Superintendent Declares Wellsville Football Field Not For Sale

Monday – March 19: The Wellsville Board of Education held their monthly meeting yesterday evening in the Superintendent's Office. BOE President Karen Dash presided with Board members Tom Brophey, Mike Cook and Bill Miller attending. Also present was Superintendent Rich Bereschik, Garfield Principal Lisa Ferguson, Girls Basketball Head Coach Ed Swogger and Building Leadership Team members Darlene Allison, Anne Cartwright, Betty Ann Phillips & Bob Rudder.

With the absence of the District Treasurer, Board Member Tom Brophey was named Treasurer Pro Tem. The Treasurer's Report was accepted and the payment of bills was approved. For the month of February receipts were $629, 299 and expenditures was $619, 296 leaving a General Fund balance of $1.6 million. There was no change in the General Set-Asides. Interest earned on investments for February was $2, 813.

Building Leadership Team leaders Darlene Allison and Anne Cartwright briefed the Board and visitors on the progress of the District Leadership Team (DLT). Allison and Cartwright are co-leaders for the Daw Middle School team in addition to being members of the DLT. The DLT is a group of teachers, administrators, BOE members and community members working together to identify critical needs of the school district, make a plan of action to correct any educational short comings and implement that plan. The overall goal is identify the needs of Wellsville students and work with them to correct any deficiencies.

The DLT is going into their third year of the project. After organizing and setting goals it was shown that the critical needs of the district was math and reading skills. A very detailed plan was developed and is now being implemented with emphasis on math. In addition to in-school tutoring activities the DLT has enlisted the help of Wellsville's First Christian Church. That church now has a regular Wednesday after school program from 3 to 5 PM for the youth of the community. It's an activity that provides recreation, a meal and extra tutoring for any student needing additional attention. A grant was obtained by the Family & Community Resource Center to provide a nutritious meal for the students each Wednesday.

State Legislature liaison Tom Brophey reported that the Ohio Dept. of Education (ODE) has submitted an application for a waiver for key provisions of the No Child Left Behind Education Act for elementary and secondary schools. ODE estimates that 90% of Ohio schools will be considered failures under that George Bush law because they estimate they will not be proficient in math and reading by the mandated 2014 deadline. Nearly 40 states have submitted applications for waivers that will be reviewed by the US Dept. of Education.

In the Good News category President Dash reported that the BUG Awards were given out to Garfield students that brought up their grades. Principle Ferguson added that there were 233 people attend the recent Garfield Parent Teacher Conferences. The Daw Middle School student of the month is P.J. Sosack, son of Mary Ann & James Sosack. Eighth grader Michael Reiner was the winner of the County Spelling Bee. He is the son of Paula & Bill Reiner. Michael will be participating in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC at the end of May. Daw Seventh grader Raven Yeany placed sixth in the bee. Anne Cartwright reported arrangements have been made for Daw Middle School class officers to place a wreath in a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. The ceremony will be part of the annual field trip for 7th & 8th Graders to our nation's capitol. The high school students just completed the Ohio Graduation Tests. Results are expected back in mid-May. The OGT is a state mandated test that all students must pass to be eligible for graduation. Induction into the National Honor Society will be held on Tuesday, March 20. High School Guidance Counselor Bob Rudder added five seniors and 11 juniors will be inducted. The annual Military Ball will be held March 24. The high school student of the month is Amanda Russell, daughter of Cathy & Paul Russell. Coach Swogger went on record congratulating WHS Senior Mikyla Tipton for setting a new all-time basketball scoring record at the school. Tipton finished her high school career with a total of 1,543 points. She broke record in a home game against Sebring on February12.

Superintendent Bereschik reported that clean-up of the old Sterling China property the District purchased has begun. That property is located behind the high school. Bereschik also emphasized that despite Wellsville rumor to the contrary the football field has not, repeat not, been sold. Apparently a rumor has been circulating that the field has been sold.

In personnel moves the retirement of Daw Middle School teacher Jeanne Waggoner, effective May 31, was accepted with regrets and best wishes. Waggoner has been with the district for 21 years. Assistant Softball Coach Kristen Cochran was replaced with former Volunteer Coach Joe Soldano. Cochran resigned to take the Head Coaching job at Southern Local. John Dalrymple was named to the volunteer position. Contracts were renewed for High School Principal Linda Rolley and Daw Middle School Principal John Foley. Retired teacher Janice Snyder was approved to be placed on the substitute teacher list. Christa McIntosh & Anne Cartwright was named as additional chaperones for an overnight field trip to Cleveland's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the high school band in April. Finally the Board approved Wellsville Attorney Chris Amato to be the speaker at WHS's 137th Commencement.

The meeting adjourned at 7:47 PM. The next scheduled meeting is Monday, April 16 at 6:30 PM in the Superintendent's Office.


ole nib