By Mike Sherfy, KnoxPages.com reporter
MOUNT VERNON – The Mount Vernon City School Board held its regular monthly meeting on Monday. All Board members were present.
President Margie Bennett welcomed the sizable number of students and parents in attendance and also reminded them that Teacher Appreciation Day was approaching on May 5th. Steve Thompson praised the many student-athletes scheduled for recognition later in the evening. Cheryl Feasel commented about a section of roadway recently dedicated to Sgt. Benjamin Laymon, a MVHS graduate who lost his life in Iraq. Mary Rugola-Dye commented upon the positive effect that School Resource Officer Jeremiah Armstrong has had on the student body. She also thanked the community for supporting the education levies that fund the school district and its sports programs.
Sherry Miglin, Assistant Principal of Mount Vernon Middle School, then introduced the school’s “Behind the Scenes” person of the month. Rather than designate an individual, however, MVMS recognized the South Vernon Methodist Church for its collective effort. Recognizing that many organizations focused on elementary school students, the church has coordinated with middle school teachers to institute a program to donate school supplies, clothing, and other necessities to middle school students in need. Reverend Lee Cubie accepted the award on behalf of his congregation.
Superintendent Seder then recognized an impressive number of student-athletes. These included Alex Ark, Rachel Parks, Caitlin Henthorne, Robert Williams, and Danae Nixon were recognized as scholar-athletes for their academic and extracurricular excellence. MVHS saw four players named to the Ohio Capitol Conference’s All-Conference Girls Basketball team, two players named to its All-Conference Boys Basketball team, and nine swimmers named to its All-Conference Swimming teams. Eleven wrestlers were recognized for their individual efforts and designated to the OCC All-Conference wrestling team. The MVHS wrestling team was also recognized as the champion team of the Ohio Capitol Conference and the Board recognized Coach-of-the-Year John Brown as well as the statisticians and others who supported the team.
After a brief intermission, Diana Rogers, Regional Coordinator for Making Middle Grades Work, presented the 2014 Making Middle Grades Work New Site Improvement Award to Mount Vernon Middle School. The award recognizes the efforts of administrators and teachers to improve their institutional practices and considers also the effect on student achievement. Participation in the Making Middle Grades Work program also generates data that can be used to devise further improvements over time.
Principal Gary Hankins then described Mount Vernon Middle School’s efforts to improve communication through the use of social media—including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. He then introduced a Powerpoint presentation—complete with music—detailing the Middle School’s “Teach Like a Pirate” program. Based on a book distributed to all middle school teachers at the beginning of this academic year, the program emphasizes Passion, Immersion, Rapport, Ask and Analyze, Transformation, and Enthusiasm—hence the acronym. The presentation included photos and descriptions of ways that MVMS teachers had implemented these ideas into practice in their classes and it was suggested that it be made available on the Board’s website for public viewing.
Deanna Badger, Art Teacher at Mount Vernon High School, then expressed her concerns about the near-elimination of upper-level art classes in the upcoming year. Because of budget cuts, she pointed out, the district was already short an art teacher. Starting with the class of 2018, all students will be required to earn one full credit of visual and performing art. Providing a basic credit to all students, however, places those students interested in pursuing a career in the arts at a disadvantage since few upper-level courses will be offered. Ms. Badger then offered several options to address that issue for the Board’s consideration.
Superintendent Seder then described the upcoming Senior Citizen’s Luncheon, scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, from noon until two o’clock at the Mount Vernon High School. The event has been growing consistently since last year. With over 200 attendees at the Fall luncheon, he anticipates another positive experience. RSVP by April 24th was requested and newsletters about the event are being distributed.
Mr. Seder also reminded attendees about the upcoming levy renewal since there were no more Board meetings scheduled before the election. He emphasized the importance of reminding voters that the renewal levy combines two existing levies—and that it imposes no new levy. The goal is to make it so the schools do not need to go back to the voters during every election cycle and the passage of this combined renewal levy is absolutely vital to the school district’s continuing upward progress.
Director of Teaching and Learning Bonny Buffington then presented a summary of recent efforts to select a program of reading and language instruction. She noted that MVHS instructors quickly determined that a Pearson product was best-suited to their needs and the Board approved its purchase and implementation last year. Middle school instructors favored Houghton-Mifflin’s “Collections” program but wanted more time to vet it more fully before recommending its purchase. The Elementary instructors, scattered across six buildings, narrowed their field to two potential programs—“Wonders” by McGraw-Hill and “Journeys” by Houghton-Mifflin. Elementary teachers have been vetting the programs all year and presented the pros and cons of each at a meeting in February and, in March, they unanimously settled on “Journeys” as their recommended overall program. A copy has been placed in the Board room for perusal by Board members and the public before the Board is asked to purchase it for implementation.
