Fort schools to ask for tax hike (2/9/05)

FORT RECOVERY — The school corporation here approved something it hasn’t done for almost 15 years — asking for an income tax increase.

Fort Recovery School Board members voted Tuesday to propose a .50 percent income tax increase to be placed on a special ballot in the May 3 primary election. If approved, approximately $300,000 will be raised by this tax increase and used for general operating expenses. The increase will go into effect in Jan. 1, 2006. General operating expenses can be used to pay salaries, buy equipment and textbooks.

The Fort Recovery School Corporation has not asked for a income tax increase since 1990.

“We are running short on money,” Fort Recovery schools treasurer Dennis Ontrop said this morning. “I don’t know if many places in the state can say they haven’t asked for an income tax increase in 15 years.”

In related business, board members voted not to renew or replace the permanent improvement levy that will expire in 2005. This five-year levy was first approved in 1995 and approved again in 2000. According to information from Riel, this levy generated approximately $850,000 in the past five years for capital improvement projects.

In other business, Riel reported officials from the Ohio Department of Education are set to come to the Fort Recovery schools to learn more about the Data Analysis on Student Learning (DASL) computer program on March 2. DASL keeps track of students’ state test scores from elementary school through graduation.

Nine school officials traveled to Columbus, Ohio in January to demonstrate to ODE members how the corporation uses the DASL.

Also Tuesday, board members:

•Approved the calendar for the 2005-06 school year. Changes to the calendar include moving graduation forward approximately a week to May 21, 2006 and changing some of the staff development days.

The first day of school is Aug. 23, 2005.

•Heard a reading workshop for kindergartners and first graders will be held at Fort Recovery Elementary School on Thursday, Feb. 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

•Heard an open house will be held at the elementary school on Monday, Feb. 14, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

•Recognized Wendel Poultry Service for its $250 donation to the Fort Recovery High School Show Choir and $250 donation to the FRHS band.

The company also donated the use of a refrigerated truck and fuel to store the schools’ frozen food products during the early January power outage.

•Took part in a speed stacking demonstration presented by elementary school fifth grade science and physical education teacher Jeff Brown. Speed stacking is a activity that involves hand-eye coordination.

•Heard FFA Week will be held at Fort Recovery High School from Feb. 22 to 25.

•Set the week of July 2 to 10 as Family Week. During this week, there will be no school events.

“This is a good time for family vacations,” Ontrop said, adding that this is the second year the school corporation has cleared a week during the summer.

•Heard students will go to school on Friday, Feb. 18 for a make-up day.

•Approved the renewal of liability insurance for clubs including the athletic boosters, band boosters, show choir, Parent Teacher Organization and the academic booster club. The insurance costs $70 per club per year.

•Approved the hiring of Scott Steinbrunner as FRHS baseball reserve coach, Beth Stephen as FRHS softball reserve coach, Jessica Faller as FRHS track coach, Zeb Sutton as FRHS assistance track coach, Jodi Staugler as Fort Recovery Middle School track coach, Jennifer Grieshop as FRMS assistant track coach, Shelly Vaughn as FRHS assistant track coach, Jason Grieshop as FRHS assistant track coach and Jerry Kaup and Diana Rammel as volunteer softball coaches.

•Heard the next school board meeting will be held Tuesday, March 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the board conference room at FRHS.[[In-content Ad]]