HOUSTON — The Hardin-Houston Board of Education met Monday, Feb. 15, for a regular meeting.
At the meeting the board approved an additional kindergarten class. Superintendent Larry Claypool said, because of having students that come to us each fall that are not kindergarten ready for any number of reasons, the BOE has elected to create a new kindergarten academic delivery model option that will endeavor to catch up those young five year old candidates with an extra year of intense literature and math interventions while, at the same time providing additional assistance with other early education issues that can take place at that age and slow the development of the child as they move onto first grade and beyond.
This extra year class will be available as an option beginning the 2016-17 school year, as long as there are enough candidates that fall within the screening requirements to make up a class. Screening for kindergarten students will happen this April and have at least one follow up screening over the summer to early August. A possible second follow up screening will be decided later, if necessary. Out of the screening results, they’ll identify any student who may benefit from this new opportunity.
The board approved a resolution to make public to the Ohio Department of Education the Past Charter School Deductions from State Funding. Claypool said public school districts all around the state, (I’m guessing somewhere around maybe 40 or more by now) have sent similar resolutions to ODE, because of the deducted state foundation dollars being taken from the local school districts and awarded to charter schools.
“Non-charter schools that are public receive a portion of the state foundation $5,900 per child payment and make up the difference with local tax dollars. The issue that has caused such a stir around the state is that charter schools receive the whole $5,900 for the student which includes the public school district’s local tax dollars, which when previously voted on by the community tax payers was meant to be spent in the community’s public school for the good of the local district, not sent to a for-profit charter school,” Claypool said.
Also at the meeting, the board approved a settlement agreement with Reiter Dairy. The district purchases their milk from Reiter Dairy through a purchasing council, the Southwest Ohio EPC, along with over 90 school districts in the area.
“The EPC discovered a discrepancy in pricing over the past several years, and investigated. They reached a settlement with Reiter Dairy on behalf of all of the school districts involved. The amount of $3,470.73 was Hardin-Houston’s portion. Each district had to approve the settlement agreement in order to resolve the situation,” Treasurer Amy Ayers said.
The board also voted to authorized Ayers to receive bids for the telescoping gymnasium bleacher replacement project.
On Monday, the board voted to employ:
• Julie Adams on a one-year limited contract as a bus driver, for the 2015-2016 school year, contingent upon successful background check and proper licensure, at $20.55 per hour.
• Seth Clark as junior high boys track coach for the 2015-2016 school year, contingent upon successful background check, at a rate of $1,249.77.
• Carie New as a long term substitute teacher.
They also accepted the resignation, with regret, of Scott Bayless high school golf coach.
The board approved early graduation for Devron Cupp-Howery, Hope Epley, Kelsey Spears and Gage Timmons, pending successful completion of all state and school district requirements.
In other business the board:
• Approved all treasurer recommendations.
• Approved the 2016-2017 school calendar.
• Approved the Service Agreement between the Midwest Regional Service Center and Hardin-Houston Local School District, providing Special Education Supervision/Gifted Services.
The next board meeting will be Monday, March 21 at 7 p.m. in the Hardin-Houston Media Center.
