time, we had 75 students.  We continue to receive calls and I anticipate screening around 80 students next week.
  1. Our first day of professional development with the Ohio Center for Essential School Reform went very well for our second through fifth grade teachers.  Again, this initiative will work to provide our teachers with highly qualified professional development in the areas of reading and math and assist us with the creation and implementation of common assessments.  The teachers, as well as Mr. Horstman and myself, were challenged to think about higher level questioning skills and then created questions that would challenge our students at the three levels of higher level thinking skills (analysis, synthesis, and evaluation).  I am very excited about the level of professional development this will provide us which in turn will benefit our students and their achievement.  I want to also thank Country Inn & Suites (with the cooperation of General Manager, Paul Whitson) for their incredible support of our district and participating as a “Partner in Education.”
  1. If you missed it, our second grade provided a “whale of a program” for their spring music program last Thursday!  Under the direction of Mrs. Diane Norris, the second grade performed their program, “Oceans of Fun!”  As always, the kids did an outstanding job and for this year – it was probably even more awesome in the fact that these students missed so many music classes because of all the delays and closings in February.  My hat is off to Mrs. Norris for pulling this altogether and for the patience and cooperation of the second grade teachers.  This is a fine example of the exceptional programming that we have here at the elementary!
  1. Once again, our L-B Annual Talent Show was outstanding.  I am very proud of all the elementary acts that occurred both in the elementary division (K-4) and the middle division (5-8).  I appreciate the leadership and direction of Mrs. Brenda Hoyt-Brackman in pulling this event off, as well as Mrs. Frankart for her vision to start this tradition.  It is very rewarding to see the “gifts” students have that we don’t always get to see in the classroom.  Marvelous job again to all our students!
  1. Grandparent’s Day is planned and on schedule for next Friday, March 30th.  We currently have around 480 pre-registered guests, with 431 eating lunch with us.  We are very excited to have our special guests in our building next week.  We will be running shuttle buses again like in the past two events.

 

UPCOMING ELEMENTARY EVENTS:

March 23          End of the 3rd Grading Period

March 28          Kindergarten Screening

March 30          Grandparent’s Day

Apr.2-9             Spring Break

Apr. 10             Elementary Progress Reports go home

Apr. 11             Stevi B’s Pizza Night

Apr. 12             5th Grade Parent Meeting for Camp Storer 7:00 p.m.

MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Liberty-Benton Board of Education

March 21, 2007

6:00 p.m.

 

1.  Talent Show:  I am extremely proud of the following students that shared their talents with us last Sunday.  We have many very talented young people in our middle school and also throughout the district and I am always pleasantly surprised at what our kids of capable of.  Congratulations to Jacob Schoonover and Megan Saums for their first place finish in their division.

Grade 6

Jacob Schoonover and Megan Saums --“Schoudini Magic”

Heather reed—“Kiss the Girl”

Anna Mars, Amanda Dunn, Christine Schrock, and Golda Bishop—“Menuet”

Grade 8

Jessica O’Nan—“Part of Your World”

Brandon Swope—“We’re All in This Together”

Jennifer Shadle—“Once Upon a December

Molly Fowler—“Someone Like You” 

Chelsea Whikehart—“All that Jazz”

 

2.  Camp Storer Meeting Scheduled for April 12, 2007 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 Thursday, April 12, 2007 in the middle school gym.  Bill Sparks, program coordinator for the camp, will be here on this evening to give an informational PowerPoint presentation on the camp experience and to field questions from parents and students. 

 

3. March 30, 2007 Grandparents Day:  At the middle school, we have a total of 65 guests (as of 3/19/07) coming as our guests on grandparents day.  Most of them will be staying through the lunch hour.  We are looking forward to a memorable day. 

 

4.  Dance March 16, 2007:  A good time was had by all at our second school dance last Friday night.  The students were well behaved and enjoyed rocking out to their favorite tunes.  I would like to thank Mrs. Mary Jo McFarlane and Mrs. Amy Schroeder for organizing the dance as our Student Council Advisors and Mr. Mike Scoles for spinning the tunes. 

