Sessions set on bullying (05/10/06)

FORT RECOVERY — Fort Recovery High School students are surrendering their text books and turning in their final papers as classes come to a close, but they will receive one final lesson before being unleashed for the summer.

On May 15, Fort Recovery teachers and counselors from Foundations Behavioral Health Services in Celina will meet with small groups of students in grades 9, 10 and 11 to discuss bullying.

Though bullying has long been an issue in high schools, the decision to hold the focus groups came as a result of the arrest last month of three Fort Recovery High School students who were charged with inciting panic after allegedly threatening the safety of other students.

Fort Recovery Chief of Police Maggie Hartings said at the time of the investigation that the kids had been the targets of bullying since their elementary school years, which seemed to be the catalyst of the alleged threats.

“There is a bully, and there is a victim, but there are also observers,” said superintendent David Riel at a parent meeting last month held to discuss bullying, stressing the importance of teaching children responsibility to the welfare of fellow students.

See Bullying page 10

Continued from page 1

Also Tuesday, Riel gave an update on involving the community in discussions concerning the possible construction of a new school building.

Riel said a committee of community members will be formed from school board input.

“Each of the board members has been asked to give me a list of five people,” said Riel. The first community meeting will not be held until August.

Riel also said that he and board member Steve Wendel will attend a workshop May 18 in Columbus, Ohio, held by the Buckeye Association of School Administrators, which will discuss strategies for fostering public engagement.

Also, middle school principal Ted Shuttleworth presented the wellness policy to be adopted by Fort Recovery schools.

According to the federal Child Nutrition Act of 2004, all school districts must have a policy in place by the start of the 2006-2007 school year.

A committee of teachers, students and parents met several times this spring to form a policy that would set goals for nutrition and physical activity, as well as establish nutrition guidelines for food served to students and ensure that other school-based activities are designed to promote student wellness.

Specific plans include increasing the number of fresh fruits and vegetables available to students, finding alternatives to candy sales for fundraising opportunities and limited recess denial as a disciplinary action.

In other business, the board:

•Acknowledged student Lee Stammen for receiving the honor of Ohio Star Farmer at the state FFA banquet last week.

•Awarded a mowing contract to Jutte Landscaping in the amount of $600 per mow after canceling a contract with Gary St. Myer awarded earlier this year.

The contract was canceled per St. Myer’s request after he determined that he would not be able to fulfill the mowing duties for the school.

•Approved the list of graduation candidates for participation in commencement exercises on May 21 and to receive diplomas upon completion of all requirements.

•Voted to establish summer office hours between May 30 and August 21 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

•Accepted a gift of $1,500 from the Cooper Family Foundation for a middle school reading incentive program and a donation of 20 3.5 horsepower engines valued at $75 each for the vocational/agricultural department from Briggs and Stratton.[[In-content Ad]]