FR projects are in process

FORT RECOVERY — One improvement project is nearly complete while several others are in the works.

Fort Recovery School Board heard updates at its meeting Tuesday about new state championship signs, plans to refinish the Fort Site Fieldhouse floor and an effort to create an outdoor classroom/lunch area at the high school.

The board also received details about college credits being earned by high school students.

Ashton Hoying told the board about his Eagle Scout project, which involved installing new Fort Recovery High School state championship signs.

Hoying worked to build and install state championship signs at each of the main entrances into the village, along Ohio 49 from the north and south and Ohio 119 from the east and west. Three of those have already been put up, and Hoying said he recently received permission for the sign on Ohio 49 north of the Fort Recovery.

The Indians earned their sixth state championship when the football team won the Division VII title in 2015.

Superintendent Justin Firks reported to board members Jose Faller, Ginny Fortkamp, Aaron Guggenbiller, Mike Grube and Mitch Ervin that plans are in place to refinish and repaint the floor at Fort Site Fieldhouse this summer. The preliminary design calls for an outline of the State of Ohio at center court with the traditional Indian mascot in the center. The sidelines and baselines will be painted in purple with “Indians” in block letters on the baselines. “Fort Recovery” will be in a script font along the sidelines, and “MAC” will be in block letters near the free-throw line.

Isaac Burkhardt returned to the board to request funds for his Eagle Scout project to create a lunch area/outdoor classroom. He has raised about $2,000 of the required $10,000 thus far, and asked the board if it would be willing to bridge the gap. Board members said they would take the request under consideration while allowing Burkhardt more time to try to raise money.

The project calls for pavers along the walls of the building to create a seating area, as well as new landscaping and fencing. Burkhardt hopes to have the work complete by April.

High school principal Marcus Overman distributed an informational sheet regarding the 72 FRHS students who enrolled in College Credit Plus program through Rhodes State College during the 2015-16 school year. Students earned a total of 306 credit hours, with communications, information technology, biology and literature as the most popular courses, saving them an estimated $49,018 in college tuition.

More than 100 students are enrolled in college courses through Rhodes State this year.

“The College Credit Plus enrollment keeps going up and up and up,” said Overman, “which is a good thing for our students that they can save some money and get college credit right here at Fort Recovery.”

In other business, the board:

•Approved five-year contracts for superintendent Justin Firks and treasurer Lori Koch. Also hired Shelly Overman as a classified aide.

•Named Jose Faller as president pro-tem for its organizational meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 10. The regular board meeting will follow.

•Honored recent inductees to the National Honor Society.

•Approved a cooperative agreement with Tri-Star 2.0. The new facility at Wright State University Lake Campus is expected for the 2019-20 school year.

•Renewed membership with the Ohio School Boards Association for $3,504.

•Accepted donations totaling nearly $5,000, including a total of $3,000 from Tom and Mary Pat Zitter for a variety of programs.

•Reappointed Ruth Wuebker to a seven-year term as a Fort Recovery Public Library trustee.

•Accepted the resignations of Jeff Vaughn as assistant girls basketball coach and Chelsea Rogers as junior varsity girls basketball coach. Both were then re-hired, essentially switching positions. Other coaches hired include Todd Bevington (track), Tammy Post (softball), Ryan Thien (assistant softball) and Payton Thobe (assistant swim).