  

5.  March 20, 2007 2 hour Collaboration Day: The middle and high school staffs met at 7:30 a.m. to listen to Rodney Winkle give a presentation titled “Change Strategies”.  Rod did a great job relating this topic to our teaching staff in ways that are both universal to any occupation as well as in ways that are specific to education.

 

6.  K-12 Pep Rally Scheduled for March 21, 2007:  The middle school will be traveling to the high school to participate in a K-12 pep rally at the high school at 1:00 p.m.  The varsity cheerleaders led the students from the elementary and middle school in a “prep session” on Tuesday, March 20th at 2:00 p.m.  The middle school will be having a red white and blue day on Wednesday in preparation for the pep rally.   We are fired up and ready to go!

 

7.  Practice Tests Given:  Students at the middle school will be given another practice test in preparation for the May OAT by the end of the month.  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 29 girls and 26 boys participating in track this spring.

 

9.  Mike McCoy Assembly:  On Tuesday, March 27, students at the Middle School will have an assembly at 1:15 p.m.  Mike McCoy is a former Green Bay Packer and Notre Dame Football player.  He will be sharing his experiences as an athlete with the students under the theme of making positive life choices.

 

10.  Pint Sized Heroes Assembly/Blood Drive:  The Liberty-Benton Middle School Student Council is sponsoring a blood drive to be held at the Middle School on May 14, 2007 in the Gym.  There will be an assembly on April 16, 2007 to kick off the blood drive. 

 

11.  Current Enrollment

 

Grade                                 Total

    06                                     105

    07                                        92

    08                                     93

 

Total Students:  290                                  


HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Liberty-Benton Board of Education Meeting

March 21, 2007

6:00 P.M.

 

 I have always LOVED March Madness, and this week has been the absolute best week of March Madness ever!!!  What a great full week of events….talent shows, 3.5 academic banquet, and, of course, our STATE-BOUND EAGLE BASKETBALL TEAM!!!!  How awesome for all of LBHS, the LB district, and the entire Findlay area and community!  Go, Eagles!!!  I hope to see everyone in Columbus on Thursday and Saturday!

 

1.)                OGT Week Testing – Our OGT Week of testing was very smooth this year, and I especially thank Mrs. Joyce Jackson for coordinating the whole process.  I thank our entire staff and student body for fully cooperating with our two “reversed” days on Tuesday and Thursday so our sophomores did not have to miss all of their morning classes for five straight days.  Of course, reversing the schedule for two days of the week is not nearly as easy as it sounds, so for that reason, I sincerely thank all of our high school staff for cooperatively making this schedule a success.

2.)                Student Handbook Updates – I am currently working on the minor revisions to our handbook for next school year.  When I have everything ready to go, I will e-mail you the proposed revisions in case you have any questions.  I will try to get the information to the printer in May to receive some discounts in pricing.  We typically then wait until June to approve all of the student handbooks at the same time.  When I e-mail the proposed updates, you can e-mail me back if you have any questions.

3.)                Talent Show -  Our district-wide talent show was a fantastic success once again.  Congratulations to our director, Mrs. Brenda Hoyt-Brackman, and all of the student performers and crew!  Special thanks to our LB faculty members who performed in a new version of the rock band, “Staff Infection.”

4.)                3.5 Banquet -  Our 3.5 banquet on March 20th honored all 132 high school students with a 3.5 or higher grade point average.  The Academic Boosters did a nice job of helping to coordinate the event.  The meal was catered by Karen Schroeder, and the special alumni guest speaker was Mr. Drew Mihalik from the LBHS Class of 1997.

