Snyder to return as Fort HS teacher (06/07/06)

FORT RECOVERY — Fort Recovery Local Schools will start the 2006-2007 school year with several new teachers, including the return of soon-to-be retired high school principal Ed Snyder as a part-time teacher.

At Tuesday’s school board meeting, Snyder was hired effective Sept. 1 to teach language arts at the eighth grade level. He announced his retirement as principal in March, and it will take effect July 31.

In addition, Robert Heitkamp and Kimberly Niekamp, both Fort Recovery graduates, have been hired to teach at the elementary level. Marcia Weigel was hired to instruct gifted students on a part-time basis.

The search is also on for an instructor to cover instrumental music programs and classes, color guard and summer band, after the unexpected resignation of current teacher Jamie Smith.

Smith announced her resignation last week after three years at Fort Recovery. She did not give a reason for leaving.

Superintendent David Riel said he has received 33 applicants for the position, many of them with prior experience.

“Interestingly, many districts are cutting music out of their curriculum, which may be good for us,” he said.

Riel said that many students are upset about the popular teacher’s departure but that the district remains committed to the music program.

“We would love to have a recommendation for you at the special meeting (June 29),” said Riel.

That meeting was originally planned to conduct business pertaining to the end of the fiscal year ending June 30, but Riel said it may handle personnel issues as well.

Riel said he wanted a teacher in place quickly to take over summer band duties.

“We felt it was necessary to keep band going in the interim,” he said.

Also, Fort Recovery Athletic Director Barb Sautbine updated the board on Ohio High School Athletic Association’s decision to add bowling as an official sport.

The OHSAA has recognized bowling in the past as a club sport, and Fort Recovery has had bowling teams that competes locally.

Sautbine said the school has three options. First, the school district could sponsor a team, which mean it would be required to hire a coach and would be responsible for all costs incurred.

Second, it could exist as a club sport, which would free the school district from financial responsibility, but also would mean no control over the non-paid coaching staff. Sautbine said she believes most schools in the Midwest Athletic Conference are taking this option.

Third, the district could choose not to have bowling at all.

“In my opinion, if we say ‘no,’ I think there would be a lot of people in the community asking why we don’t have it if everyone else does,” said Sautbine.

Sautbine said she thought there was adequate interest to support a team, but has until Nov. 12 to notify OHSAA of the district’s intentions.

“The difference this year is if we keep doing it the way we are, they can’t participate in the tournament,” said Riel.

Riel advised the board to consider the ramifications involved in taking responsibility for any sport, including the possibility of students disappointed in failing to make the team, upset or interfering parents and scheduling conflicts with other sports.

“The question is, when those questions come up, and they will, do you want to say, ‘We don’t have anything to do with it,’ or do you want to have control over it?” said Riel. “Your involvement can be what you want it to be, but with involvement comes responsibility.”

No official action was taken on the topic Tuesday.

Sautbine also informed the board that OHSAA will allow schools to charge admission for junior high games effective this fall, though fees are up to the discretion of each school.

“I fought it, but they feel they have to do it,” she said.

Sautbine said that while Fort schools can choose not to charge, parents may be upset if they are charged admission at away games but visiting spectators aren’t charged at home games.

She suggested a fee of $3 for adults and $2 for students, with the possibility of offering discounted season passes.

Snyder also gave a report on the progress in establishing a Fort Recovery Athletic Hall of Fame.

Snyder said a committee of schools personnel and community members have been working to establish a constitution with bylaws, based on Celina High School as a model.

The committee currently has 37 past athletes, coaches and support staff on the 2006 ballot and plans to induct seven members this fall — most likely at a basketball game.

“I have a suspicion its going to be really hard to limit this committee to only seven,” said Snyder. “We may end up with ten this year.”

Snyder said that once the Hall of Fame is “caught up,” inductions will be more limited every year.

Nominees must have earned at least two letters in one sport or one letter in more than one sport and have graduated at least seven years prior to their induction. Coaches and athletic support staff must have served Fort Recovery schools for at least five year and have completed employment at least five years prior to induction.

In order to be inducted, a nominee must receive 70 percent of the committee members’ votes.

This year, nominees are at the committee’s discretion, but eventually, any community member will be able to nominate an athlete or coach.

“It’s a really neat project,” said Snyder, who has been nominated for his time as an athlete at Fort Recovery High School. “We have had such a good time talking about this.

In other business, the board:

•Approved participation in the Federal Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program for the 2006-2006 school year.

•OK’d participation in the Federal Title Programs.

•Renewed membership in the OHSAA for the 2006-2007 school year.

•Hired Mindy Kahlig, Amy Bihn and Tessa Thobe as summer school teachers.

•Agreed to return of about $18,000 in advances to the general fund.

•Approved supplemental contract for several assistant football coaches, grade level chairs and advisors.[[In-content Ad]]