Scott Will then presented the first reading for changes to Board Policy 5408, regarding the ways that Academic Acceleration, Early Entrance to Kindergarten, and Early High School Graduation are implemented. A good deal of discussion followed regarding the potential effects of the adjustments and the ways to standardize the implementation of the policies.
Treasurer Judy Forney then presented the Open Enrollment Information for the current year and noted that the situation was much-improved over the past few years—which brought a net increase of students into the district as well as a net gain of $192,000 in revenue. Little outreach has yet been done to better determine the reasons for the change in Open Enrollment figures but the implementation of all-day kindergarten may have been a factor. Ms. Feasel suggested that it would be enlightening to determine at what grade levels open enrollment out of and into the district was most common.
Superintendent Seder noted also that some practical changes—including withholding final open enrollment acceptance until August 10th—will allow the district to better manage open-enrolled applications and to better distribute students among the district’s elementary schools. He noted also that absenteeism and truancy will be a factor in maintaining open-enrolled status.
Treasurer Forney then stated that she would prepare a slightly revised economic forecast for the upcoming year for discussion at the Board’s May meeting.
The Board accepted the donation of $500.00 from Joanna and Andy Franks for student needs at Twin Oak Elementary and the donation of a new American flag for the High School Baseball Stadium from George Curry.
It approved a number of requests for free use of facilities. These included the use of Dan Emmett classrooms and gymnasium by the Dan Emmett PTO for its Parents Night Out on 4/17, the use of the Dan Emmett gymnasium by the Dan Emmett PTO for its Mother/Son Event on 5/1, the use of the JV softball field by the Mount Vernon Mayhem Orange for softball practice on Sundays (4/5-8/1), the use of three softball fields and bases by the Ohio Storm 04 for softball scrimmages on 4/19, the use of Columbia gymnasium and cafeteria for its afterschool program retroactive to 3/23, the use of Columbia gymnasium by Darcy Ewers (Edward Jones) for T-ball practice(3/27-4/30), the use of softball fields by Mount Vernon Fastpitch Softball (8th grade), the use of Wiggin Street gymnasium by the Gambier Youth League for T-ball practice on four days in April, and the use of the JV fields by Eric Rayburn and the Mount Vernon Mayhem Black for softball practices from 4/12-7/16.
It also approved the several requests for use of facilities with applicable rental/custodial fees. These included the use of the Mount Vernon High School stadium and track by the American Cancer Society for its Relay For Life event on June 19-20 and the use of the High School cafeteria by the Knox County Granges for its County Grange Banquet on 4/27.
Mary Rugola-Dye commented at that point that the number of requests to use the school facilities demonstrates the value of the public schools to the community. She added that she hopes that voters will keep that in mind when they cast their ballots for the upcoming combined levy renewal.
The Board unanimously decided to withhold the renewal of an ongoing transportation service contract with Knox Area Transit until a minor adjustment was made to the contract to insure that the needs of all students with special needs could be effectively met. The Board agreed to renew the contract effective immediately after the language is amended.
The Board then approved a job-share arrangement with Allison Elifritz and Trina Sims for the Fifth Grade classroom at Twin Oaks Elementary for the upcoming school year. It accepted the retirements of Laura Cliff (Multiple Disabilities Teacher at Twin Oak Elementary), of Beverly Stockberger (Kindergarten Teacher at Pleasant Street Elementary), Nita Thielke (First Grade Teacher at Wiggin Street Elementary), and Cory Ward (English Teacher at MVHS). It accepted the resignations of Brock Evans (Assistant Boys Soccer Coach) and Kelley Kiser (Intervention Specialist at Mount Vernon Middle School).
The Board approved the hiring of nineteen teachers for summer school classes contingent on enrollment and need. It also hired Garry Evans, Barry Groseclose, and Kathy Luckmeier as Substitute Teachers. Danielle Burris, Jessica Dodds, Karen Donadio, Joan Fithian, Melissa Forney, Casey Gray, Jennifer Johns, Theresa Kingsmill, Kristina Lanning, and Heather Sanders as ESY Programming Teachers.
It approved the employment of Justin Todd as Dean of Students for Mount Vernon High School and approved supplemental contracts for Patrick Gray (Head Boys’ Cross Country Coach) and Courtney Rabold (Head Girls’ Volleyball Coach).
It accepted the retirement of long-time High School Library Aide Sharon Lang, effective May 29, 2015.
It hired Karen McKee (3.75 Hour Cook at MVHS) and approved the hiring of sixteen Summer School Aides (assigned as needed/pending enrollment). Pat Metcalf (District Health Aide) was hired to assist with the Kindergarten registration make-up day on August 4, 2015.
The Board then went into an Executive Session to discuss the employment and discipline of an employee.
