“We start on Aug. 8 with our first-year teachers and going over the policy manuals at each building,” Mellon explained. “On Aug. 9, we begin the school year with a half-day of in-service with the staff. The following Monday and Tuesday we continue that in-service. Our students arrive on Aug. 14 to begin the school year.”
An update on the project was given during last week’s school board meeting. Superintendent Charles Mellon said Technology Coordinator Rob Evans and Kris Aschbrenner gave the update to the board.
The board members did act on the budget discussion during the regular meeting.
“They did approve advertising the budget we had worked on so that is in the hands of the newspaper people at this time,” stated Mellon.
In another action item, the board approved an insurance premium contract for underground storage tanks.
Superintendent Charles Mellon explained that the field lighting project is moving along. This project has been in discussion phases for several years, but now it is underway. The lighting should enhance the safety of staff and spectators at events at the football field.
West Central Schools will offer summer school in July, but Superintendent Charles Mellon said classes were approved by the school board just last week.
“Mostly those were in the elementary just for remediation,” stated Mellon. “The life skills class will be doing a short six-day schooling at the latter part of July.”
“This is the first time we have had a bus inspection during the school year but things went very well,” explained Mellon. “All of the buses passed inspection. I want to thank the maintenance staff and the drivers for keeping their buses in good running order.”
Superintendent Charles Mellon that most will see a decrease in fees since last year, but middle school students in grades 6–8 will see a new fee at the beginning of the school year.
The West Central School Board members discussed several topics at their meeting last week. Superintendent Charles Mellon said they are still trying to gather more information on the Affordable Care Act.
“We’re still looking at a little more direction from the IRS and the federal government,” stated Mellon. “I know some of the legislators at the federal level are saying this is a train wreck waiting to happen – that’s in the news more and more and schools are making some quick changes so that we’re in compliance.”
The board had to make some urgent changes when the plan was approved in January.
Mellon and the school board hope to have most of the changes ironed out quickly after those mandates come from the federal government.
Superintendent Charles Mellon noted that the way the increase of public school funding has been relayed to the public is quite deceiving. The two percent increase in the funding formula is correct, but he says there is a misconception that every school corporation in the state is getting a two percent increase.
The board approved the student accident insurance policy for the next school year.
“This was the result of other corporations throughout the state not using all of their funding and having to turn it back in,” said Mellon. “Basically, the state does not want to return it back to the federal government, so they gave us an opportunity to write a proposal and receive some items with this funding.”
“I think some people interpret it like we’d have a psychiatrist here and have different people walking in the door that we didn’t know and that’s not the case,” stated Mellon.
Elementary Principal Dan Zylstra will be sending a letter home to parents and guardians to clarify the services and encourage those students and guardians who would benefit to utilize the service.
“It could be an unfunded mandate,” said Mellon. “If the bill is presented in such a way saying that each corporation shall have a resource officer in each building, schools under 1,000 students will receive a $35,000 matching grant to hire this person, or these people.”
The West Central School Board got an update from Elementary Principal Dan Zylstra concerning the Kindergarten Roundup enrollment. Superintendent Charles Mellon indicated that the numbers look good.
“Our roundup figures are near 70 which is good for us. We were down to only two sections last year. That means we do have kids in the community that will be coming to school next year,” stated Mellon.
“This is the company that will do the maintenance on our [wind] turbine. They’re out of Sandusky, Ohio,” said Mellon.
“That change was to include the rental fee which includes the employer share of FICA that will be paid for by the renter,” said Mellon. “We had always paid for that as a corporation, but we’re trying to find different ways to cut back a little bit and save a little money.”
“Betty Sprunger, who has been teaching health and P.E. at West Central for several years, is retiring along with Cheryl Podell who is a first grade teacher,” said Mellon. “Jenni Garten, a third grade teacher and Linda Ferguson, a high school business teacher, are also retiring.”
“We’re beginning that with the middle school next fall,” explained Mellon. “The ChromeBook is what we will be using and that’s become a very hot item. They’re kind of back logged with orders so we wanted to place an order for 270 ChromeBooks. We wanted to get the paperwork rolling and have those computers here by fall. The board did approve that as well.”
The program will begin with middle school students with the anticipation that it will branch out to more grade levels after the initial rollout.
The feedback will also aid in reviewing the corporation’s emergency plans.
“Their day on Wednesday began at 1 a.m. when they started pushing snow around,” said Mellon. “We did have to take the day off on Wednesday due to the county roads, but we were ready to go. I’m sure all of the students and staff appreciated that when they showed up Thursday morning.”
