FR facilities saw upgrades

Athletic successes have led to increased revenue and helped allow improvements to facilities in Fort Recovery.
Athletics director Kurt Rammel updated Fort Recovery School Board on recent upgrades during a presentation at Wednesday night’s meeting.
Rammel noted that the athletics department’s year-end cash balance has nearly tripled in the last three years. It was $57,726.08 at the end of June as compared to $19,958.12 at the close of 2013.
That increase helped the department invest in a variety of upgrades, including having the football field at Barrenbrugge Athletic Park resurfaced for the first time since the program began in 1992. An irrigation system was also added.
Fort Site Fieldhouse was also upgraded over the summer, with new boards recognizing tournament and Midwest Athletic Conference accomplishments, an expanded press area and new padding along the south wall. The gym walls and ceiling were also painted.
There were also a variety of improvements made to the baseball field, and a new timing system was purchased for track.
Rammel noted that some of the increased revenue has come because of recent athletic achievements, including the football team’s run to the 2015 Division VII state title. Revenue for that sport alone climbed from $13,694 in 2013 to $25,854.40 (the first year FRHS made the playoffs) to $40,699.80 last year.

In other business, board members Jose Faller, Ginny Fortkamp, Aaron Guggenbiller, Mitch Ervin and Mike Grube:
•Heard from principal Marcus Overman that Fort Recovery High School will hold school safety week Sept. 6 through 9. There will be a fire drill Sept. 6, lockdown drill Sept. 7, tornado drill Sept. 8 and active shooter drill Sept. 9.
Also learned from principals that they have selected state testing dates for the spring. They are as follows: high school language arts – March 31; Sixth through eighth grade language arts – April 3 and 4; third through fifth grade language arts – April 5 and 6; high school biology – April 28; High School algebra and government – May 1; third through eighth grade math and social studies – May 2 through 5.
•Approved the following: granting Firks permission to hire substitute teaches on an as-needed basis at a rate of $80 per day; bus routes for the 2016-17 school year; an agreement with NOVA for an online learning program; competing in Ohio High School Athletic Association sports for the 2016-17 school year; an overnight field trip to the FFA National Convention Oct. 18 through 22 in Indianapolis; declaring $2 million in certificates of deposit as inactive until their maturity date; participating in bidding for equipment through Southwestern Ohio Education Purchasing Council; an agreement to allow students and employees to purchase laptops following graduation or conclusion of employment; adoption of an evaluation system for school counselors.
•Heard from superintendent Justin Firks that the start of work that was scheduled for last week on a parking lot expansion at the elementary/middle school was delayed because of rain. The project completion date is Oct. 21.
•Accepted the resignations of Matthew Hart as maintenance supervisor and Tony Overton as junior varsity boys basketball coach.
•Accepted donations totaling more than $4,000, including $2,855 from Fort Recovery Community Foundation to Fort Recovery FFA.