The Wapakoneta City Board of Education met in regular session on Tuesday, January 17, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. at Wapakoneta Middle School.  The meeting was called to order by Vice President Dave Copeland.  Roll call was as follows:  Sammetinger, aye; Copeland, aye; Kantner, aye; and Frame, aye.  Mertz arrived at 7:20 p.m.  Also in attendance were Superintendent, Keith Horner; Treasurer, Susan Rinehart; Business Manager, Don Arnett; administrators; grandparents; parents; students; and media representative.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Vice President Copeland.

 

RECOGNITION OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS

 

Ray Payne welcomed the parents, students, staff, community members, and Board members to the Middle School.  He is very proud of the three students they will be honoring this evening, who are Kaleb Page, Kayla Behr, and Alex Wiles.  These students are an exemplary example of the three rocks of the Middle School mission this year.  The rocks are Reading, Citizenship, and Student Responsibility. 

 

Mr. Payne then introduced each of the teachers, including Assistant Principal, Vickie Bidwell, as the teachers and Vickie read the recommendations for each student.  The first student recognized was Kayla Behr, and Mrs. Braun read the recommendation from the team (Mrs. Braun, Mrs. Wellington, and Mrs. Wittenbrink).  The next student honored was Kaleb Page.  Mrs. Quatman read the recommendation from her team (Mr. Wayman, Mr. Minnig, and Mrs. Paula Quatman).  The last student recognized was Alex Wiles, and Mrs. Bidwell read the recommendation from the 7B Team (Mrs. Riffle, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Niemeyer, and Mrs. Ruppert).  Laura Frame presented each of the students with a certificate from the Board of Education, and Dr. Ron Kantner handed each student a pin and congratulated them.  Board members are very proud to be able to recognize students at each of the Board meetings.  They thanked the parents for doing such a great job with the students and noted that they should be very proud of their children.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

7-06            Sammetinger moved to go into executive session for the purpose of considering the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official, or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual, unless the public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual requests a public hearing.

 

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

 

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

 

REPORTS FROM THE BOARD

 

Willie reminded the Board members they need to let the office know who will be attending the Apollo dinner.

 

Laura Frame presented an update on Northridge (copy included in minutes).

 

Dave Copeland commented that Centennial is doing a good job.  Things are going well there.  He also commented that the Board received another anonymous letter.  He reminded the community that in order to address and respond to problems and concerns, the Board needs to know how to contact the community member.  He also assured the community that the Board would not tolerate repercussions for people expressing concerns about the schools.

 

Dave commented that he thinks we might need to review one of our policies on staff communication to the Board.  He would like that modified.

 

REPORTS TO THE BOARD

 

          Keith Horner read the following:

 

          Recognition of Board Members/Proclamation

 

WHEREAS, it shall be the mission of the Wapakoneta City School District to provide all students with the best possible education; and

 

WHEREAS, the school board sets the direction for our community’s public schools by envisioning the community’s education future; and

 

WHEREAS, the school board sets policies and procedures to govern all aspects of school district operation; and

 

WHEREAS, the school board keeps attention focused on progress toward the school district’s goals and maintains a two-way communications loop with all segments of the community; and

 

WHEREAS, serving on a school board requires an unselfish devotion of time and service to carry on the mission and business of the school district; and

 

WHEREAS, the school board must respond on behalf of the community to the educational needs of students; and

WHEREAS, the school board voluntarily accepts the above-mentioned responsibilities;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, Keith Horner and Susan Rinehart, do hereby proclaim January 2006 as “School Board Recognition Month” in the Wapakoneta City Schools.  We encourage all citizens to publicly and privately thank the school board members from all school districts serving this community for their dedicated service to our children.

 

ROUTINE BUSINESS

 

8-06            Copeland moved to approve the following:

 

Minutes of regular Board meeting held December 19, 2005 and organizational meeting held January 4, 2006.

         

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

 

Acceptance of Donations:

 

Brands Lake Fishing Club, Inc.         $822.46     

Rotary                                                  $150.00            HS Showchoir

Lima Community Church                      $ 50.00       HS Showchoir

 

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

 

PERSONNEL MATTERS

 

          Retirements

 

9-06            Frame moved to accept the resignation of Gary Hensley, for the purpose of retirement, effective May 31, 2006.

 

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

 

10-06           Copeland moved to accept the resignation of Suzanne Moser, for the purpose of retirement, effective May 31, 2006.

 

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

 

          Employment of Cafeteria Employee

 

11-06           Copeland moved to employ Peggy Wireman as a food service hourly worker at the Middle School, at the rate of $9.40 per hour (step #1), 2 hours per day, effective January 18, 2006.

 

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

 

          Resignation from Supplemental Contract

 

12-06             Sammetinger moved to accept the resignation from Scott Engle,

Freshman Baseball coach.

