School board to spend more on repairs

NEW RIEGEL — New Riegel Superintendent Elaine Nye informed board members Monday that a change order has been made by John G. Johnson Construction after revealing additional needed repairs to the facility totaling $19,058.49. Since then, they have uncovered more problems with the interior walls that may result in another $20,000 change order. Repairs are being made after officials discovered water damage to the facade of the facility as a result of improperly completed work when the facility was under construction in 2003. The school district sued the Ohio Schools Facility Commission, the architect and the contractor hoping to gain additional funds to assist with costs. Nye has prepared letters inviting State Sen. Dave Burke, State Rep. Bill Reineke and State Rep. Wes Goodman to view the remedial work in progress. Nye said 22 kindergarteners have committed to attending New Riegel and board members discussed splitting into two classes next year. The consensus was to divide the class and Nye was directed to provide a motion to that effect for the next meeting. A kindergarten teaching position had been abolished during the April 10 meeting, but the teacher had been given a possible three-year call back period. Twenty-two students have verbally committed as new open enrollment students with another 10 making final decisions. The district has 77 open enrollment students returning. Principal Dave Rombach said results from the third-grade reading test are expected Thursday and they will be mailed to parents with an explanation. He also said new world history textbooks are being purchased for sophomores. Treasurer Jane Schalk said the audit has been completed and reported making payments to John G. Johnson Construction totaling $458,300 thus far. Board members entered into two executive sessions. One was to discuss the employment of personnel and the second was regarding the sale of property. In other business, the board: • Approved expending public funds to purchase coffee, meals, refreshments or amenities for professional development/meetings, staff recognition and service awards, and items for bereavement as a means to promote health, safety, morals, general welfare, security, prosperity and contentment of participants. • Transferred $8,530.45 from the General Fund to the Termination Benefits Fund. • Approved temporary appropriations for fiscal year 2018 totaling $4,003,900. • Approved the district liability, fleet and property insurance for the period July 1-June 30, 2018, with the Ohio School Plan through Hylant Group at a cost of $24,462. • Approved the purchase of a 15-month, $800,000 certificate of deposit from First National Bank of Sycamore. • Approved the Tiffin Community Foundation Grant for the purchase of golf equipment, to establish a fund and appropriate $1,000 for this purpose. • Amended the monthly health insurance set-aside transfers from the General Fund to the Dental, Vision and Medical Funds. • Approved revisions to the district's Ohio Association of School Business Officials Section 457 plan as recommended by the OASBO, effective April 1. • Hired Mary Yeager as curriculum consultant, not to exceed 30 days of service beginning July 1, at a rate of $300 per day. • Hired Brandon Arbogast as an adult summer cleaner June 5-Aug. 18 as needed. • Accepted the resignations of Jordan Gonzales as seventh-grade boys basketball coach and Aaron Schalk as eighth-grade boys basketball coach. • Non-renewed all spring sports coaches. • Approved supplemental contracts for the 2017-18 school year. • Approved volunteer assistants for the 2017-18 year: Aaron Schalk, junior high basketball coach, and Grant Lescallett, weight room. • Approved Janet Ink as third-grade intervention instructor for six hours as needed at a rate of $16 per hour. • Authorized continued membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association for 2017-18. • Entered into a contract with PT Services for physical and occupational therapy July 1-June 30, 2018. • Allowed All Saints Parish to use a school bus July 16 for a youth event at a rate of $0.87 per mile plus the cost of the driver. • Entered into an agreement with the Seneca County Board of Developmental Disabilities for services for the 2017-18 school year. • Entered into a five-year contract with Coca-Cola for exclusive beverage sales July 1-June 30, 2022. • Approved payment of $19,058.49 to John G Johnson Construction for a submitted change order for repairs to the facility. • Approved 28 board policies. • Approved the 2017-18 Athletic Code of Conduct, Drug Testing Policy and Student/Parent Handbook. • Established the pay for retiree Steve Bouillon as junior high athletic director, 1/8 day for 184 days, and as spring high school athletic director, 1/8 day for 28 days. The board is to meet at 7 p.m. July 10.