Windham – The Windham Board of Education (BOE) met with one board member physically attending and the rest through video. After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, President Mandy Berardinelli reported that the giving tree gave out help for 60 families during the Christmas season. The student food pantry will continue to supply food to those students in need. They will have a drive-thru food give-a-ways on Tuesdays at 3pm – 5pm to help those students in need.
Berardinelli also reported that the students are all back to full time, in person education, after being remote since Thanksgiving. The students and staff are happy to be back in the building.
In the superintendent’s report, Aireane Curtis reported that it was Board Appreciation Month. She presented each member a Bomber blanket, cards of appreciation from staff and teachers, and a certificate of appreciation. She told the members that the W-2 forms were done, and they could either pick them up or have them mailed, whichever they preferred.
Treasurer Adam Hines reported that they had received the Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) monies in December totaling $110,000. They had already received $41,000 earlier in the year. The board also received ¾ of the impact aid for the use of the land Camp James A. Garfield (JAG) occupies. This is done to help off-set the tax dollars the school loses due to government using the land.
He also reported that he met with the Plug Smart people to look at the top needs of the school buildings. If they receive a grant for any of the needs it’s a dollar-for-dollar match. Some of the pressing needs are: boiler for high school, bus garage, lighting, and roof on Katherine Thomas. Adam filed the insurance claim for the bus accident that happened in November. Although the accident wasn’t the bus driver’s fault, the driver of the other vehicle didn’t have insurance. Hines said it would be about $1500.
The board approved the minutes from December meeting and January organizational meeting, the now and-then purchase order presented to the board, the proposed annual tax budget for 2021 and approved the amended certificate of estimated resources. The district adopted the new guidelines recommended by Governor Mike DeWine on substitute teachers for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. Substitutes may be hired who only have a high school diploma rather than a four- year college degree. They will still need to apply with the state for a substitute license.
The board hired Kelsey Pontillo, as a district-wide substitute. They also approved the hiring of Brianna Mark and Natisha Johnson as certified subs and volunteer Allen Blake for basketball, and Eric Park as a junior high assistant basketball coach.
Other items they approved included the college plus program (CCP) with Kent State for 2021-22 school year. They approved 12 students in the CCP program for this school year, and they also approved $5,735 in donations for the student pantry.
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned.
