State school board member Jane Sonenshein (far right), District 10, presents an excellent banner to Adams County/Ohio Valley School District for their rating on the 2007-08 District Report Card. Accepting the banner for the district’s students and staff are Superintendent Pat Kimble; board members Charlie Bess, Mike Hughes, Judy Campbell, Kent Bauman, Tim Naylor; and Sonenshein.
State congratulates AC/OVSD Utilities under scrutiny
State school board member Jane Sonenshein visited the Adams County/Ohio Valley School District Monday night, during its board of education meeting, to present a banner congratulating the district for its excellent rating on the 2007-08 District Report Card. Following the presentation, the board acted on personnel items and adopted seven board policies.
The board also heard a presentation from Eric Meredith, district manager of business affairs, about reductions of utility use at the three high schools. Meredith compared propane and electric use from March 2007 through August 2007 to the period of March 2008 to August 2008. The reductions were $10,090 at North Adams High School, $7,936 at West Union High School and $5,946 at Peebles High School. The total savings for the spring and summer months was $23,971 through the district's conservation efforts.
Following an executive session to discuss personnel matters during the meeting on Monday evening, as well as another executive session at a special meeting on Sept. 17, the board approved a group of personnel items. Resignations approved were Krista Hayslip, prom coordinator North Adams High School, effective Sept. 15; L. Adams Myers, substitute teacher, effective Sept. 18; Loy Coomer, intervention specialist, effective Oct. 1 for retirement; Jim Kidder, custodian at NAHS, effective Nov. 1 for retirement; and James Deatley, bus driver, effective Sept. 22.
The board approved the termination of Chris Williams, bus driver, effective Sept. 22; and the employment of Regina Copas and Sherry Jordan for one year under classified contracts.
For NAHS, the board approved supplemental contracts for Shay Bieghle, science fair director; Nathan Copas, intramural/activity director; Krista Hayslip, one-half junior class advisor/prom coordinator; Cynthia Meade, senior class advisor; Joel Shepherd, one-half junior class advisor/prom coordinator; and Rhonda Smith, volunteer assistant varsity girls soccer coach.
The board also approved the following supplemental contracts at PHS: Rebecca Burke, junior class advisor/prom coordinator; Jill Cracraft, production director; Rusty DeMint, volunteer assistant boys seventh and eighth grade basketball coach; Shana Grooms, student council advisor; John Robinson, chess club advisor; and Jeremiah Sowards, volunteer assistant track coach.
Board policies adopted by the board were those concerning board member conflict of interest, bidding requirements, staff conflict of interest, identification and services of gifted children, Title I programs, acceleration (to adjust the pace of instruction to the student's capabilities, remove barriers to appropriately challenging curriculum and reduce the time necessary for students to complete traditional schooling) and public conduct on district property.
One key element of the board member conflict of interest policy of particular concern to the board during their previous review of the policy dealt with members voting on a contract to employ a person as a teacher or instructor. In a previous draft, a member was forbidden to vote on a contract for a father, mother, brother or sister. The final language adds: this policy forbids a board member from voting on a contract to employ a person in any capacity if he/she is related in any way to the member.
