May 16, 2018 at 5:28 p.m.

Insurance costs expected to dip

FR?board is also considering new HVAC equipment
Insurance costs expected to dip
Insurance costs expected to dip

By RAY COONEY
President, editor and publisher

FORT RECOVERY — The administration and school board are continuing to look at decisions to keep Fort Recovery Local Schools in a strong financial position.

Fort Recovery School Board on Tuesday heard about expected savings on insurance and discussed the possibility of replacing some equipment at the elementary/middle school in an effort to conserve funds.

Treasurer Lori Koch explained to the board that getting insurance through the Educational Purchasing Council should result in financial savings. Fort Recovery expects to see a 5-percent reduction in rates.

Going that route will result in other changes as well, such as the availability of new and different insurance options for school employees.

Superintendent Justin Firks also recommended to board members Jose Faller, Mike Grube, Greg LeFevre and Nick Wehrkamp, absent Mitch Ervin, that the control panels for the chillers at the high school be replaced. He said replacing the control panels for the chillers, which are part of the HVAC system, could allow them to last the district another five years before needing to be replaced. He added that it should also result in savings through greater efficiency.

Energy Optimizers, which worked on the school’s boilers a year ago, had the low quote at $136,000.

The board plans to discuss the issue again at its June meeting. Firks said if the replacement is approved he would like to have the work completed before the start of the 2018-19 school year.

Board members also heard a presentation from guidance counselors Amy Kaiser and Mandy Muhlenkamp.

Kaiser shared information about FRHS’s internship program, through which senior Nathan Thornhill is working for Mercer Electric. The goal of the program is to provide students with pathways to careers after high school.

Muhlenkamp, the middle school guidance counselor, discussed efforts to get more student involvement with the upcoming Get R.E.A.L. (responsible enough about life) Week, which focuses on teaching students to make healthy life choices.

In other business, the board:

•Recognized the softball, baseball and track teams for their accomplishments this season.

•Heard from high school principal Marcus Overman that FRHS was one of 814 public schools in a nine-state region to earn a College Success Award form GreatSchools.org. The award goes to schools that have “made tremendous strides in ensuring students prepare for college, enroll in college and succeed once they get there.”

•Approved the following: OHSAA membership for 2018-19; a contract with West Central Ohio Assistive Technology Center; the list of graduation candidates for participation in commencement exercises; permanent appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30; an agreement with Rehabilitative Services for athletic trainers for the 2018-19 school year; reimbursement for Deanna Knapke for the cost of a “School Finance and School Law” course through University of Phoenix; the amended supervisor salary index schedule; and job descriptions for the new positions of assistant technology director and assistant treasurer.

•Heard reminders about upcoming events, including graduation at 2 p.m. Sunday and a 5K and fun run on Tuesday.

•Hired Kim Minnich and Brian Reichart as teachers for the 2018-19 school year, Howard Wagner as assistant technology coordinator and Anthony Rogers as a non-teaching employee.

•Accepted the resignation of Janelle Braun as a bus driver.

•Approved one-year teaching contracts for Chris Guggenbiller, Kathleen Klosterman and Reid Knuth and two-year teaching contracts for Tami Brunswick, Tami Winner, April Bihn, Kevin Eyink, Travis Guggenbiller, Jocelyn Meyer, Chad Miller, Julie Billenstein, Matthew Kerns, Patricia Lefeld and Mindy Luthman and a three-year contract for Cheri Brewer. Also approved Abby May, Tami Winner, Abby Scheidt, Jill Dues, Judy Fortner and Evie Smith as summer school teachers. Also approved were athletics coaching contracts and  other supplemental duties contracts for the 2018-19 school year.

•Accepted a total of $345 in donations.
PORTLAND WEATHER

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