The Wapakoneta City Board of Education met in regular session on Tuesday, April 18, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. at Northridge Elementary School.  The meeting was called to order by Vice President Dave Copeland.  Roll call was as follows:  Sammetinger, aye; Copeland, aye; Kantner, aye; Mertz, excused due to hospitalization; and Frame, aye.  Also in attendance were Superintendent, Keith Horner; Treasurer, Susan Rinehart; Business Manager, Don Arnett; staff and administrators; students and parents; community members; and media representative.

 

          The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Vice President Dave Copeland.

 

RECOGNITION OF NORTHRIDGE STUDENTS

 

Mark Selvaggio welcomed parents, grandparents, teachers, community members, and Wapakoneta Daily News staff to the Northridge Elementary building.  He is excited about honoring students this evening.  He thanked Sheila Hutt for all her work on the certificates.  Sheila downloaded pictures of the students on the certificate with the comments from the teachers.  She did a great job, and Mark really appreciates that. 

 

The first student recognized was Emilie Brown.  Mark read what Anne Turner said about Emilie and congratulated her.  Then, Laura Frame presented Emilie with a certificate and Ron Kantner presented Emilie with a student achievement pin.

 

The next student recognized was Madie Carter.  Amy Puthoff recommended Madie.  Amy was present at the meeting and read her nominating remarks to Madie.  Next, Laura Frame congratulated Madie and presented her with a certificate, and Ron Kantner presented Madie with a student achievement pin.

 

The next student to be recognized was Elijah Etzkorn.  Mrs. Sammons recommended Elijah; however, she was unable to attend the meeting, so Mark read Mrs. Sammons’ comments.  Next, Laura Frame congratulated Elijah and presented him with a certificate.  Ron Kantner congratulated Elijah and presented him with a student achievement pin.

 

The next student to be recognized was Madison Ruppert.  Jocelyn Arnett recommended Madison and was unable to be at the meeting.  Mark read her comments and congratulated Madison.  Laura Frame then presented Madison with a certificate, congratulating her.  Ron Kantner presented Madison with a student achievement pin and congratulated her.

 

The final student to be recognized was Logan Wireman.  Cathy Beard recommended Logan and was able to be present at the meeting.  Mrs. Beard read her recommendations about Logan and congratulated him.  Laura Frame then presented Logan with a student achievement certificate.  Ron Kantner presented Logan with a student achievement pin.

 

The Board then congratulated the parents for doing a great job with the students. 

 

REPORTS TO THE BOARD

 

Band Camp – August 6-11, 2006 – Klayton Hilleary discussed band camp and asked the Board if they had any questions concerning camp.  Included in the minutes will be the letter he sent out to the parents, including the tentative itinerary and traditions for band camp, which will be held August 6-11 this summer. 

 

Laura inquired about the dates of the band camp and the fact that they coincide with the first week of fall sports.  Klayton recognized that this is a conflict, but he noted that they make accommodations so that students involved in fall sports are not excluded from band.  Also, he distributed a copy of the handbook where it notes they can do sports and music. 

 

Dave Copeland asked if parents and students were aware of this.  Klayton said he lets the kids know that they can participate in sports and also be in band.  However, the assumption is made that this is also communicated to the parents. 

 

Athletic Boosters Donations – Mike Watt introduced Eric McKinney, who is the president of the Athletic Boosters.  Eric presented the Board of Education with a check for $8,450.00 for assisting with the replacing of the soccer field scoreboard and to pay for part of the soccer uniforms.  He noted that this group used to be called the Dad’s Club, but they have combined into a new organization called the Athletic Boosters.  He said they have tried to support all sports in the past, but now their fundraising is definitely geared toward all sports.  He wanted to thank everyone for donating to them.  He said if you ever see them at a game and they are doing 50/50 tickets or programs, that is how they raise funds for athletics.  Also, he wanted to thank Keith Horner, Don Arnett, and others for participating in the fundraisers that they have throughout the year. 

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

Sammetinger moved to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing employment, dismissal and/or discipline of public employees.

 

Seconded by Frame.  Roll call:  Sammetinger, aye; Copeland, aye; Kantner, aye; and Frame, aye.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

          Upon returning from executive session, it was noted that four Board members were present.

 

ROUTINE BUSINESS

 

          Kantner moved to approve the following:

 

Minutes of regular Board meetings held March 20 and April 3, 2006, and a special meeting held March 28, 2006.

         

          Financial Reports:  monthly graphs, cash activity report, investment portfolio, operating fund (month-end expenditures), bank reconciliation, summary check register, permanent improvement fund report, and 2006 appropriations by fund/fund type/revenue summary receipt ledger.

