SIDNEY — Two members of the Sidney City Schools Board of Education announced Monday night they will not be seeking re-election to the board when their terms expire at the end of December.
“Paul and I will not be running for terms in November,” said Board President Bill Ankney. “I encourage residents to get their petitions in for the election.”
In order to run for the seats, the person must reside in the Sidney City Schools district and be a registered elector in the district. Each petition must have 75 valid signatures of registered voters who reside in the school district. The filing fee is $30 and all petitions must be turned in by Wednesday, Aug. 9, by 4 p.m. at the Shelby County Board of Elections.
The Shelby County Board of Elections will hold a training session on June 7 at 7 p.m. at the board office to teach people how to fill out their petitions.
“I’d like to thank you for giving us a chance to help the district,” said Ankney.
Heins joined the board of education in 2014. Ankney has been on the board since 2010.
A presentation about the 5th Grade Boys Group at Northwood Elementary School was presented by Principal Eric Barr and counselor Megan Williams. Student Seth Smedley also talked about what he has learned from the group.
Barr said the group was created to help fifth-grade boys develop their social skills and behavior without taking time away from the classroom. The nine-week after-school program met on Mondays for 45 minutes. There were seven students in the program.
The program, said Barr, was created to teach the boys respect, responsibility and to prepare them for middle school.
“Five of the seven students have had a drastic decrease in behavioral referrals,”said Barr.
During each week of the program, a different community member or Sidney City Schools staff member was a guest speaker. The students sent out thank you notes after hearing the speakers each week.
Seth’s parents, Mike and Tracy, said having Seth enrolled in the program has made a big difference in his life.
Barr said Seth was a frequent visitor to the office. Since the group began, Seth has gone seven weeks without getting a detention.
“I’ve learned about taking ownership for my actions,” Seth told the board of education. “I have to take responsibility for my actions and don’t blame others.”
The board also honored Elliot Wilson, NourEddine Hijazi, Joseph Douglas and Anthony Mitchell for their accomplishments at the state Business Professionals of America competition.
In other business, the board:
• Accepted the retirement resignation of Vickie Freisthler, custodian, effective June 30, 2017.
• Accepted the resignations of Jennifer Lichty, Sidney High School math teacher, effective Aug. 1, 2017, and Richard Engleken, transition school coordinator, effective April 15, 2017.
• Hired Erika Brux as a substitute custodian on a one-year limited contract at $13.19 per hour effective May 30, 2017, for the 2016-17 school year.
• Hired Larry Hoel for seasonal work on a one-year limited contract at $14.31 per hour effective May 22, 2017, for the 2016-17 school year.
• Hired Tove Russell as a cook on a one-year contract for the 2017-18 school year at $10.85 per year.
• Approved transfers for Wince Morris from aide to transition school coordinator at $17.39 per hour effective Aug. 21, 2017; and Tori Purk from fulltime floating substitute to intervention specialist at $37,567 per year effective Aug. 15, 2017. Both transfers are for the 2017-18 school year.
• Awarded one-year supplemental contracts to Jamie Fridley, heads boys soccer coach, $3,757; and Lauren Stefancin, head girls basketball coach, $6,386.
• Approved a three-year agreement with the Western Ohio Computer Organization to provide Internet access and support from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2020 at $12,372 per year.
• Approved a three-year agreement with the Western Ohio Computer Organization to provide IPphone service and support from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2020 at $23,620 per year.
The board’s next meeting will be Monday, May 15, at 6 p.m. at the board of education building.
