Cardington-Lincoln Board of Education members heard from a number of district departments.

Superintendent Brian Petrie reported on the Tomorrow Center whose board had met earlier in the day. He said the Center is doing very well.

“Their goal last year was between 120 and 130 students. They started out with 100,” he said. “This year they began the year with 125 students. They come from a large geographical area- some from Richland, Crawford, Morrow, Delaware Counties andsome from Marion,” he said. He noted the resident districts have agreed to help transport students with the Crawford County School sending a bus here.. “We pick up the kids from Marion County Schools at Tri-Rivers where we send a bus.”

He said the center has nine certified staff members and teachers and five aides. He noted that as part of the lease “we provide one and one half custodial staff members and we share maintenance with them. “

Petrie said with Don Wick’s resignation from the Tomorrow Center Board there is currently a vacant position with the organization.

Incoming board members must be approved by the Cardington-Lincoln BOE and must live in the district served by the Tomorrow Center.

He said the building, which was vacant for awhile, is now being utilized with the Tomorrow Center, Head Start and the Digital Academy using the classrooms.

Petrie recognized 11 Cardington-Lincoln students who had won honors at the recent Morrow County Fair and 25 who had won recognition at the Ohio State Fair. He said each of these students will receive a certificate from the board.

Katie Porteus, the high school librarian, addressed the board in hopes that they rehire Mindy McGinnis an aide who resigned.

She voiced her concerns that the junior high and high school students are currently given very limited access to the library.

“The reassignment of (McGinnis) as a classroom aide, which led to her resignation, has resulted in the library being closed for more than half the day as I teach class and supervise study hall as well as the other two libraries in the district,” said Porteus.

She stressed the need for a quality school library program to improve information literacy, internet safety, research skills and understanding of plagiarism.

She noted that McGinnis has offered to return to her position on a part time basis, without benefits, in order for the library to remain open to students and staff and added that she has been volunteering weekly to help with clerical duties.

Treasurer Jon Mason submitted the monthly financial report, which he termed as “improving.” It was approved . Also approved were the appropriations for 2017 budget wise. He noted the general fund is approaching $12 million; all funds are $14.9 million.

The board approved the modification of a supplemental position changing

the Related Department Chair to”Special Education” Department Chair.

Severance pay for Mindy McGinnis was approved. Also approved was

the reimbursement of Mobile Device Plans for Exempt Staff Members not

to exceed $50 per month: Brian Petrie, Joseph Mills, Jennifer Zierden, Scott

Hardwick and John Nippert.

Petrie asked for a meeting in October regarding the District Records Retention Committee and also reminded the board of the reduction in bond mills hearing on Sept. 26.

By Evelyn Long

The Sentinel

Approved by the Cardington-Lincoln Board of Education:

Appointment of Lorelei Heineman to the Cardington-Lincoln Public Library for a term of seven years beginning Jan. 1.

Certified contract for the 2016-2017 year was approved for Jane McClish,elementary MH, one year and classified contract for 2016-2017 was approved for Phillip Gaulin, aide, one year for four hours per day. This is a replacement position.

The following pupil activity contracts for FY 17 were approved for Lori Vance, junior high cheer – half contract; Joey Reed, junior high cheer, half contract; Corey Slack, assistant band director; Masey Stone, volunteer

junior high/high school cheer; Alexander Clemetson, volunteer cross country; Phillip Gaulin, bus/parking montor and Tracy Williamson, fall play director.

All pupil activity contracts expire June 30, 2017.

A supplemental contract was approved for Kirsten Ebert, high school student council and Alexander Clemtson, was approved as an aide on an as needed basis.

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