Wellsville Board of Education

Monday - June 14: The BOE held their June meeting this past Monday in the School Superintendent's Office on Center St. Present at the meeting was Board President Ed Bauer and Board Members Tom Brophey, Mike Cook & Karen Dash. Also present was District Treasurer Colleen Wickham, Superintendent Rich Bereschik, WTA President Darlene Allison, OASE Representative Ed Swogger and five Varisty football coaches.

For the Financial Report Wickham reported that the month May ended with $1.96 million balance in the General Fund. Expenditures for the month was $588,783 and receipts were $607,322. The General Set-Asides Fund remains unchanged at $736,160. The balance at the end of May for all funds is $4.5 million. Interest income for May was $4,543.75 and year-to-date interest totals $50,138. Mrs. Wickham noted interest earned from the district's CDARs leads all investments this year.

Legislative liaison Brophey reported that with an overwhelming grass roots movement State officials are dropping the proposed requirement of the mandatory 30 minutes of exercise per day in the Healthy Choices-Healthy Children legislation. They were convinced funding is not available for the school districts. The requirement for healthy food being served in the schools will remain. Brophey advised that is federally funded. WTA President Allison reported that teacher contract negotiations are in a holding pattern to give the School Board time to shop around for the best insurance rates. OASE Rep. Swogger reported the district has 15 young adults working for the district through the County Jobs & Family Services Summer Jobs program. Swogger said with their assistance all buildings & grounds will be in spic & span condition in time for the All-Class Reunion visitors.

For the Good News Report Bereschik reported that 68 seniors received their diplomas at graduation ceremonies. He advised that the generosity displayed at this year's Class Day Awards was mind boggling with all the scholarships awarded. At Garfield Elementary, students & staff raised $417 in a jump rope marathon for the American Heart Assoc. Another $1,048 was raised for the Pennies for Patients project. The kindergarten got a $150 grant for Earth Day activities. The elementary school was designated a Silver level winner of the Buckeye Best Healthy Schools. Congratulations were sent out to students Anika Thrasher, Delainey Mellott, Shannon Joy, Dominik Vallera and Jayda Jones for being winners in the EL City Hospital coloring contest.

The Board retired into an Executive Session for 33 minutes for a WLTA grievance - Level IV. No comment or additional action was taken when they returned.

The following personnel moves were made: Justin Gunther was approved as a volunteer Varsity Assistant football coach. Retirements were approved with regret & best wishes for Betsy Young & Toni Sawyer. Young retires after 35 years as a Middle School Health/Phys. Ed. educator. Mrs. Sawyer came to WHS 13 years ago, has a total of 23 years in education and was the high school science teacher. The resignation of Band/Choir Directer Jennifer Gooch was also accepted with regrets and hopes for best wishes. When Mrs. Gooch started there were 17 students in the band. Now there are 42 with prospects of that number climbing to 50. Matt Jordan's resignation as Spirit Club advisor was accepted and Nicole Whitaker was approved as Junior Class Sponsor for next school year. Mark Childers & Mark Railing were approved as Golf Coaches for 2010-2011. Lyndsy Kelly was given the nod to be a volunteer Cheerleading Coach.

The Franciscan Univ. Nursing Dept. was approved to have student nurses work with the district for their clinical requirements. Lifetouch National School Studios was accepted for next year's school pictures. Complying with Auditor's recommendations the Board agreed to require "then & now" purchase orders for any purchase over $3,000. Anything over $3.000 requires Board approval. The purchase order has to be approved by the District Treasurer to insure funds are available before anything is bought. Wickham explained that this procedure was seldom used when purchasing food for the cafeterias stating funds were already budgeted and available. The Auditors recommended purchase orders be used just in case. The Board also approved a budget adjustment in the amount of $170,017 to cover actual expenses since last October. Temporary appropriation of $2.9 million was approved for the budget to get the District to next October. An amount of $13.8 million was approved for Fiscal Year 2010.

A field trip to Pittsburgh Zoo was okayed for the Camp Air Summer Reading program and a field trip to Kennywood was given the go ahead for the Camp Air Counselor's program. In accordance to Ohio HB1 a job description was approved for a Family & Civic Engagement Coordinator. Mr. B explained the job description was require but there are not any plans presently to hire anyone for this position.

Pictured above with Board President Ed Bauer in the middle are Miss Emily Barlow and Dr. John D. Foley. Motions were approved to hire Miss Barlow as the new Band/Choir Director and Dr. Foley as the new principal of Daw Middle School.

Miss Barlow just completed her studies for her Masters Degree in Music at WVU. While at WVU she worked as a grad assistant teaching aural theory. Barlow is an East Liverpool resident, a Potter and Youngstown State alumni. She holds certificates to teach music from pre-school through Grade 12. Over the years she has worked six Band Camps, some of them with Mrs. Gooch.

Dr. Foley is a Steubenville resident and has worked in school administration the last 10 years in the Bellaire School District. Prior to that he worked 10 years in the retail sector. Foley holds certificated for Middle School Principal (Grades 4 through 8). He earned his BS Degree in Literature, his Masters Degree in School Administration and his PhD in Business Education. Foley has a total to 13-1/2 years in education.

Both new members to Wellsville's education family were welcomed aboard by all members of the Board and the Superintendent. We apologize for the fuzzy picture. All you got to do Ed, is pick up the phone & say Nib bring your good camera. You won't be required to give away any secrets...

Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 12 at 6:30 P.M. in the Superintendents Office.

ole nib