March 22, 2017 at 2:56 a.m.
FR board gets tech update
Fort Recovery School Board
FR board gets tech update
Copyright 2017, The Commercial Review
All Rights Reserved
FORT RECOVERY — In his first year working with technology in schools, Ryan Fullenkamp worked to reign in the need for repairs. Now he’s looking toward future upgrades.
Fullenkamp updated Fort Recovery School Board on Tuesday about his progress in the last year and some technology improvements that will be needed over the course of the next five years.
The board also heard from superintendent Justin Firks about possible changes to Fort Recovery’s open enrollment policy.
Priority No. 1 for Fullenkamp upon taking over as district technology coordinator in March 2016 was to institute new policies for Fort Recovery High School’s one-to-one laptop initiative — students get a computer at the beginning of their freshman year and keep it until graduation — in order to cut down on the need for major repairs. He said there were a lot of problems as a result of students not taking proper care of equipment in the past, but those have been drastically cut.
“What we did is set new standards for that program,” said Fullenkamp, who was previously a network engineer and technician for Reliable Business Solutions in Fort Loramie. “We put a lot of new things in place. We’re holding kids accountable for it, changing that culture.
“That’s the hardest but most beneficial part,” he added. “It helps. You could tell instantly. The freshman that came in this year I’ve had maybe two major fixes, where it was an accident. It wasn’t carelessness.”
Also in 2015-16, new internal components were installed in computers at the elementary/middle school media center in order to extend the life of some older computers and a new ticket system was implemented to help streamline the technical support process.
So far this year, Fullenkamp and his student aides have built new computers for the administrative staff and upgraded them to dual monitors and converted the school district from a physical server to a virtual server. He plans to update server software this summer.
In addition to standard annual expenses, Fullenkamp noted the need to extend Fort Recovery’s wireless equipment licenses that run out this year and update management software, in addition to the possibility of a website redesign.
Firks told board members Ginny Fortkamp, Aaron Guggenbiller, Jose Faller, Mike Grube and Mitch Ervin that he’d like them to consider changing the school district's policy on open enrollment. Currently, Fort Recovery allows students to enroll until July 31, which is about two weeks before the start of classes.
Instead, the superintendent said it would help with staffing decisions and other planning if that date could be moved up to sometime in April, which would bring Fort Recovery in line with Coldwater (April 1), St. Henry (April 24) and Parkway (April 30). Any changes, he said, would not take effect until the 2018-19 school year.
In other business, the board:
•Approved the following: the hiring of coaches Joe Bruns (assistant track), Kylee Moody (junior high track) and Scott Abels (assistant junior high track) and substitute teacher Marilyn Fortkamp; Second National Bank as a depository for public funds; a policy change to set the threshold for requiring bids at $50,000; and a service agreement with Mercer County Educational Service Center for the 2017-18 school year.
•Agreed to purchase two Blue Bird buses from Cardinal Bus Sales and Services at a total cost of $175,552, less the trade-in value of two buses. Firks noted that two buses that have more than 100,000 miles on them will be taken out of regular service and that after this year the plan is to return to buying a new bus every two years.
•Approved a one-year contract with Jutte Landscaping for mowing and trimming. Ervin asked if there had been bidding for the mowing and trimming work. Treasurer Lori Koch responded that it has been out for bid in the past but other companies have not shown interest. Grube inquired as to whether that work could be done internally, but Firks indicated that such a plan would not be cost-effective.
•Accepted the retirement of technology aide Vicki Jutte effective at the end of the school year. She has worked for the schools for 29 years.
•Honored the swim teams, county spelling bee participants, the quiz bowl team and the middle school honors choir for their accomplishments.
•Accepted donations totaling $9,400, including at $4,000 Cooper Family Foundation grant for the school activity funds and $2,000 from Fort Recovery Elementary PTO for both the elementary and middle school activity funds.
•OK’d field trips for the middle school band May 12 and 13 to Mason, and Fort Recovery FFA from May 3 to 5 to the state convention in Columbus.