 

          Acceptance of Donations: 

 

          Athletic Boosters         $8,450          Soccer field renovations/softball uniforms

 

Seconded by Frame. 

 

          Dave Copeland pointed out that we are at 78% expenditures for salary and fringe benefits which is within the range that we need to be to be fiscally sound.

Roll call:  Copeland, aye; Kantner, aye; Frame, aye; and Sammetinger, aye. 

Motion passed unanimously.

 

PERSONNEL MATTERS

 

          Acceptance of Resignation

 

          Frame moved to accept the resignation of Judith Ewing, for the purpose of retirement, effective November 30, 2006, after 37 years of service with Wapakoneta City Schools.

 

Seconded by Copeland.  Roll call:  Kantner, aye; Frame, aye; Sammetinger, aye; and Copeland, aye.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

          Employment of Substitutes

 

Kantner moved to employ the following substitutes for the 2005-06 school year at the appropriate rate on the salary schedule, pending satisfactory completion of criminal records checks and proper certification through the Ohio Department of Education.

 

          Steve Link                      Bus Driver

          Rebecca Noe              Paraprofessional

          Rebecca Noe              Secretary

 

Seconded by Frame.  Roll call:  Frame, aye; Sammetinger, aye; Copeland, aye;

and Kantner, aye.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

          Employment of Casual Laborers

 

Sammetinger moved to employ the following casual laborers for the 2006 calendar year, at the appropriate rate on the salary schedule:

 

          Jared Askins                  G-3              $7.00 per hour

          Thomas Hunter                S-3              $7.75 per hour

 

Seconded by Copeland.  Roll call:  Sammetinger, aye; Copeland, aye; Kantner,

aye; and Frame, aye.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

          Bus Physicals

 

Frame moved to approve the following list to perform T-8 physicals for the 2006-07 school year, to comply with the agreement between the Wapakoneta Classified Association and the Wapakoneta Board of Education, Article 29.03:

 

          John Biery

          Reeshad Buhariwalla

          V.K. Chalasani

          Thomas Freytag

          Cynthia Gaerke

          George Herman

          Parmie Herman

          Connie Ingalls

          Matthew Jose

          Stephen Justice

          William Leahy

          Jay Martin

          Rachael Mergenmeier

          S. Morris

          A.A. Paguirigan

          Nick Powers

          William Scherger

          Eric Stallkamp

          Vanessa Stallkamp

          Ishika Verma

          Laura Waldron

          Cheryl Wayman

          Sheldon Wical

          David Woodruff

 

Seconded by Copeland.  Roll call:  Copeland, aye; Kantner, aye; Sammetinger,

aye; and Frame, aye.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

          Employment to Supplemental Positions

 

Sammetinger moved to employ the following to supplemental positions: 

 

Tom Keckler          freshman baseball          volunteer             $  - 0 -

Dawn West            girls golf head coach Step 1                  $2,742.96

 

Seconded by Copeland.  Roll call:  Kantner, aye; Sammetinger, aye; Frame, aye;

and Copeland, aye.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

          Employment of Staff for 2006-07 School Year

 

Copeland moved to employ the following staff for the 2006-07 school year at the adopted rate on the salary schedule:

 

          Teachers – 1-Year Limited

          Borges, Michelle

          Thornton, Trent

 

            Teachers - 2 Year Limited

          Askins, Jill

          Baker, Misty

          Friemering, Adam

          Gant, Kelli

          Hutt, Karen

          Rettig, Nicole

          Sammons, Diane

          Schlegel, Karl

          Stubbs, Jill

 

          Teachers - 3 Year Limited

          Black, Denise

          Knoch, Carrie

          Kohler, Kara

          Sawmiller, Vickie

          Suchland, Lori

          Winter, Judy

          Yinger, Jan

 

          Continuing Contracts

          Cook, Yvonne

          Courter, Julia

          Davis, Renee

          Dickey, Jeremy

          Duncan, Desdemona

          Erb, Carol

          Kantner, Elizabeth

          Koch, Shelley

          Otto, Tracey

          Puthoff, Amy

          Romer, Lisa

          Sudman, Michelle

          Sutton, Nikki

          Valenti, Kathy

          Watson, Erin

          Wilson, Julie

          Wimmers, Steve

 

Seconded by Frame.  Roll call:  Sammetinger, aye; Frame, aye; Copeland, aye;

and Kantner, aye.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

          Employment of Substitutes for 2006-07 School Year

 

Sammetinger moved to employ the following substitutes for the 2006-07 school year at the appropriate rate on the salary schedule:

 