 

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

 

          Employment of Supplemental Contracts

 

13-06           Sammetinger moved to employ the following supplemental positions:

 

Jason Brandt          Head Baseball                          Step #4          $4,418.25

Gabe Coil               Baseball Asst.                      Step #4          $3,540.65

Curtis Helsinger   Baseball – JV                         Step #4          $3,540.65

Matt Henderson    Baseball – Freshman             Step #2          $2,965.68

Jerry Krebs            MS Baseball (8th)                       Step #1          $2,057.82

         

Mark Law               Head Track                     Step #4          $4,418.25

Mark Cook             Head Track                     Step #4          $4,418.25

Mark Schlosser      Track Asst.                      Step #4          $3,540.65

Dan Lee                Track Asst.                      Step #4          $3,540.65

Todd Crow             Track Asst. – MS                     Step #4          $2,663.06

Jeremy Dickey     Track Asst. – MS                     Step #4          $2,663.06

Bart Smith                      Track Asst. – MS                     Step #4          $2,663.06

Abby Truesdale      Track Asst. – MS                     Step #1          $2,057.82

Adam Friemering    Track Asst. – MS                     Step #1          $2,057.82

 

Bill Sammons      Head Softball                           Step #4          $4,418.25

Dan Allison                    Softball Asst.                      Step #4          $3,540.65

Bill Dellinger       Softball – JV                         Step #4          $3,540.65

Rick Snider                     Softball – Asst.                      Step #3          $3,238.03

Joe Sawmiller      MS Softball (8th)                       Step #1          $2,057.82

         

Darrell Heintz        Boys Tennis (1/2)            Step #4          $1,770.33

Chris Schwinnen   Boys Tennis (1/2)            Step #4          $1,770.33

 

Jason Campbell      Volunteer Varsity Boys Baseball                      ----

 

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

 

Employment of Supplemental Contract

 

14-06           Copeland moved to employ the following supplemental position:

 

Nick Sammetinger          MS Baseball (7th)             Step #1          $2,057.82

 

Seconded by Kantner.  Roll call:  Mertz, aye; Copeland, aye; Frame, aye; Sammetinger, abstain; and Kantner, aye.  Motion passed, 4 ayes, 1 abstention.

 

Employment of Substitutes

 

15-06           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 ODE:

 

Gabe Coil                       Substitute Teacher

Steven Kenworthy           Substitute Teacher

Angela Pedroza                Substitute Teacher

 

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

 

          Maternity Leave/FMLA/Unpaid Leave of Absence

 

16-06           Kantner moved to approve a maternity leave/FMLA/Unpaid Leave of Absence for Nikki Sutton beginning November 3, 2005, and continuing  through approximately February 21, 2006.

 

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

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Appointment to Wapakoneta City Recreation Board

 

17-06           Sammetinger moved to appoint Mike Watt as a voting member of the Wapakoneta City Recreation Board for a term of five (5) years from January 20, 2006, through December 31, 2010.

 

Seconded by Frame.  Roll call:  Sammetinger, aye; Copeland, aye; Frame, aye; Kantner, nay; and Mertz, aye.  Motion passed, 4 ayes, 1 nay.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

          Next Board meeting is Tuesday, February 21 – 7:00 p.m. – High School – High School students to be recognized for achievements.

 

Apollo All Area Boards Dinner will be Thursday, February 9, 2006, at 6:00 p.m.

 

The Board will have a meeting on January 31, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. at the Gardenia Office.  The purpose of this meeting is to discuss personnel issues.  There will be an executive session only, with no action to be taken.

 

The Middle School is asking for volunteers.  Their 6th graders will be studying important people and having their annual biography fair on February 10, 2006.  They will be having sessions in the morning and the afternoon, and they need judges for the student projects.

 

Ron Mertz addressed the Board with the following Summary from the President for 2005:

 

Ron noted 2005 was a great year.  A lot of things happened in 2005, including changes in personnel.  The Board had a member, Kevin Jones, resign due to a change in jobs.  Ron noted that Kevin was a very good member and he brought a lot of good ideas to the Board.  They appreciated his serving as a Board member.  His leaving the Board did allow the Board members to interview great prospects for his replacement.  They were lucky to have Laura Frame take Kevin’s place.  Laura has been a delight.  She is the first female the Board has had for several years.  She has a very positive attitude and adds a lot of value to the Board.  Also, Superintendent Dean Wittwer left to take a position with a larger school district up north.  The Board was lucky and pleasantly surprised the community by hiring Keith Horner as Mr. Wittwer’s replacement.  Ron commended Don Arnett for the guidance he has been able to give Keith.  He also thanked Susan for assisting Keith. 

 

The Board has continued a program of recognizing student achievements.  The Board members are very proud of this and will continue student recognition in the future. 

 

The Board added a building assignment to each member this year, and that has been going well.  They have discussed plans for a performing arts center/auditorium.  Also, Ron Mertz wanted to recognize the staff members for doing a great job.  We have great athletics and academics.  One of the things the Board has tried to do in the last year is listen to the public.  2006 should be another great year.  Ron is looking forward to it. 

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

18-06           Sammetinger moved to executive session for the purpose of considering the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official, or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual, unless the public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual requests a public hearing, with no action to be taken except to adjourn.

 

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

 

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

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

19-06           Sammetinger moved to adjourn at 9:39 p.m.  Seconded by Kantner.  Roll call:  Frame, aye; Kantner, aye; Mertz, aye; Sammetinger, aye; and Copeland, aye.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                          _______________________________________

                                                          President

 

 

                                                          _______________________________________

                                                          Secretary