FR is taking steps toward safety

FORT RECOVERY — Safety first.

As Fort Recovery Local Schools look ahead to the 2018-19 school year, there is a focus on making buildings and classrooms safer.

Fort Recovery School Board learned Tuesday that Nightlock devices will be installed on all school doors and approved the implementation of a smartphone application designed for reporting bullying behavior.

The board also reviewed test scores from 2017-18 school year and approved an agreement with Energy Optimizers.

The Nightlock Lockdown 1 devices come at a cost of $59.95 apiece and will be installed on all classroom and office doors. They involve small plates on the floor and door with a metal piece that is inserted to secure the door in case of an attack.

Superintendent Justin Firks shared a promotional video during the meeting that showed police officers unable to break through the secured doors despite using kicks, a sledge hammer and a device designed for breaching doors.

The total cost of the devices will be about $6,500.

“In my opinion, although it’s a little bit of expense, I think it’s well worth it as far as the security upgrade is concerned,” said Firks. “It’s a logical next step we can take as far as keeping our buildings secure.”

The board also approved funding for a smartphone application called STOPit, which gives students an anonymous way to report bullying behavior. The app will cost the school district $600 annually, and Firks said this year will be a trial run to see how it works.

Firks also shared Fort Recovery’s scores on state standardized tests, projecting that the district will have a 100 (out of a possible 120) on the performance index. That’s up from 97.1 a year ago.

Fort Recovery’s best scores came on the sophomore government test with 94.9 percent of students passing and the fourth grade math test with 93.2 percent passing.

Board members Mitch Ervin, Greg LeFevre, Mike Grube, Nick Wehrkamp and Jose Faller also approved a five-year, $136,880 contract with Energy Optimizers for the school’s HVAC system. The contract will include replacing control panels, new software and preventative maintenance.

The work and upgrades are expected to save the district money as a result of greater energy efficiency and extend the life of the current chillers.

In other business, the board:

•Set the following textbook fees for the 2018-19 school year: kindergarten - $65.02; first - 70.16; second - $71.59; third - $77.74; fourth - 63.67; fifth - $72.47; sixth - $71.60; seventh - $60; and eighth - $77.30.

•Approved the following: participation in the federal title programs and other federal and state grant programs and the federal free and reduced lunch program for the 2018-19 school year; the renewal of the school district liability, fleet and property insurance with the Southwestern Ohio EPC Insurance for July 1, 2018 through July 1, 2019, at a cost of $31,357, a 5-percent decrease; the renewal of liability insurance for eligible school groups such as booster clubs for one year beginning July 1; returning advances totaling $22,000 to the general fund from three other funds; modifying permanent appropriations for fiscal year 2018 to allow for year-end expenditures; making temporary appropriations for fiscal year 2019, which begins July 1; setting the superintendent’s bond at $50,000 with Fort Recovery Insurance Agency; allowing new employees hired after April 30 to accrue up to 10 in service hours this summer; and creating an all-sport pass that will cover middle school and high school events ant a cost of $150 for adults and $50 for students.

•Discussed the possibility of adding “violent acts” insurance coverage that would cover the school district in case of a shooting or other attack on school grounds. The board plans to consider the issue and discuss it at the July meeting.

•OK’d supplemental contracts for coaches Tori Lennartz (freshman volleyball and junior high girls basketball), Tyler Wuebker (assistant football), Esther Stephen (softball), Taylor Wendel (cheer), Jeff Vaughn (girls golf), Ryan Thien (assistant softball), Dave Blockberger (assistant football and junior high boys basketball), Tony Stahl (assistant junior high girls basketball) and Nick Vogel (junior high assistant football).

•Decided to keep the same school lunch prices in place at $2.10 for preschool through fifth grade, $2.35 for sixth through 12th grades, $3.10 for adults and 35 cents for extra milk.

•Heard treasurer Lori Koch report that the district’s Medicaid audit came back clean.

•Accepted the resignation of Carly Staugler as freshman volleyball coach.

•Heard from principals Marcus Overman, Tony Stahl and Tracy Evers-Westgerdes that updates have been made to the student, staff and athletics handbooks.

•Heard from Stahl that the middle school held its first Lego League summer camp Tuesday. It’s part of an effort to get a team together in order to compete in a regional competition in November.

•Approved the following: April Bihn, Joseph Bruns, Travis Guggenbiller, Tracey Evers-Westgerdes, Christa Fullenkamp, Matthew Kerns, Patricia Lefeld, Tony Stahl, Carly Staulger, Marcia Weigel and Courtney Wilker as van drivers; John Bihn, Nicholas Brockman, Jerry Byram, Christopher DuHamel, Lisa Fullenkamp, Michael Gower, Joseph Hawk, Nancy Reinhard, Charles Sanning, Michael Thien, Ryan Thien, Randall Wendel, Kurt Wendel, Roger Wenning, Herbert Westgerdes and Kevin Will as substitute bus drivers’ 

•Accepted a $100 donation from Meiring Poultry to the choir and an anonymous donation of $40 to the class of 2019.

•OK’d five overnight or out-of-state field trips, including the FRHS Marching Band to Florida from Nov. 9 through 14, 2019.