Teachers

Andrews, Elizabeth

Askins, Jared

Azbell, Gayle

Barber, Rachel 

Becker, Jason

Beckman, Sara

Bell, Judy            

Bernstein, John

Bledsoe, Gary

Bowersock, Josh

Britt, Eric

Bruns,  Mandi

Brunswick, Marie

Burns, Julie

Carter, Andrew

Coil, Gabriel

Crawford, Patricia

Croy, Corwin 

Crumrine, Paul

Curtis, Marcella

Dicke, Jennifer

Ebbing, Janis

Eifert, Kristy

Elsass,Eric

Eversman, Cynthia

Fleck, Jaclyn

Gegel, Tammy

Gierhart, Laura

Gigandet, Joe

Halfhill, Gary

Halfhill, Pamela

Hamrick, Karla   

Hart, Kerry

Heitz, Lisa

Herbst, Jay

Hoying, Katie

Kantner, Constance

Kantner, Kimberly

Kellermeyer, William

Kenworthy, Steven

Klaus, Mark

Kuck, Margaret

Kuehl, Shellie

Lewis, Carol

Liebrecht, Laura

McGaughy, Bethany

Miller, Kristy

Muhlenkamp, Jennifer

Mulholland, Cheryl

Nelson, Donald

Numbers, Don

Pedroza, Angela

Plaskett, Valerie

Quellhorst, Lindsay

Quinn, Susan

Rinehart, Erin

Risner, Celia

Rutledge, Margie

Rydell, Judith

Salsbury, Joyce

Scarpella, Colleen

Schmidt, Sandra

Schneider, Wayne

Schnell, Edna (Jeannie)

Settlage, Melinda

Starrett, Adam

Sunderland, Staci

Tabler, Mindy

Tallman, Thomas

Tant, Deirdre

Taylor, Michelle

Temple, G. Eric

Truesdale, Abby

Wilhelm, Benjamin

Wilt, Diana

York, Marianne

Zwiebel, Annette

Zwiebel, Andrea

Zwiebel, Brad

 

Secretaries

Bailey, Peggy

Baker, Linda

Blosser, Linda

Converse, Michelle

Craft, Julie

Creps, Kelley

Dirr, Kimberly

Eaton, Martha

Hadding, Laura

Hager, Karen

Harrod, Barbara

Kinnaman, Kathryn

Koch, Julia

Kohler, Denise

Laise, Tamara

Lautzenheiser, Sharon

Lishness, Lorene

Penlington, Carolee

Presar, Linda

Rinehart, Erin

Ruck, Dolores

Schooler, Judith

Shaffer, Nancy

Short, Cheryl

Sprague, Robyn

Thompson, Ginny

Walters, Lorrie

Zwiebel, Annette

 

Paraprofessionals

Bailey, Peggy

Blosser, Linda

Carrico, Sharon

Cheney, Jan

Conley, Paula

Converse, Michelle

Craft, Julie

Creps, Kelley

Dirr, Kimberly

Eaton, Martha

Hadding, Laura

Hager, Karen

Harrod, Barbara

Hayes, Joretta

Kinnaman, Kathryn

Koch, Julia

Kohler, Denise

Laise, Tamara

Lautzenheiser, Sharon

Lishness, Lorene

McDaniel, Liz

McPheron, Dawn

Miner, Pamela

Mosgrove, Sandra

Penlington, Carolee

Presar, Linda

Rinehart, Erin

Ruck, Dolores

Sawmiller, Paula

Schooler, Judith

Shaffer, Nancy

Short, Cheryl

Sprague, Robyn

Staples, Cynthia

Thompson, Ginny

Walters, Lorrie

Zwiebel, Annette

 

          Bus Drivers

          Carter, Linda

          Donart, Barb

          Elliott, Jill (van only)

          Elshire, John

          Holtzapple, Douglas

          Klopfenstein, Phyllis

          McCullough, Rose

          Quellhorst, Anthony

          Quellhorst, Todd

          Quellhorst, Wayne

          Schmerge, Alice

          Schroeder, Beth

          Stahler, Jennifer

          Steinke, Dwight

          Swick, Cathy

         

          Transportation Supervisor

          Koch, Julia

 

          Cafeteria

          Albers, Judy

          Eaton, Martha

          Epperson, Beth

          Lambert, Dawn

          Maxson, Rebecca

          Neargardner, Tricia

          Regula, Paul

          Schroeder, Beth

          Sheipline, Betty

          Stinebaugh, Mary

 

Seconded by Kantner.  Roll call:  Frame, aye; Copeland, aye; Kantner, aye; and

Sammetinger, aye.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

          The next Board meeting is Monday, May 15, at 7:00 p.m. at Centennial Elementary.

 

          The Franklin B. Walter dinner is Wednesday, April 19, at the High School.  One student from each school will be recognized at the dinner.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

          Satellite Agreement with Apollo Career Center

 

          Sammetinger moved to enter into a Satellite Agreement with the Apollo Career Center to offer a career-technical program at Wapakoneta High School for the 2006-07 school year, per terms as attached.

