‘Mindplay’ pilot program to be used at 3 Sidney schools

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SIDNEY — A pilot reading program will be tested in three schools within the Sidney City School District.

According to Superintendent Bob Humble, the “MindPlay” reading program will be piloted at Emerson Elementary School, Sidney Middle School and Sidney High School. Humble and Emerson Principal Mike Moore shared the news with the board of education during its meeting Monday night.

The program at Emerson, said Moore, will be for students in grades one through four. Students will be reading 30 minutes through the MindPlay program four or five times a week.

“They say for every 20 hours the student reads, they will increase one grade level in reading. For a student with an IEP, it’s 40 hours of reading,” said Moore.

Each student will have 30 hours assigned to them through the program. If the district opts to continue with it, the student will gain an additional 30 hours.

The program was created by Janet Bliss, who didn’t learn to read until she was 45 years old. She was a dyslexic learner and faced the challenges of learning to read.

Moore also told the board the school year has started well and he’s pleased with the progress the students are making.

“Now for the bad news,” said Moore. “We have a lot of kids in crisis, suffering trauma and are foster kids. The counselor and I can’t get up with the case load. I had four kids in my office today (Monday).”

Moore said he feels he’s not qualified to help the students and they are working toward a solution so all students are helped.

Moore said the school has celebrated Right to Read Week, Grandparents Week and Family Night so far. New playground equipment is being installed at the school.

At this point of the school year, 32 fourth-grade students still perfect attendance, said Moore.

Supplemental contracts for winter coaches were approved at the meeting. Receiving contracts were John Willoughby, head boys basketball coach, $8,513; Jeremy Keaton, junior varsity boys basketball coach, $4,266; Scott Hooks, assistant varsity boys basketball coach, $5,030; Christian Taylor, freshman boys basketball coach, $3,096; Wade New, eighth-grade boys basketball coach, $2,709; Bill Shoffner, seventh-grade boys basketball coach, $3,482; Lauren Stefancin, head girls basketball coach, $6,965; Tim Tennant, junior varsity girls basketball coach, $4,256; Dave King, eighth-grade girls basketball coach, $3,657; Erica Scully, seventh-grade girls basketball coach, $3,482; Mary Jannides, head swim coach, $4,063; Anna Gagnet, assistant swim coach, $1,548; Clayton Westerbeck, head wrestling coach, $8,513; Ryan Shurts, assistant wrestling coach, $3,482; Dan Brulport, freshman wrestling coach, $3,482; Bill Blosser, SMS wrestling coach, $1,935; Joe Spangler, SMS wrestling coach, $3,657; Trent Knoop, head bowling coach, $3,096; Taylor Adami, assistant bowling coach, $1,935; and Kyle Coleman, winter strength coach, $1,161.

In other business, the board:

• Approved payment of excess student cost to Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities in the amount of $21,834 for the 2016-17 school year and up to $24,000 for the 2017-18 school year.

• Approved Edward Sharpe, Christina Keller, Emily Lichtenberg and Miranda Knight as substitute teachers. They will be used on an as-needed basis and will be paid $90 per day.

• Employed Michele Hammer,substitute custodian, $14 per hour, and Doris McEvoy, substitute cook, $10.06 per hour, on a one-year limited as-needed contract.

• Employed Bonnie Deck as a substitute Latchkey aide at $11 per hour on an as-needed basis.

• Adopted policies dealing with bylaws, administration, program, professional staff, classified staff, students, finances and operations.

• Modified the contract for teacher Leah Fullenkamp with a reduction of 27 days.

• Went into executive session to consider the employment of an employee for the school district. No action was taken.

The board’s next meeting will be Monday, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m. at the board office.

Spectra Contract Flooring employees Kenny Byler and Martin Byler install playground equipment at Emerson Elementary School Tuesday morning. Old playground equipment was removed from the site for the installation of the new equipment. The project is being funded by the school’s PTO.
https://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2018/11/web1_EmersonPlayground.jpgSpectra Contract Flooring employees Kenny Byler and Martin Byler install playground equipment at Emerson Elementary School Tuesday morning. Old playground equipment was removed from the site for the installation of the new equipment. The project is being funded by the school’s PTO.

By Melanie Speicher

[email protected]

Reach the writer at 937-538-4822.

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