Wellsville Board of Education

Monday - February 8: The February BOE Meeting was held Monday evening in the District Superintendent's Office. Present at the meeting was Board V.P. Tom Brophey, Board Members Mike Cook, Karen Dash and Bill Miller. Also in attendance was District Superintendent Rich Bereschik, Assistant Superintendent/Garfield Principal Lisa Ferguson, Treasurer Coleen Wickham and OAPSE Representative Ed Swogger.

The Treasurer's Report was approved. For the month of January expenses totaled $645,495. Receipts were $503,733 leaving a balance of $1.74 million. There is $736,160 in the General Set-Asides Fund. This fund is for acquiring new text books and capital outlays. Interest earned in January on investments was $4,546. Wickham reported that interest rates remain dismally low. Bills for January totaled $761,958.

Tom Brophey reported that the State of Ohio is ranked the fifth best in the USA for education. There will be an OSBA Legislative Conference held in March.

CC Career & Technical Center Representative Mike Cook reported the last meeting was the annual organizational meeting. Student numbers are up at CCC&T. Wellsville has 30 students attending classes there. The majority of them are half-time students where they spend half of their school day at CCC&T and the other half at WHS for their academic requirements.

Ed Swogger reported other than snow removal everything else has been fairly quiet. Swogger noted the outstanding job done by all keeping up with the snow. Discussion was held on the dire need for the purchase of a plow equipped, four wheel drive truck. Presently the district only has one piece of equipment for heavy snow removal. Swogger noted if it wasn't for the generous use of personal equipment by other employees and the assistance of the Village of Wellsville's Street Dept. they would not have been able to keep up with the recent snow falls.

For the Good News Report, Bereschik reported that as of Monday there were three calamity (snow) days left for the school year. With classes being cancelled Tuesday & Wednesday that number drops to one day left before the school year will be forced to extend for make-up days.

Bereschik went on to congratulate everyone that participated and was involved with the District's Spelling Bee. Sixth Grader Michael Reiner took the championship. Second place went to 8th Grader Domenica Cartwright. Another Sixth Grader, Todd Payne won third place and Fifth Grader Hunter Ulbright won the alternate spot. There were 36 students to participate in the two hour bee. The three top spellers will now move on to the County Spelling Bee. All 36 participants are winners in our book.

Lisa Ferguson reported that Mrs. Zelasko continues to improve. Ferguson also reported that there were 18 parents to participate in the "skills & deals" January math session at Garfield.

WHS Class of 2010 Senior activities were approved. That includes a trip to Cedar Point May 21 and the Senior Banquet on the GoodTime III in Cleveland May 24. Due to increasing costs the banquet was switched from Pittsburgh to Cleveland this year. Students will be transported by school bus to both events. Class Day is May 27 and graduation is May 30.

NE Ohio Legal Association (Neola) Policy 5460 for the OGT was approved. Bereschik explained the change is a flexible credit earning program where students can test out of a subject before taking the whole course. It's a new program from the State Dept. of Education which will be gradually implemented. Beginning this year Spanish & math will be the first subjects. Others will be added next year. Bereschik remarked if a student successfully tests out of a subject the District will have to find something else for them to do to meet the time requirement required by state law for a complete school year. Students will not be able to shorten their school year with the new policy.

Pending receipt of all necessary paperwork Catherine Wozniak was approved for the substitute teacher's list, James Bayer as a substitute custodian and Cody Wilt as a substitute cafeteria employee.

In closing remarks all the members thanked the staff and Village employees for the excellent job keeping up with the snow removal. Mrs. Dash noted they all do a good job. Dash also wished good luck to Girls Basketball Coaches Ed Swogger & Mike Cook for the balance of the regular season and the upcoming District Tournament. Cook noted that Sophomore Mikyla Tipton is the area leading scorer in girl's basketball and invited all to attend one of their exciting games. Mr. B noted that the rascal, vacationing Ed Bauer keeps him informed of the weather conditions in Florida.

Next meeting will be in the Superintendent's Office Monday, March 8, at 6:30 P.M.

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