Yondr pouches to be used at Jr./Sr. High School

FOSTORIA — Having last month put in place a state-required policy aimed at keeping students from being distracted by their cell phones during the school day, Fostoria City Schools will begin to implement the use of Yondr pouches in January at Fostoria Junior/Senior High School.Fostoria Junior/Senior High School Principal Jodi Gaietto introduced the items to those in attendance at Monday night's board of education meeting and explained that the students will insert their phones and other devices into the pouch in their first-period classes, have them magnetically locked in and then carry them throughout the day until having the pouches unlocked at the end of the day.Each student will be assigned a numbered pouch, Gaietto said.Students who manage to gain access to a phone during the day are subject to discipline, she said, noting that if a student has his or her phone confiscated by a staff member, the device may only be released to a parent or guardian.During the meeting, the board approved November's financial report, a cafeteria monitor handbook and a district student wellness and success plan for 2025-26.The board accepted a total of $7,000 in donations toward the costs of the Driven Foundation's Roy Hall Jr., Workshops from the Mennel Milling Company, Roppe Corporation and the Imagine for Youth Foundation; $200 to the Caring Closet from the Fostoria Kiwanis Club, $125 to the band program from Thomas Monasmith, as well as $3,568.99 in 10 individual donations from the Schoen Foundation through DonorsChoose; $596.37 to a staff member from the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation through DonorsChoose; a total of $700 from two individual donations to the Jack and Carolyn Markoff Award; and an individual donation of $20,000 to the Ellen Gatrell Scholarship Fund. Also, seven members of the Alpha Delta Kappa sorority were recognized for receiving project grants.The board approved a renewal of the annual Ohio School Boards Association membership and subscription to the OSBA's School Management News for $7,419. It also OK'd the district's 2025-26 applications for more than $1.6 million in six categories of federal funds.Employment was approved for Angela Coopshaw, Brenda Miller and Lauren Parriotti as home instructors; Joseph Folk as a substitute teacher; Aliesha Sheridan as a substitute paraprofessional; John Hammer as a cafeteria monitor and crossing guard; Rebecca Bauer, and Lindsay Turner as cafeteria monitors; Abigail Finsel as food service team leader; Amy Miller as transportation secretary; and Amy Sierra as a crossing guard.Supplemental contracts were awarded to Darnell Cousin as Boys 2 Men advisor, Melissa Mason as high school basketball cheer coach; and Dakota Mason as junior high basketball cheer coach.Gayle Guernsey, Thomas Guernsey and Diann Hay were approved as volunteers in Fostoria Elementary School.Gary Magrum's retirement as a bus driver was accepted, as were Danielle McMonigal's resignation as a paraprofessional and the resignations of Lukas Hill as varsity assistant boys basketball coach; Brooke Albanese as advisor of the Crochet Club, Mindy Brown as advisor of the Tea Club and Chase Edwards as advisor of the Fun Figures Club.A stipend of $250 was OK'd for Deb Self as a teacher mentor for the remainder of the school year was OK'd, as was an advancement on the salary schedule for Kade Long for coursework completed.The board approved deviations from the previously approved salary schedule to provide pay raises to Krystal Baeder and Mandi Stahl.The board elected Betsy Bringman as president pro tempore for the 2026 organizational meeting, which was scheduled for 6 p.m., Jan. 13 in the board room at Fostoria Junior/Senior High School.Patrick Grine received recognition for completing 16 years as a member of the school board. Grine did not seek re-election in November; Carol Wines will succeed him on the board.Fostoria Elementary School Principal Matt Szyndler recognized Frenanda Chagala Gutierrez and Quinn Shiff as students of the month, as well as secretary Michele Holman and food service team leader Billy Reese as outstanding employees. Reese will succeed Holly Reinbolt as the district's food service director early in 2026.Gaietto recognized Jarred Faber and Kinley Filliater as junior/senior high school students of the month.