FRHS project remains on track

FORT RECOVERY — Progress on the Fort Recovery High School renovation project remains on track.
Shelly Vaughn, superintendent of Fort Recovery Schools, and Jeff Hobbs, FRHS principal, had more positive updates about the renovations for the school board at its meeting Tuesday.
The board also learned about the possibility of introducing an employee kiosk, the extension for Get R.E.A.L. Week throughout the year at the middle school and an elementary school fundraiser.
The school renovation project is in its final stages, with work on a driveway on the north side of the high school beginning Monday. That part of the project should be complete by the end of September, Vaughn said.
Board president Dave Hull asked about trees that had been removed to clear room for the driveway project, saying a citizen had expressed concern. Three trees were cut down in front of the high school along Butler Street, but two of those were dying or diseased, Vaughn said.
Renovations on the building are now focused on a hallway and stairwell on the southwest corner of the building, and that portion of the project remains on schedule. Concrete walls were scheduled to be poured today, Hobbs said, with the hallway and stairs projected to be open for student use by the end of October.
“The whole project has gone really well,” Vaughn said of the $3.4 million project that began during the summer of 2012.
The school system is also looking into implementing use of an employee kiosk.
A kiosk would be used for scheduling employee days off electronically rather than on paper. It would also save time in the payroll process, treasurer Lori Koch said.
Get R.E.A.L. (Responsible Enough About Life) Week at the middle school will be expanded this year from a one-week event in may to a series of activities throughout the school year, FRMS principal Matt Triplett told the board. The week generally focuses on helping students make healthy life choices.
The school kicked off its Get R.E.A.L. program Sept. 3 with a visit from motivational speaker Harvey Alston, who spoke about anti-bullying and the “pay it forward” concept.
“We’re excited about spreading this out and not bottling it up into one week,” said Triplett, noting that “pay it forward” is the theme of the program this year. “I think it’s got some real potential.”
Fort Recovery Elementary’s parent-teacher organization will host a dinner and raffle Oct. 28.
The Pint-Size Hero program will also be Oct. 28 with a blood drive from 1 to 7 p.m. in the elementary school gym. The event is in honor of Ally Bea Roessner, a Fort Recovery child who is battling Leukemia.
•Decided to allow a home-schooled student within the district to immediately begin participating in middle school band. A change in Ohio law that mandates home-school students be allowed to participate in school activities goes into effect Sept. 29.
•Approved an agreement with Rehabilitative Services, Inc. for trainers at athletic events. If use of trainers does not exceed 500 hours per semester, there will be no cost to the school system.
•Heard FRHS principal Jeff Hobbs compliment new employees and tout the success of the school’s athletics programs thus far this fall. Hobbs also said athletics director Kurt Rammel is working to renovate the press box at the football stadium. He noted that the installation of the new scoreboard at Barrenbrugge Athletic Park is complete.
•Authorized board president Dave Hull and treasurer Lori Koch to complete the sale of 0.4 acres of land behind the FRHS baseball field to the village of Fort Recovery. The board had previously approved the sale for a price of $3,967.60.
•Accepted the resignation of Jill Vaughn as FRHS swim coach.
•Approved the following: Field trips to the Ohio Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Fall Leadership Conference Oct. 14 and 15 and the national FFA conventions in Louisville, Ky., from Oct. 29 through Nov. 1; temporary appropriations of $30,000 for purchased services and $20,000 for classroom facilities maintenance for the fiscal year ending in June 2014; Peggy Siefring as a non-teaching employee for the 2013-14 school year; a contract with Janet Pottkotter at $150 per day, not to exceed five days; reimbursing FRHS track coach Eric Hemmelgarn $74.85 for expenses from the June 1 regional meet; supplemental contracts for Hemmelgarn (FRHS track coach), Deidre Grieshop (FRHS assistant track coach) and Melinda Heitkamp (middle school track coach); Lauren Day as a volunteer middle school basketball assistant coach; employing Jill Walter and Janelle Braun as classified substitutes.
•Accepted donations of $4,000 (anonymous), $2,500 (SpeckShots) and $500 (Wendel Poultry Service).
•Changed the date for its next meeting to Oct. 15. The board will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. to discuss its financial forecast with the regular meeting to follow.[[In-content Ad]]