RUSSIA — The Russia Board of Education met Nov. 18 in regular session. In the meeting the board voted to approve the purchase of 28 Apple Computers from Apple, Inc. totaling $28,988.
In addition, the board accepted donations of $59.90 from Russia Coalition of Academics for educational supplies and $1,225 from Honda of America for the LEGO Robotics Program.
The board voted to employ Ted Oldiges as a long-term substitute teacher for the 5th and 6th grade science starting with the beginning of the staff member’s extended leave through the remainder of the 2015-16 school year.
They also employed Angie Petty, Carrie Heuing and Rodney Counts as after varsity boys basketball game custodians for the 2015-16 school year on an as-needed basis.
The board approved two days of unpaid leave for Gay Booher to attend an educational trip through Edison Community College and a half a day of unpaid leave for Jennifer Wysocki to travel abroad. They also approved her to take a semester sabbatical leave starting on Jan. 19, 2016 until the end of the 2015-16 school year, pending the hiring of a qualified substitute teacher.
They approved the following students to participate in the 2015-16 Indoor Track and Field Season on behalf of Russia Local School: Lauren Heaton, Molly Kearns, Anna Fiessinger, Emily Bohman, Shae Goubeaux, and Grace York.
In other business:
• Superintendent Steven Rose reviewed the textbook adoptions for grades K-12. There are many textbooks which are in need of being replaced in the coming years. The discussion also included the possibility of using more consumable sources for certain subjects.
• Rose discussed the timing of the annual State of the School Address. This will be done in the spring this year as opposed to the fall.
• The board approved the eighth grade Washington D.C. trip from Oct. 18 to 23, 2016. They also approved Missy Monnin as the staff representative for the trip.
• They approved the snow removal agreement with Paulus Excavating. LTD. for the 2015-16 school year on an as needed basis.
• Students from Mrs. Poeppelman’s 3rd grade class presented the board with their creation of a “Buddy Bench” to be placed in the playground area. This is part of the schools character education program this year called Character Education A-Z: Designed by You and Me!
• Jessica Shelby Pitsenbarger, new high school math teacher, was present to address the board on her first year as a teacher at Russia.
• Principal Karen Bensman reported high attendance for parent-teacher conferences. All was well received. She also reported on the high participation in College Credit Plus courses. The board approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Russia Education Association and the Russia Board of Education concerning College Credit Plus tuition reimbursement.
