Windham – The Windham Board of Education (BOE) met for their regularly scheduled meeting with all members in attendance. The members are Darryl McGuire, President, Melissa Roubic, Maurina Collins, Elaine Grant, and Mandy Berardinelli, Vice President. Others serving with the board are the district Treasurer and Foodservice Supervisor Samantha Pochedly and Superintendent Laura Amero.
The meeting was called to order and students of the month were recognized. This month’s positive attribute was safety, which these students demonstrated as part of their Bomber Pride.
In other student achievement, the robotics team placed 5th out of 25 teams, just missing a chance to compete at state. The team needed a 4th place or higher in order to move to the next level.
In the Maplewood Report, Roubic reported that the school was pushing to gear their skills to meet the needs of the workplace. They recently had their carpentry students and electrical students work on a local school district’s press box, making it a win-win situation. Students gain work experience, and a school saves money on labor on a needed project. It was suggested that maybe Windham should look into this for a press box at the baseball field.
In the maintenance report, Jake Eye reported that they were going to have to address the HVAC system soon. All they been doing is putting band-aids on it, as many parts have been discontinued and they aren’t even available any longer. A new system will cost about $50,000. A discussion was held on the issue and it was determined they would need a little more data before making a decision.
Eye also reported that the district’s aging bus fleet needs to be addressed as well. He suggested that they retire their 1997 bus that is deteriorating and reduce their fleet to six buses. The districts treasurer said they have adding a new bus to the fleet scheduled for this year in the budget. Eye also suggested trading in two of the oldest buses using those monies along with a grant on a new one, but no decision was made.
In the Jr/Sr. high school report, Principal Marco Marinucci reported that the 2019 graduating test results are back and Windham will have eight out of their 48 seniors using the Alternative Pathway method to graduation and three students were exempt from the testing system. The high school has 55 students on their honor roll and the junior high has 74 students on the honor roll for the first semester.
The district is working on the master schedule for next year and are adding more STEM classes and also considering a drone class as well. The food pantry for students is up and running and this month’s focus is on rice, pastas and sauces. Next month will be breakfast bars, cereal and jelly. Toiletries are accepted all the time.
Marinucci reported that the North American Conference (NAC – sports league Windham competes in) is looking at expansion. There are concerns about Newbury leaving when they merge with West Geauga, Grand Valley already leaving and a few other districts shrinking. Fairport Harbor is interested in joining and Leetonia is interested too, but for football only. The district has some concerns about the distance those schools are from Windham. They also discussed a new league possibly forming involving Brookfield, Champion, Newton Falls and LaBrae.
In the Katherine Thomas Elementary (KT) Report, Principal Melissa Malone reported that they have applied for a PBIS Grant for K-3rd grades. Windham has instituted Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports System (PBIS) at both high school and elementary levels. The PBIS sets standard for behaviors expected during the school day, recess, lunch, bus and even walking in the halls. They use the positive reinforcements to help prevent negative behaviors. The program is not a therapy or treatment plan, it’s a plan that focuses on prevention not punishment. It’s a plan that gives students tools to help master positive behaviors and rewards them for good behavior.
Malone also reported that the second grading period conferences went well, students had their Valentines Day parties and they are working on the curriculum. The students at KT also had a successful awards ceremony, and the WBKT elementary news program is going well.
In the treasurer’s report, Samantha Pochedly reported that the 2018 audit report is complete and she will have it ready for the March meeting. The district once again received an audit award. Pochedly will meet with the auditors to see how they can designate and set aside funds for budgeting repairs. She is not sure they can have it separated from general fund or if it has to be held aside in general fund.
In other BOE news, they approved two substitute teachers, volunteers for the food pantry, volunteers for basketball and softball. The also approved Daniel Gross as head baseball coach, accepted donations to the food pantry, accepted an open enrolled student from Ravenna and approved the disposal of unused items. They then adjourned to go into executive session for matters that the state deems confidential. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
The BOE now meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 in the Hanger.
