FR in need of drivers

FORT RECOVERY — School leaders’ focus was on buses and budgets.
Fort Recovery School Board on Tuesday heard a report and suggestions from building and transportation supervisor Kurt Wendel about school transportation and reviewed its five-year financial forecast.
Wendel told the board that while all regular bus routes are filled, he has had problems getting enough drivers for after-school activities. He added that many drivers’ children have advanced through school, leaving them less likely to sign up for extracurriculars.
“Years past it would be almost a fight over who drove what sports,” said Wendel. “This year, I had eight sports with nobody raising their hands.”
He raised the possibilities of offering a stipend for new drivers to help compensate them for the time it takes to get licensed and/or raising the drivers’ hourly rate in an effort to attract new drivers. The current rate is $9.64 per hour.
Board member Dave Hull suggested that Wendel visit the elementary school open house, scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, in order to recruit parents of some of the younger students in the school system.
“I’m willing to try anything,” said Wendel, noting that he would attend.
He also said the school system is in need of a new van after one was taken out of service because it is no longer safe for student transportation.
He added that he will be using new software — EduLog — for designing routes beginning next year.
The board took no action, but plans to consider the suggestions at future meetings.
Board members Jose Faller, Aaron Guggenbiller, Ginny Fortkamp, Dave Hull and Amy Bihn also held their quarterly financial forecast review, which projects revenues to be about $334,000 more than expenditures for fiscal 2015. Projections call for the year-end general fund balance to be between $2.5 and $3 million from now through 2018.
“We’re looking at a healthy fund balance,” said treasurer Lori Koch.
In other business, the board:
•Accepted the resignation of Robyn Armstrong as Supplemental RTI Core Team leader.
•Rescinded approval of Jeff Vaughn as assistant girls basketball coach, and then re-approved his hiring after granting the high school principal authority to make recommendations for coaching positions when the superintendent has a conflict of interest. Jeff Vaughn is the husband of FRLS superintended Shelly Vaughn.
•Also hired coaches Taylor Guggenbiller (softball), Brad Evers (freshman boys basketball), Deidra Grieshop (junior high track) and Nick Kallas (assistant junior high track). Also hired Victoria Horstman (sophomore class advisor), Margie Dilworth (high school drama advisor), Maura Hanlon (junior high drama advisor) and Chad Miller (RTI Core Team leader). Approved Cheryl Perkeybile as a substitute teacher and Cathy Timmerman as a volunteer assistant swim coach.
•Approved a field trip to Chicago for fifth grade gifted students for May 14 and 15, 2015.
•Moved its regular November meeting to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 19.
•Accepted donations of $500 from Psi Iota Xi for the music therapy program, $900 from New Bremen Midwest Summer Slam for the volleyball team and $250 from Maria Stein Country Fest for the football program.