HOWARD — East Knox’s school board approved a motion to form a kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum committee, specifically with parental involvement.
Board member Matt Schwartz made the motion to form the curriculum committee Thursday evening.
“If we all get on the same page about the kids, what I’m thinking is it would take some pressure off the board, it would take some of the pressure off teachers, if you have parents involved too,” Schwartz said.
No further action was taken by the board regarding the timeline for formation or how committee selection will occur.
Before the motion, the board approved a resolution approving the current academic curriculum, instructional materials and textbooks for use in the district’s schools, retroactive August 1, 2021, which included the stipulation that the board reserves the right to review, add, delete and/or amend curriculum at any time.
This resolution served as a measure to clarify and fulfill the board’s current responsibilities regarding curriculum, explained board members, Supt. Steve Larcomb and treasurer Jessica Busenburg Thursday. School boards have the responsibility to vet and approve curriculum and educational materials for use in the public schools within their district under Ohio Revised Code.
In other business, the district will be receiving a credit of approximately $400,000, which is expected to be redirected to the district’s elementary addition project.
The district’s junior/senior high school construction project is ahead of schedule and under budget, so the board approved a change order from Elford Inc., the company heading the project, for a partial credit of contingency funds in the amount of $397,203.97.
“They can release that from their contract and lower their contract by that amount, which then frees that money up to be used in other places,” Busenburg said.
During the board’s March meeting, senior project manager for Elford Construction, Scot Matthews, said the estimated cost for the elementary addition project had increased due to increased material and labor costs across the country.
Therefore, the partial credit will help cover the costs, in addition to other existing funding streams: $2.6 million Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief III funds and a tax anticipation note of $2.8 million, which is from the district’s established continuing levy.
This said, there is no finalized budget for the elementary addition project at this time. The board is expected to vote on the specific parameters of the construction project at the May board meeting.
Summer school and the JumpStart Program will begin in the coming months.
Specifically, the board approved summer school and JumpStart for incoming Kindergarten through current fifth grade students Monday through Thursday, August 15-18 and August 22-25. The board approved summer school to be offered to current seventh through 12th grade students at the junior/senior high school building from June 6 through July 1.
All summer school costs will be paid from ESSER funds.
Athletic accomplishments were highlighted Thursday by Larcomb, who said the district intends to re-start inviting students to board meeting for recognition, which the district had ceased doing with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
East Knox’s recent winter awards for athletics include:
Girls Basketball
- Alexandria Magers: KMAC 1st Team, District 11 1st team, Central District 3rd Team
- Laura Keith: KMAC 2nd Team, KMAC All-Academic, District 11 2nd Team, Central District 2nd Team, All-Ohio Honorable Mention
- Anjel Montgomery: KMAC Honorable Mention
- Shanda Malick: District 11 Honorable Mention, Central District Honorable Mention
Wresting
- Blake Elliott – KMAC weight class campion, KMAC 1st Team, Sectional Champion, District Runner-Up; State Qualifier
Bowling
Chip Pozderac: KMAC Coach of the Year
- Will Jensen: KMAC 1st Team
- Dylan Reed: KMAC 1st Team
- Chloe Stevens: KMAC 2nd Team
- Olivia Nastasi: KMAC Honorable Mention
- Lucas Barnard: KMAC All-Academic
Boys basketball
Ryan Powell: All-District 11 Head Coach of the Year
- Shane Knepp: KMAC 1st Team, All-District 11 1st Team, District 11 player of the year, All-Central District 1st Team, Central District Player of the Year, All-Ohio 2nd Team
- Peyton Lester: All-District 11 2nd Team, Central District 3rd Team
- Dillon Moreland: KMAC Honorable Mention, All-District 11 2nd Team, Central District Honorable Mention
- Sam Whitney: KMAC All-Academic, All-District 11 Honorable Mention
