SIDNEY — The Fairlawn Board of Education discussed options to establish the third Workforce Partnership of Shelby County classroom in the county at Fairlawn during their regular meeting Thursday.
Also, the board elected new officers and established a new regular monthly meeting night.
Superintendent Jeff Hobbs informed the board of a planning committee currently looking at options to renovate the school’s media center to establish a career planning classroom. The organization has previously created classrooms in the Sidney City Schools and Fort Loramie Local School districts.
The Partnership group works to provide training and employment opportunities for high school students to better fit the skills and need of the local labor force. The nonprofit organization creates working relationships with private and public organizations.
In December, the board joined with the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center Governing Board to serve as the business advisory council to represent Fairlawn to the Workforce Partnership.
As the plans take shape, Hobbs said the committee will meet with the Workforce board of directors in February to discuss the organization’s funding of the new classroom.
During their reorganizational meeting, the board unanimously elected Andy Brautigam as board president with Mike Henman chosen as vice president for 2018. The meeting was also marked the first session for newly-elected board member Shelly Ginter.
In other action, the board established a service fund for board members in the amount of $10,000. The money will be used to pay expenses needed for board members to perform their duties. In addition, the board members will be paid $80 per meeting, not to exceed 13 meetings.
The board also approved the donation of $100 each from members Brautigam, Henman, Bob Gold and Rita Gilfillen.
The board agreed to change their regular monthly meeting to the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in Room 122 beginning in March. Next month, the meeting will remain on the second Thursday, Feb. 15.
Several athletic coaches were offered one-year limited service contracts by the board. By unanimous vote, they include for track, Tim Cummings, varsity head coach, $3,897.39; Olivia Cummings, assistant coach, $1,694.52; Aaron Cox, assistant coach, $1,694.52; Todd Heckman, head junior high coach, $2,846.78; and, Mark Ward, volunteer assistant coach.
The board also determined track athletes involved in winter activities would do so at their own expense. The standard resolution is required for school boards to allow the athletes to compete in winter indoor track competition by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Other coaching hires include Adam Lessing, varsity baseball head coach, $3,897.39; Dave Jones, assistant baseball coach, $1,694.52; Michelle Broaddrick, head softball coach, $3,897.39; and Megan Dudgeon, assistant softball coach, $1,694.52; Dennis Davis, fifth-grade boys intramurals coach, $610.03; Barry Westerbeck, sixth-grade boys intramurals coach, $508.36; and Christopher North, fifth and sixth-grade girls intramurals, $1,016.71.
In other business, the board:
• Designated Gilfillen to serve as the board representative in upcoming salary and benefits negotiation with the Fairlawn Teacher’s Association.
• Passed annual resolutions to waive the oral reading of minutes during meetings; requesting tax advances from the county auditor; authorizing the investment of school funds; and the allow the superintendent to hire temporary personnel and serve as purchasing agent.
• Renewed the membership in the Ohio School Boards Association and participation in its legal assistance fund at a rate of $250.
• Accepted donations of $1,000 to the Fairlawn Junior Model UN Club by the Fairlawn Local Boosters; and, of $65 to the Adopt-a-Family program by the Greenview United Church of Christ in Plattsville.
