Wellsville Board of Education

Monday - Sept. 13: The Wellsville Board of Education held their regular monthly meeting this past Monday evening in the Superintendent's Office on Center St. Present at the meeting was Board President Ed Bauer, V.P. Tom Brophey and Members Karen Dash & Bill Miller. Also in attendance was Superintendent Rich Bereschik, Garfield Principal/Asst. Superintendent/Federal Programs Coordinator Lisa Ferguson, District Treasurer Coleen Wickham and Mrs. Rita Koopman.

For the Financial Report, Mrs. Wickham advised August expenditures were $536,956, receipts were $656,693, leaving a General Fund balance of $2.25 million. Expenditures for text books & capital outlays from the General Set Aside Fund was $69,097, leaving a balance of $565,256 in that fund. Interest on investments for August was $4,368. Mrs. Wickham noted interest rates are "about the same". The Board approved total appropriations of $13.2 million for FY 2010-2011.

For the Legislative Report, Mr. Brophey reported that Ohio is one of nine states plus the District of Columbia, selected as winners of Round Two-Race To The Top grants. Ohio will be awarded $400 million over the next four years to accelerate the education reform initiatives. In the November elections there will be 99 seats in the Ohio House of Representatives, 17 Ohio Senate seats, the Governor, Secretary of State, the Attorney General, State Auditor and State Treasurer to be decided.

In the Good News Report, Mr. Bereschik advised the Wellsville School District had a really smooth opening of the new school year. He also announced the district is in Phase II with the Ohio Improvement process developing a Building Leadership Team to work out strategies to reach the goals set forth by last year's District Leadership Team. M. B congratulated Lisa Ferguson noting that Garfield Elementary has been honored as being rated an excellent building with distinction by the P16 Council.

In other good news Mrs. Ferguson offered congratulations to the Garfield students, staff and families on an "Excellent" report card rating. Reading scores had a 20% increase over last year's scores.

The Board approved a one year contract for Maxine Rockhold as a Grade 4 Language Arts & Science teacher and for Emery Brewer as a short hour employee at the Daw Middle School cafeteria. Mr. Brewer is now known as Emeril for his "equisite" chocolate pudding. Also approved was the resignation of Rita Koopman as Garfield secretary and appointing her as the District EMIS/eSIS Coordinator. Cindy Reed's voluntary transfer to Garfield secretary was given the affirmative nod. Mallory Yajko was approved for Asst. Varsity Volleyball coach. Jasmine Richardson was named 7th Grade Volleyball coach and Christina Thompson as 8th Greade Volleyball coach.

Seven people was approved as Intervention Tutors through the ARRA for the new school year. Jordon Williams resignation was accepted as a tutor from that program. Mr. Williams accepted a permanent position with BOSS. The resignation of Dara Plate as Daw Cheerleader advisor was accepted and Lyndsy Kelly was appointed to that position for both football & basketball. Beth Swogger was appointed Senior Class Advisor. Bill McComas' resignation as 7th Grade Girls Basketball Coach was accepted. Six people each were approved for both the Certificated & Classified substitute lists.

The Board also approved contracts with CC ESC for 10 different services. Bereschik advised not all of them are used and the District only pays for the services that are actually used. The NEOLA Board Policy of Terms & Conditions of Acceptable Coaching Practices as recommended by the District's legal advisers was adopted. Tom Brophey was appointed delegate to November's OSBA Conference with Karen Dash being the alternate.

Mentors for new teachers appointed were Janice Snyder for Band & Choir, Marilyn Carr for High School Science and Darlene Allison for Daw Language Arts & Science. Payment in lieu of providing transportation was approved for a list of students attending St. Als, Buckeye Local and American Spirit Academy under open enrollment. The amount will be calculated by the Ohio Dept. of Education. The Board also accepted the revised Student Accident Report for a more detailed Student Incident Report as recommended by the Nursing Assoc. A contract with ACCESS was also approved for FY2011. This is for getting information reported to the State for reimbursements. An agreement with the CC Board of Development Disabilities was approved. Finally a resolution opposing unfunded or underfunded State & Federal mandates was accepted. The resolution will be filed with the OSBA.

In closing comments Mr. Miller remarked that he was impressed with how "really great" Daw Middle School looked on a recent visit. Mrs. Dash remarked that some 60 5th & 6th Graders trip to Camp Fitch was very nice and it was a good time. The students learned a lot. Brophey announced the OSBA Trade Show has been rated #1 in the nation and recommends all to visit it. He also noted that the number of students in the State taking the ACT tests have increased with over 89,000 or 66% of 2010 graduates taking them last year. Both Mrs. Dash & Brophey congratulated Mrs. Ferguson on the excellent rating for the Garfield building. President Bauer wrapped it up remarking there are some things that never grow old hearing about referring to the Garfield rating. Mrs. Ferguson added they are shooting for the School of Promise honor. If awarded it will be the third time in four years.

The meeting adjourned at 7:08 P.M. Next meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 11 at 6:30 P.M. in the Superintendents Office.

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