•Rescheduled its next meeting for April 25. It will begin with a 6 p.m. work session to review the five-year financial forecast with the regular meeting to follow at 6:30 p.m.
All Rights Reserved
FORT RECOVERY — In his first year working with technology in schools, Ryan Fullenkamp worked to reign in the need for repairs. Now he’s looking toward future upgrades.
Fullenkamp updated Fort Recovery School Board on Tuesday about his progress in the last year and some technology improvements that will be needed over the course of the next five years.
The board also heard from superintendent Justin Firks about possible changes to Fort Recovery’s open enrollment policy.
Priority No. 1 for Fullenkamp upon taking over as district technology coordinator in March 2016 was to institute new policies for Fort Recovery High School’s one-to-one laptop initiative — students get a computer at the beginning of their freshman year and keep it until graduation — in order to cut down on the need for major repairs. He said there were a lot of problems as a result of students not taking proper care of equipment in the past, but those have been drastically cut.
“What we did is set new standards for that program,” said Fullenkamp, who was previously a network engineer and technician for Reliable Business Solutions in Fort Loramie. “We put a lot of new things in place. We’re holding kids accountable for it, changing that culture.
“That’s the hardest but most beneficial part,” he added. “It helps. You could tell instantly. The freshman that came in this year I’ve had maybe two major fixes, where it was an accident. It wasn’t carelessness.”
Also in 2015-16, new internal components were installed in computers at the elementary/middle school media center in order to extend the life of some older computers and a new ticket system was implemented to help streamline the technical support process.
So far this year, Fullenkamp and his student aides have built new computers for the administrative staff and upgraded them to dual monitors and converted the school district from a physical server to a virtual server. He plans to update server software this summer.
In addition to standard annual expenses, Fullenkamp noted the need to extend Fort Recovery’s wireless equipment licenses that run out this year and update management software, in addition to the possibility of a website redesign.
Firks told board members Ginny Fortkamp, Aaron Guggenbiller, Jose Faller, Mike Grube and Mitch Ervin that he’d like them to consider changing the school district's policy on open enrollment. Currently, Fort Recovery allows students to enroll until July 31, which is about two weeks before the start of classes.
Instead, the superintendent said it would help with staffing decisions and other planning if that date could be moved up to sometime in April, which would bring Fort Recovery in line with Coldwater (April 1), St. Henry (April 24) and Parkway (April 30). Any changes, he said, would not take effect until the 2018-19 school year.
In other business, the board:
•Approved the following: the hiring of coaches Joe Bruns (assistant track), Kylee Moody (junior high track) and Scott Abels (assistant junior high track) and substitute teacher Marilyn Fortkamp; Second National Bank as a depository for public funds; a policy change to set the threshold for requiring bids at $50,000; and a service agreement with Mercer County Educational Service Center for the 2017-18 school year.
•Agreed to purchase two Blue Bird buses from Cardinal Bus Sales and Services at a total cost of $175,552, less the trade-in value of two buses. Firks noted that two buses that have more than 100,000 miles on them will be taken out of regular service and that after this year the plan is to return to buying a new bus every two years.
•Approved a one-year contract with Jutte Landscaping for mowing and trimming. Ervin asked if there had been bidding for the mowing and trimming work. Treasurer Lori Koch responded that it has been out for bid in the past but other companies have not shown interest. Grube inquired as to whether that work could be done internally, but Firks indicated that such a plan would not be cost-effective.
•Accepted the retirement of technology aide Vicki Jutte effective at the end of the school year. She has worked for the schools for 29 years.
•Honored the swim teams, county spelling bee participants, the quiz bowl team and the middle school honors choir for their accomplishments.
•Accepted donations totaling $9,400, including at $4,000 Cooper Family Foundation grant for the school activity funds and $2,000 from Fort Recovery Elementary PTO for both the elementary and middle school activity funds.
•OK’d field trips for the middle school band May 12 and 13 to Mason, and Fort Recovery FFA from May 3 to 5 to the state convention in Columbus.
•Rescheduled its next meeting for April 25. It will begin with a 6 p.m. work session to review the five-year financial forecast with the regular meeting to follow at 6:30 p.m.
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