New teachers on board in L-P District; longtime custodian retires
The Loudonville-Perrysville Board of Education hired five new teachers at its Monday, July 11, meeting and accepted one teacher resignation.
Superintendent Catherine Puster said she had four more teaching vacancies that need to be filled before school opens next month.
Hired were Kelsey Kennedy, high school intervention specialist; Karissa Frische, high school vocal music; Tiffani McDonald, fourth grade at the Budd School; Alex Barnard, high school science; and Baylie VanHorn, McMullen School Intervention specialist.
The resignation of Allison Hochstetler, McMullen School intervention specialist, was accepted.
Three teaching slots and a library-media director still must be hired, Puster said.
The resignation also was accepted for John Pearce, custodian at the R.F. McMullen Elementary School for 38 years.
Classified personnel hired were Tessa Shetler, Budd School office aide, and Emellia Jones and Haley Frontz, Budd School paraprofessionals.
Coaches, extracurricular position contracts awarded
Supplemental contracts, for teachers holding coaching and other extracurricular positions, were given to Megan Sellers, seventh grade volleyball; Tiffani McDonald, eighth grade volleyball; Matt Cotrill and Kelly Seboe, fall site managers; Jim Conley, high school golf; Laurie Weber, head girls soccer; Emily Mitchell, assistant girls soccer; John Battaglia, head high school football; Keith Lemke, assistant high school football; Mike Baker, assistant high school football; and Angela Spreng, marching band.
Board member Bruce Davis asked Puster if the board, which regularly non-renews non-teachers who are coaches at the close of the school year, could find itself liable for damages if an athlete was injured at a summer camp for the sport he is a member of on aschool team. Puster answered the board’s liability ends with the end of the school sport season.
In other personnel action, the board agreed to pay high school math/science teacher Michael Baker $25.55 per hour for training to teach the new Introduction to Data Course, a pilot program being offered at the high school.
At the close of the meeting the board went into executive session to discuss employment and compensation of a public employee.
All personnel actions taken at Monday’s meeting were made with the stipulation that salary for the position is dependent on the conclusion of negotiations between the board and the local teacher’s union, the Loudonville-Perrysville Education Association.
Breakfast, lunch costs; sports prepping for new season
At the opening of the meeting Puster discussed the criticality of families in the school district filling out application forms for free and reduced school lunches.
“Our funding levels for Title I and other federal programs are tied to the percentage of students in the district who are eligible for free and reduced lunches,” Puster said. “The application form looks very intimidating. I encourage anyone to contact the schools, at 419-994-3912, for assistance in filling it out.”
A board work session will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, July 25, in the high school cafeteria.
Athletic Director Tyler Bates said a Meet the Team program will be held Aug. 12 at Redbird Stadium for all Redbird fall sports teams.
Bates said the athletic department is planning several events for the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the policy that required equal opportunity for female athletes.
He also said a program will continue this school year in which every sports team participates in some sort of community service project.
“The community supports our student athletes tremendously, and we feel the athletes should return the favor,” Bates said.
Board President John Carroll said, “It is nice to see the return gesture.”
School meal prices will be: breakfast, free for qualifying students; 30 cents for qualifying students; $1.30 for grades K-3; $1.40 for grades 4-6; and $1.65 for grades 7-12.
Lunches, free and 40 cents for qualifying students; $2.75 for grades K-3; $2.85 for grades 4-6; $3.10 for grades 7-12; $3.90 for adult lunches; $2.90 for a la carte lunches; and 50 cents for milk.
The board accepted a grant for $17,500 from the Hugo and Mabel Young Foundation for the Outstanding Citizenship Scholarships; a $11,229.13 donation from the Music Boosters to the Music Department; and $6,000 to the athletic department from Mike McDaniel, LHS 1988 alumni to purchase a touch screen for the LHS Sports Hall of Fame display.
The next board meeting will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8, the Loudonville High School cafeteria.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Teachers hired but Loudonville-Perrysville still has four openings
