FR preps for 2015-16

FORT RECOVERY — Fort Recovery School Board made preparations Tuesday for a new school year with a new superintendent at the helm.
The board hired several new teachers, agreed to purchase a new school van and set elementary and middle school student fees for 2015-16. It also made several moves to prepare for new superintendent Justin Firks to join the school district.
Also joining the Fort Recovery staff this year after being hired Tuesday will be fifth grade teacher Jocelyn Meyer, middle school teacher Chad Miller and intervention specialist Julie Billenstein. Miller has served as an aide in the middle school for the last two years, while Meyer and Billenstein will be new to the district.
The high school still has openings for a new business teacher, intervention specialist and part-time industrial technology teacher.
Board members Jose Faller, Ginny Fortkamp, Aaron Guggenbiller, Amy Bihn and Dave Hull set elementary and middle school student fees for 2015-16, with most going up between $7 and $15. The fees are: kindergarten - $55.20; first - $62.12; second - $64.15; third - $64.79; fourth - $58.70; fifth - $53.90; sixth - $66.70; seventh - $67.90; and eighth - $62.75.
They also approved purchase of a new nine-passenger van from Cardinal Bus Sales and Service, Inc., at a cost of $41,284.
The board set the bond for Firks at $50,000 with Fort Recovery Insurance Agency, approved allowing him to attend meetings “as he deems necessary for the betterment of the school district operation” and agreed to let him hire casual labor as needed.
All of those go into effect July 13, when Firks, who previously served as principal at Fort Loramie High School, officially becomes superintendent. He will replace Shelly Vaughn, who will be the new superintendent of Mercer County Educational Service Center.
Firks has already spent several days working with Vaughn to learn about his new job, and will continue to do so until taking over the position full-time.
“It’s gone well,” said Vaughn, who has served as superintendent since 2012. “We’ve had the chance to spend several days together going through lots and lots of information. …
“It’s been a good time to transition. I feel good about where things are.”
In other business, the board:
•Recognized coach Jerry Kaup and the baseball team for their run to the state final four.
•Approved the following: participation in the Federal Title Programs and other federal and state grant programs; participation in the federal free and reduced lunch program; a contract with the Northwest Ohio Area Computer Services Cooperative; the renewal of the school’s liability, fleet and property insurance with Southwestern Ohio EPC Insurance; a contract with West Central Ohio Assistive Technology Center; allowing employees hired after April 30 to accrue up to 10 inservice hours during summer inservice week and renewal of liability insurance for school groups such as booster clubs.
•Accepted the resignations of Donna Rindler (teacher), Chad Miller (classified aide) and Chuck Etzler (bus driver).
•Approved Melissa Homan, Brent Niekamp and Robyn Armstrong as summer school teachers and John Bihn, Nicholas Brockman, Jerry Byram, Christopher DuHamel, Charles Etzler, Lisa Fullenkamp, Michael Gower, Phillip Harris II, Joseph Hawk, Sandra Kaiser, William Link, Nancy Reinhard, Barbara Sautbine, Michael Thien, Ryan Thien, Randall Wendel, Kurt Wendel, Roger Wenning and Herbert Westgerdes as substitute bus drivers.
•Hired athletics director Kurt Rammel and coaches Jerry Kaup (baseball), Kevin Eyink (assistant baseball), Tyler Wuebker (assistant football), Dillian Schulze (middle school cross country), Harold Fiely (volunteer assistant baseball) and Nickolas Kallas (volunteer assistant swimming).
•Heard from middle school principal Matt Triplett that a field trip policy has been adopted. In order to participate in field trips, students must be passing their classes, cannot have multiple missing assignments and must be in good standing with the principal. He is also developing a guide for the annual field trip to Washington, D.C.
•Hired advisors Julie Billenstein (drama), Amy Kaiser (future teachers of America), Sam Piehl (instrumental music and summer band), Robyn Armstrong (math science club and Local Professional Development Committees), Janice Osterloh (National Honor Society), Melinda Luthman (newspaper), Ashley Lavy (Students Against Drunk Driving), Maura Hanlon (show choir), Julie Schlater (Spanish Club), Kathy Schwieterman (sports medicine club and freshman class), Chelsea Rogers (student council), Victoria Horstman (yearbook and sophomore class), Kim Grube (junior class), Brent Niekamp (senior class), Joe Hawk (agri-business and FFA), Michael Gower (vocational agriculture and FFA), Tami Winner (middle school basketball cheerleading) and Lana Kahlig (middle school football cheerleading).
•Heard an update from elementary school principal Tracy Hein-Evers that 40 students are signed up for Laffalot summer camp July 20 through 24.
•Returned advances of $10,000 from the Title I Disadvantaged Children fund and $7,000 from the Improving Teacher Quality fund to the general fund.
•Hired Matt Hart on a three-year contract as building maintenance supervisor.
•Accepted donations totaling $75.