5.)                “Real Money, Real World” Senior Program -  The special financial education program that we offered to all of our seniors on March 6th was awesome!  I thank Barb Brahm and the staff from the OSU Extension Office for coordinating this fantastic program, and I thank the many community members who set-up booths as part of the sixteen simulation stations.  Clearly, their hard work, dedication, and planning efforts made this program a great success.  We look forward to continuing this program for our seniors in the future.

6.)                Oklahoma Success -  Congratulations to the entire cast and crew from the Oklahoma musical.  I was so impressed with the whole performance and everything they thought of including in the overall event.  We have received so many positive comments from community members who were there, and this was by far the largest crowd I have ever seen for any play or musical in the eight years I have been at LB.  Congratulations to Miss Santilli, Mr. Thomas, and Mrs. Hoyt-Brackman for all of their hard work, creativity, and success!  They made us all very proud!

7.)                WFIN Radio -  I don’t know if you had the opportunity to hear us on the WFIN radio program the morning of March 8th, but I was invited to the station to feature positive student sections and crowds at sporting events and I took three senior students with me.  Chris Oaks did a nice job setting the stage with all of the negative news that had recently been occurring at the national level in relation to fights breaking out, inappropriate student sections, and unsportsmanlike adults.  Then, Wyatt Elbin, Mike Fulcher, Sammy Curto, and I spoke about LB’s positive student section, fans, and the great rapport with friendly rivalry around the BVC.  It all went very, very well, and we were excited to represent the school and the area in this local radio spotlight.

8.)                STATE BOUND BASKETBALL -  Congratulations to the LB Boys’ Basketball team, coaches, and cheerleaders for a fantastic year and their outstanding success.  We are behind them 100%, and we wish them good luck in the Thursday morning tournament game.  I am also happy to point out that throughout both the regular season and the tournament season, I frequently have school administrators, deputies, and tournament officials go out of their way to let me know that are students are so cooperative and positive that they really enjoy our participation in their events.  We are very proud of how the team, the coaches, the student section, and the LB fans have handled this amazing undefeated, and now, state-bound season.  There are approximately 200 teams in every division around the state, and only the Final Four are headed into the State tournament.  That is quite a proud accomplishment.  We now need to understand that there are 16 teams heading into the whole state tournament event, and only four of those teams can be crowned the State Champions.  We congratulate all of the schools for this outstanding honor, and we wish our team the very best of luck.  We are proud of them for their accomplishments and for representing Liberty-Benton High School, the district and the community in such a positive fashion!!!  GO, EAGLES!!!

9.)                Pep Rallies -  Thank you to the cheerleaders and faculty for all of their support and cooperation in these awesome pep rallies this week.  First, we were able to hold a “pre-pep rally” with Grades K-8 on Tuesday afternoon to instruct them on some cheers and actions for the pep rally on Wednesday.  Then, for the K-12 pep rally on Wednesday afternoon, we involved all students and staff into celebrating the success of this state-bound team and wishing them the best of luck at State.  Thank you to Mr. Schimmoeller, Mr. Otley, Mr. Burkett, Mr. Horstman, and especially, the high school cheerleaders and staff for making this pep rally possible.  Whenever we have a state-bound athletic team, it is nice to make this event extra special for our student participants, and this has been a fantastic week!

10.)            Collaboration Meeting -  Thank you to presenter, Rod Winkle, for presenting his program on “Change” to our high school and middle school staff during our collaboration time on March 20th.  It was nicely organized.

11.)            Tornado Drill -  Our statewide tornado drill is scheduled for March 28th at 9:50 a.m.

12.)            Upcoming Events - 

March 22-24          State Boys’ Basketball Tournaments in Columbus

March 24               JH Solo & Ensemble at LBHS

March 30               LB Relays Track Meet

April 2-9                Spring Break

April 4                    HS used for Hancock County Health Dept. Mass Immunization Drill, 7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

April 12                  Academic Boosters, 7:00

April 13                  Honor Roll Ice Cream Social, 2:15

April 14                  ACT Testing

April 20-21            Arts Festival