Board reviews busing issues

FORT RECOVERY — More time will be taken to review transportation issues.

Fort Recovery School Board on Wednesday discussed transportation policy changes that were proposed last month as well as a request for in-village busing.

Board members Greg LeFevre, Mitch Ervin, Jose Faller, Nick Wehrkamp and Mike Grube discussed a variety of options for handling the request for in-village busing. Currently, busing is only provided for students who live outside of the Fort Recovery village limits.

The group settled on doing a feasibility study to look at issues such as cost, the possible need for more buses, the ability to find drivers and other issues. Board members suggested that superintendent Justin Firks, who has also been acting as transportation director, high school principal Bill Overla, middle school principal Tony Stahl, other school staff and potentially Fort Recovery Police Chief Jared Laux work on the study and report back to the board.

Firks said his major concern is the availability of drivers, as the district currently does not have all of its routes filled. He noted that one route is handled by Stahl in the morning and a hodgepodge of substitutes in the afternoon.

The board also talked briefly about changes to the district’s transportation policy that Firks proposed at the February meeting. They include:

•Filling out a bus use form prior to each school year.

•Establishing permanent pick up and drop off points for each student. (Parents who have shared parenting would be allowed to have their child picked up and dropped off at both addresses, as long as a consistent schedule is established.)

•With 48 hours notice students would be permitted to get off at a different stop on their route.

•In cases of emergency situations, the superintendent or transportation coordinator would be able to authorize exceptions.

Under current policy, students can ride any bus and get off at any location by turning in a “purple pass” upon boarding. 

Board president Greg LeFevre suggested looking at software that would be able to handle such bus-change requests.

Firks noted that the policy changes are focused on student safety. He said the district is on pace to handle well over 1,000 purple passes this year. He mentioned an incident last week when about a dozen purple passes had to be denied because a bus was full.

Principals said they have encountered that situation before and had to call parents to arrange other transportation.

Wehrkamp said he had been approached by a parent who has an inconsistent work schedule. He confirmed Wednesday that changes to accommodate such a schedule would be possible, as long as the required notice is given.

“It’s just so we don’t get hit up at the last minute with 12 kids hopping on that day,” said Firks.

“That needs to stop,” agreed Wehrkamp.

Elementary/middle school principal Tracy Evers-Westgerdes asked the board to consider adding a $20 registration fee for preschool students. The funds would be used to purchase supplies and paper products and cover copier costs.

Evers-Westgerdes noted that Parkway schools charges a preschool registration fee of $25.

Board members will consider the fee, which will likely be voted on with books fees are set.

Grube gave an emotional thank you to administrators and staff for their work to recognize and include those with special needs, specifically mentioning the school’s cheerleading program and an honor presented to Les Johnson at a basketball game this year. He said he had heard compliments about both from visitors to games from school districts.

“I think that says a lot about our school,” he said. “I think it’s pretty impressive that people are watching us and seeing what we’re doing and coming away impressed … I think that’s a compliment to our administration and our staff.”

In other business, the board:

•Honored students who were selected for the middle school honors band and high schoolers who participated in the solo and ensemble contest.

•Accepted the retirement/resignation of treasurer Lori Koch effective July 1.

•Heard from Koch that the five-year financial forecast will be held prior to May’s regular  meeting.

•Approved the following: it’s open enrollment policy with no changes; Lisa Braun and Jill Ranly as classified substitutes; the hiring of Jason Barhorst as assistant track coach and Holly Gann as junior high assistant track coach; a new policy for the school system, rather than students, to pay dues for the National Honor Society; the purchase of reflective running vests for cross country and track participants who run on public streets during practice; a service agreement with Mercer County Educational Service Center for the 2019-20 school year; and a memorandum of understanding with Rhodes State College for College Credit Plus courses.

•Learned that following several retirements, some teachers will be shifting roles for the 2019-20 school year. Michelle Stammen will move to second grade from fifth grade, Jill Dues will shift to fourth grade from fifth grade and Travis Guggenbiller will move to eighth grade math from middle school math and science.

•Was reminded by elementary school principal Tracy Evers-Westgerdes that preschool registration is 7 p.m. March 26 and the first grade musical is 7 p.m. March 28.