By Austin Rust-
The Adams County Ohio Valley School District (ACOVSD) Board of Education held a regular meeting on Dec. 17 in the Ohio Valley Career and Technical Center (OVCTC). At this meeting, the Board thanked fellow member Sally McDaniel for her work on the Board, discussed the purchase of new vehicles for the district’s transportation department, debated partnership with the Adams County Imagination Library program, and more.
After a call to order, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the agenda, and the approval of past meeting minutes, the Board recognized fellow member Sally McDaniel, who opted not to run for re-election in the last November election, and will vacate her position effective Jan. 1, 2020. Board President Charlie Bess presented McDaniel with an award for her service, and thanked her for “.the dedication and hard work (she) put in for the students of Adams County” as a member of the Board of Education. McDaniel said “ it was a pleasure being able to serve on the Board,” and wished the best of luck to Rick Davis, who was elected to the Board vacancy in November.
In his report, Treasurer Brian Switzer first made special note of three items, which were: bids for school buses, a van purchase, and box truck purchase. Treasurer Switzer explained that typically, the district had needed to purchase four or five new school buses each year. In the past couple of years, however, through the work of Transportation Supervisor Melissa Baker, the transportation department has become more efficient, and several former bus routes have been eliminated; this lessened stress on the department, and only two new school buses were requested this year. The Board publicly advertised this request statewide, taking bids for new 81-passenger school buses, and ultimately, the Board was advised to purchase them from Ohio Cat at a cost of $98,941 each. The Board also took recommendations to purchase a 10-passenger van from Townsend Ford at a price of $30,500, as well as a new box truck from Beau Townsend Ford at a cost of $43,943.50. Treasurer Switzer noted that service calls on these vehicles would go to a local dealer, in efforts to support local business. The purchase of all three of these vehicles was approved by the Board.
In concluding his report, Treasurer Switzer noted that the district had received a large amount of donations in the month of December from local businesses, organizations, and individuals. These donations, totaling over $4,000 in all, contributed toward the purchase of winter hats, gloves, and clothing for elementary school students in Peebles, the book club at West Union Elementary, and the OVCTC Children’s Home Christmas program, among other things. “We are blessed to live in a community that supports our kids,” said Board President Charlie Bess. Bess noted that several student organizations had taken on special charitable projects for the holiday season, as well.
“It’s good to see that from our kids,” said Bess. “It’s good to see them giving back.”
During discussion of these donations to the district in December, Superintendent Richard Seas suggested that instead of sending thank you cards to the donors, the district may be able to post a list of recent donations – along with a message thanking donors – on the district’s new website.
In the Superintendent’s Report, Superintendent Richard Seas explained that the new graduation requirements set by the state are yet to be finalized. Seas then mentioned Project JASON, which is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)-focused K-12 program that could help guide students to strong careers. Seas noted that there is a push within the project to partner with schools in the Appalachian region, meaning there is a chance that Project JASON could be coming to supplement the science programs at the ACOVSD schools in the near future.
Next, the Superintendent informed the Board that the school district had been invited to partner with the Adams County Imagination Library, a program which provides a free book each month to enrolled children from birth to the age of five. To join the program, Seas said, the school district would be required to designate $3000 each year toward the project. The Superintendent said that Ohio State Auditor Keith Faber had made it clear that school districts could (and can) contribute to branches of the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library initiative, and asked if the Board would be interested in partnering with the Adams County Imagination Library.
Treasurer Switzer noted that there were several different methods that the district could use to pay the required dues each year. Board Member David Riley asked if it would be possible for the district to view a list of the 60 possible books provided by the program to each child before the vote on whether to partner with it; the Board then passed a resolution stating the district’s intent to partner with the Adams County Imagination Library pending the Superintendent’s approval of the book list.
Moving forward, Board Member David Riley noted that Facilities Manager Steve Wolfe had recently dealt with a main fire panel outage in one of the ACOVSD high school buildings. This panel was equipment original to the building, and while he works on cost options for its repair or replacement, Wolfe wished to make the Board aware that similar issues could begin to occur this year in the other high schools. It was also mentioned that in a recent visit, the State Fire Marshal had made a note that current use of a room in the North Adams Elementary School was not safe.
This led the Board to discuss the fast-growing population of North Adams Elementary School. In past discussion, the Board said it had entertained the idea of moving NAES sixth grade students to North Adams High School due to the NAES climbing closer to its max capacity. Board President Charlie Bess noted that if the school’s population continues to grow, it could be a concern for the Board to address, and agreed with several other Board Members in saying that it was something to discuss sooner rather than later. The room in NAES noted as unsafe by the State Fire Marshal is a copy room or workroom used periodically by Special Education teachers for instruction.
Next, a student came to ask the Board why the guest age limit for school prom dances had been lowered from 20 to 19, effective 2020. Board President Charlie Bess said that the Board hadn’t been made aware of any issues with guests at past school functions, but explained that the guest age limit policy for prom had been changed at the request of the district’s high school principals. The Board advised the student to speak to these principals for insight into why the policy change had been recommended to them, and noted that exceptions could be made for approved guests.
After the approval of two resignations and employment of classified contracts (aides), certified substitutes, and supplemental contracts (coaches), the ACOVSD Board of Education set the date and time for its next tax budget and organizational meeting at 5 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2020. The Board also appointed Charlie Bess as President Pro Tempore for the organizational meeting, and adopted a new job description for the EMIS Assistant / Student Enrollment Data Technical Support Specialist role.
The Board then approved a first reading of the following policies and/or procedures: Agenda Format, Agenda Preparation and Dissemination, Family and Medical Leave, and Community Use of School Premises. It was noted that “Security” will be added as an agenda item in future ACOVSD Board of Education meetings. The Board then reopened a tabled item: a suggested pay raise to the Interim IT Director and Interim Systems Manager positions. This item was approved after some discussion. With no other business, the meeting was then adjourned.
