CARDINGTON — Superintendent Brian Petrie addressed several topics when the Cardington-Lincoln Board of Education met in regular session Monday, Oct. 7.

He described the differences between the two major groups associated with the school. Groups such as the Cardington-Lincoln Education Foundation, the Pals of Pirates, Cardington-Lincoln Music Boosters and Cardington-Lincoln Athletic Boosters are classed as non-profit and 501(C)3 can operate tax-free. They have their own by-laws, but can’t do fund raisers.

Groups such as the Spanish Club, FFA, etc. are activity accounts and managed by the district treasurer, he said. The board approved the acknowledgment of both groups and their status.

In other business:

  • Petrie commended the village employees for their work in solving the town water leak that affected the school. He said Danny Wood, the village administrator, worked long hours to solve the problem. He was impressed with the way they did things that the EPA wanted.

    He explained the leak found near the railroad on Park Street drained the water tower. “They were really good to work so well with us.”

  • Giving his report was treasurer Jon Mason who said “things have settled and looking good.” Referring to the five year financial forecast, he said looking three years ahead, “so far so good.”

    “Although it is an October forecast, we are on the upswing,” Petrie said.

  • Mason recounted $100,000 spent on student technology devices in the 2017-28 school year and that included more than 200 new Chromebooks. Also replaced was snow equipment, and a new fifth new bus in three years, additional bus cameras and a nine passenger van. All of this was paid from the general fund day to day operations, he said, which comes from state and local funding sources, including real estate and school district income taxes.
  • Petrie reviewed the recent ODE Report Card – comparing our district to neighboring districts. This is the first year the district was given a district letter grade – a “C,” matching that of two other county districts. He broke down the different areas on which the district was graded.
  • The board approved the negotiated agreement with the Cardington-Lincoln Faculty Association effective Oct. 8, 2018 to July 31, 2020 with one abstention.
  • Also approved were the following classified contracts: Nicole Hiett, substitute aide, substitute bus driver and substitute secretary, retroactive to Sept. 1; Mandy Cole, substitute aide and substitute secretary; Collette Jones, substitute aide and substitute secretary and Sarah Shade, substitute aide and substitute secretary, retroactive to September 12, 2018.
  • The status of Alan Long, continuing contract, was modified moving from custodian to maintenance effective Aug. 27.
  • The following coaches were awarded contracts, all effective winter 2018-2019: Nick Withrow, head boys basketball; Paul Kuhn, junior boys basketball; Kevin Fitzpatrick, freshman girls basketball and Amy Berkshire, junior varsity girls basketball.

The resignation of Jennifer Etgen, aide, was accepted effective Sept. 25.

By Evelyn Long

The Sentinel