Wellsville Board of Education Meeting

Wednesday - December 16: The regular monthly meeting of the BOE was held Wednesday evening in the Superintendent's Office. All Board members were present along with Superintendent Rich Bereschek, Treasurer Colleen Wickham, Board member-elect Bill Miller and two students from Mr. Meek's Government Studies class.

For the Financial Report, Wickham reported the General Fund has a $2.7 million balance as of November 30. Expenditures for November was $567,456 with receipts at $505, 108. Mrs. Wickham stated interest rates continue to be low. Interest on investments was $4,489 for November with year-to-date interest earned totalling $23,318. Out of the budget $557,391 was set aside for new text book purchases and another $487,781 for Capital Outlays.

For Legislative Updates, President Tom Brophey reported on State Senate Bill 318. Brophey stated the Wellsville School District stands to lose $1,543,759 in funding in the next two years if the Ohio Senate doesn't work out a compromise with the Governor's proposed budget and the legislation in House Bill 1. The deadline is December 31 for the Senators to get something resolved. Brophey advised he is following this closely.

Brophey also reported that a hot issue with the Ohio School Board Assoc. is the new program for Nutrition & Physical Education. If enacted it will increase PE credit from one-half unit to a full one requiring a minimum of 30 minutes of PE per day. It will require licensed PE instructors to run the gym programs. It will also introduce screening for Body Mass Index for the students. Bereschek remarked it is another unfunded mandate that will increase the current required two semesters of PE per year to four. For the Wellsville District it will also require the hiring of one more licensed PE teacher.

Mike Cook reported for CC Career & Technical Update that Wellsville currently has 31 students attending CCC&T classes. Sophomore visitations were held last week with very favorable feed back from the visiting students.

For Buildings & Grounds, Mr. B reported that new freezers have been installed in the Middle School. He also advised that maintenance personnel have been busy working over night on a leak in the steam heating system in the Middle School.

For the Good News Report, Bereschek congratulated the Garfield students for their very entertaining performance for the Christmas program. He said both shows were packed and commended Jennifer Gooch & Janice Snyder on the great job they did.

Middle school students have been collecting toys to donate to the Lindsey Salsberry Memory program her parents organized for patients in Pittsburgh's Childrens Hospital. The aim of the program is to provide at least one Christmas present for each child in the hospital's Cancer/Oncology Unit.

Thanks to stimulus funds awarded to the district there are four tutors preparing students at the Middle School for their Ohio Achievement tests. Also, Mrs. Debi McVay has initiated a new reading intervention program for 4th grade students having problems with reading skills.

Middle School Principal Jim Brown has started a new rewards program entitled "Caught Bee-ing Good". Teachers & staff members nominate students caught doing a good deed or service. A name is drawn each Friday and the winner is awarded a personal pan pizza and a spot on the school's Wall-of-Fame.

In the high school the Leo Club raised $400 with a walk-a-thon and tag day for Care & Share. The Leo Club teamed up with the Y-Teens and Student Council raffling a gift basket which made $476 that was donated to Toys for Tots.

Board members approved the annual organizational meeting to be held following the regular meeting on January 11. Ed Bauer was selected to serve as President Pro-Tem for that meeting.
Columbus legal firms Bricker & Eckler, LLP and Peck, Shaffer & Williams was approved to be retained as the district's legal services representatives dealing with matters related to personnel, student rights, school business & finance and other such matters. A resolution to adopt the 403(b) Retirement Plan agreement was passed. According to Mrs. Wickham this plan keeps the IRS happy.

Coach Dave Skinner was approved to return as the Head Football and Football Summer Physical Fitness coach for the 2010 season. Ms. Lauren Flood was approved to be the new Athletic Trainer replacing Maria McNicol. Mrs. McNicol accepted the PE teacher job at the start of the new school year. Jason Carter & John Stoakes were approved as unpaid volunteers for the Boys Basketball program pending receipt of all necessary paperwork.

In closing remarks Danielle Meek said her time as a Board member has been very educational and she has thoroughly enjoyed it. She wished good luck to new member Bill Miller. Meek did not run for re-election. She also expressed her pleasure with the good reports she has been getting on the athletic programs with lots of students participating.

Ed Bauer remarked that the four years serving with Mrs. Meek went quick. He thanked her for her service saying Danielle was a big help with the day-to-day operations. Mr. Bauer also remarked on the potential funding loss saying five or six years ago the district was "in the soup". The district was able to work through it and that is a good reflection on the staff & management employed in the Wellsville school system. Bauer concluded the district can work through it again if the State Senators fail to get a deal worked out.

Mike Cook wished everyone Happy Holidays. He also wished Mrs. Meek good luck stating that she hit the ground running upon entering office. Cook stated that her knowledge was a big asset to the Board.

Karen Dash stated it was a pleasure working with Mrs. Meek. Dash went on to report on the District Leadership Team of which she is a member. The Team consists of 18 classified and unclassified individuals. One member is a "civilian" from the community's business sector. The Team studies various reports and look for ways to make improvements.

Tom Brophey wrapped things up adding he agreed it was a pleasure working with Mrs. Meek and she will be missed. As previously mentioned, he again said that as Legislative Liaison he will continually follow the progress on SB 318. That bill covers some of the loop holes in the Governor's new two year budget that cut back school funding across the state.

Next meeting is January 11, 2010 at 6 P.M.

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