Seconded by Kantner.

 

          This is a typical agreement that all schools which have a satellite program enter into with Apollo.  Wapakoneta City Schools has a manufacturing technology class.

 

Roll call:  Copeland, aye; Kantner, aye; Sammetinger, aye; and Frame, aye.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

HEARING ON SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION ABOUT HEATHER

BUCHANAN

 

Dear Mrs. Buchanan,

 

Based on my investigation of your conduct surrounding the administration of the achievement test in March of 2006, I will be recommending that the Board of Education initiate proceedings to terminate your teaching contract of employment for immorality, good and just cause and/or under R.C. § 3319.151.  I also will recommend that the Board of Education suspend you, without pay, effective April 19, 2006, pending final action to terminate your contract of employment.  I anticipate that the Board will consider and act on my recommendations at its meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 18, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. at Northridge Elementary in the gymnasium.

 

          The basis for the recommendations I will make is as follows:

 

1.     You assisted your students to cheat on the math achievement test in March 2006 by reviewing the assessment instrument booklet prior to the day of the test and conducting a preparation activity that included questions, tasks, graphs, charts, passages and/or other materials in the assessment instrument that are highly similar in content to those in the actual assessment instrument.

 

2.     You assisted your students to cheat on the math achievement test in March 2006 by reviewing the assessment instrument booklet prior to the day of the test and conducting a preparation exercise that focused primarily on the format of the assessment instrument, rather than on the objectives being assessed.

         

 

3.     You assisted your students to cheat on the math achievement test in March 2006 by engaging in conduct that does not comply with, or has the appearance of not complying with, statutory and/or regulatory provisions related to the security of assessment instruments used in school wide and district wide programs.

 

          The conduct identified by the individual paragraphs above, viewed in combination with some or all of the conduct enumerated by the other paragraphs, constitutes grounds for termination for immorality, other good and just cause and/or under R.C. § 3319.151.  This conduct equates to assisting your students in cheating on the achievement tests and is prohibited under R.C. § 3319.151.  Furthermore, the Directions for Administration booklet makes it clear that such conduct is unethical and inappropriate.

 

Evidence in support of these charges shall consist of the testimony of students, Principal Ray Payne, as well as your own admission to the following: you developed a worksheet containing 20 questions similar to the questions on the math achievement test.  You distributed the worksheet on Wednesday, March 8, 2006, and allowed your students to complete the worksheet with a partner.  The math achievement test was then administered to the students on Friday, March 10, 2006.

                                                          Sincerely,

                                                                    Keith Horner, Superintendent

 

HEARING OF THE PUBLIC

 

          The first person who spoke to the Board was Kim Holloway.  She made the following statement on behalf of the Wapakoneta Education Association:

 

          On behalf of the Wapakoneta Education Association, I am here to voice support for my fellow educators.  The WEA hopes that recent events surrounding testing issues do not overshadow the years of dedication this teacher has given to the children of the Wapakoneta City Schools.  The WEA hopes that the teacher being investigated for testing issues be recognized for having been an excellent teacher and otherwise excellent employee for the district, as has been reflected over the years by evaluations given to her each year by her building principals.  This teacher is a dedicated career educator whose first concern has always been the children.  We hope that the public and the media will not forget the many ways in which this teacher has touched the children of this district. 

 

          Heather Buchanan made a statement (copy is included in minutes).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

          Sammetinger moved to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing employment, dismissal and/or discipline of public employees.

 

Seconded by Frame.  Roll call:  Kantner, aye; Sammetinger, aye; Frame, aye; and Copeland, aye.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

          Upon returning from executive session, it was noted that four Board members were present, and the following statements were made:

 

          There will be a special Board meeting on Thursday, March 27, at 7:00 p.m. at the High School. 

 

          Resignation Agreement and Release of Sherri Burnett

 

          Laura Frame stated she would like to bring forward an item for consideration by the Board.  Each Board member should have a resignation agreement and release signed by Sherri Burnett dated April 18, 2006.  Laura asked if each had had a chance to review the document.  The response was yes. 

 

          Frame moved that the Board approve this resignation agreement and release. 

 

Seconded by Sammetinger.  Roll call:  Frame, aye; Copeland, aye; Kantner, aye; and Sammetinger, aye.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

          Frame moved to adjourn at 10:17 p.m.  Seconded by Sammetinger. 

Sammetinger, aye; Frame, aye; Copeland, aye; and Kantner, aye. 

Motion passed unanimously.

 

 

 

                                                                   _______________________________

                                                                   President

 

 

                                                                   _______________________________       

                                                                   Secretary