Wellsville BOE Meets

The Wellsville Board of Education held their regular monthly meeting this past Monday, April 16, in the high school media room. BOE President Karen Dash presided.

District Treasurer Coleen Wickham reported that March expenditures were $809,131, receipts were $808,329 leaving a General Fund balance of $1.6 million. There was no change in the General Set-Asides Fund. Interest earned on investments in March was $2,897.86.

An overview of the High School Building Leadership Program was presented for members of the board and guests by the BLT staff. The goal of the leadership team is to improve state mandated math test scores by at least 2% by 2013. Working toward that goal was implemented this year. Next year they will add working on a reading improvement goal. Each “building” in the district has a BLT and program which the students have enthusiastically welcomed. Students are given concentrated assistance to improve their math understanding and ability. Some receive specialized tutoring and all are eligible for incentive to improve awards. At the high school the awards range from pizza parties, movie days, gift cards and to get their name in a drawing for an ipad.

Mrs. Dash reported that Garfield Elementary 3rd-grade students will be taking state achievement reading tests on April 24 and math achievement tests on the 26th. The Garfield 3rd Graders will be participating in an Arbor Day program sponsored by the Wellsville Tree Committee on April 27.

Daw Middle School students will be taking their state achievement tests from April 24 through May 4. Make-up tests will be taken May 7 through 11. Daw 7th & 8th Graders will be leaving on a Washington, D.C. Field trip on May 10.

The high school the student of the month is Lizbeth Bickel, daughter of Renee & Roger Bickel. The High School Spring Music Concert will be Friday, April 20, starting at 7 PM in the Auditeria.

Tom Brophey announced that he was recently in Columbus for meetings. In his Legislative Update report Brophey advises that the Ohio Dept. of Education is coming out with many changes. One change on the drawing boards is the report card grading system. The OSBA is recommending school boards ask for a one-year waiver to allow the state to get their standards in place. Brophey added there will be “several technical amendments to the bi-annual state budget”.

The Board approved renewing one, two & three-year contracts for a list of 14 teachers. They also approved several non-renewals of contracts for temporary short-hour professionals, substitutes, volunteer & supplemental contract coaches effective at the end of the school year. This is an annual procedure required by state law. Most contracts will be renewed for the next school year. Two field trips to the Pittsburgh Zoo was approved and will take place in May.

After a question was raised on the price of prom pictures the Board rejected renewing a contract with Lifetouch National School Studios for next school year. The company takes photographs of student groups, dance pictures and individual students. They are located in the Canton area. Prom picture packages are $60 this year which include 2-8X10s, 2-5X7s & 8 wallets. The question raised was if smaller, less expensive packages were available. Superintendent Rich Bereschik recommended voting no and he will try to get more information from the company.

A list of 51 graduating WHS Seniors was released. Although uncertain it was felt that the Class of 2012 is one of the smallest in modern times. This year's graduating class will be the 137th Commencement in Wellsville history.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:49 PM. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 21, at 6:30 PM. The May meeting will take place at Garfield Elementary, 1600 Lincoln Ave.

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