Reviewing mission

The “Indian Way” may become deeper engrained into local schools.

Superintendent Larry Brown started discussion at Monday’s school board meeting about revising Fort Recovery Local Schools’ mission and vision statements.

The current mission statement reads: “The mission of the Fort Recovery Local School District is to create a culture of collective responsibility to add value for all students through academic rigor and best instructional practices in a safe, caring, learning environment.”

Brown explained nothing is wrong with the current language, although he estimated it’s been the mission statement for about five years.

He noted the Indian Way is a set of three values instilled in Fort Recovery students. Those values are “power of the tribe,” which encourages teamwork, “passion to grow,” which encourages growth, and “own it,” which encourages self-pride. These values are something he’d like to implement into the mission for staff members.

Brown asked the board for its thoughts and recommendations.

School board member Greg LeFevre said it might be helpful to discuss the idea with teachers and get their input.

“I think it would be very interesting to have the staff kind of look through and get what they feel about it, whether they think it’s good, or it’s too vague, or it’s too encompassing,” he said. “I think it would be interesting to see what their opinion is because that would help craft something that appeals to them more.”

Abby Scheidt, elementary school teacher and Fort Recovery Education Association president, explained that the Indian Way values are generally more geared toward students at the elementary level, and the mission and vision is more for staff.

Middle school principal Ryan Steinbrunner said he’s already noticed the impact it has on the middle school.

“For my short time here, I can say that Indian Way is pretty strong at the middle school,” he said. “It’s something that I really like, I feel like the kids really like, and the staff really buys into.”

LeFevre noted the Indian Way may be Brown’s starting point to branch from in order to better represent Fort Recovery schools’ goals.

“It doesn’t seem like the mission currently drives behavior the way Indian Way (does),” LeFevre added.

During his school update, Brown also mentioned the Seamless Summer Free Lunch Program, which Fort Recovery Schools started Sept. 17. The federally funded lunch program was extended into this school year through Dec. 22 with aid from the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. It is open to all students. The school will continue to collect applications through Oct. 1 for free and reduced lunches for the remainder of the school year.

Treasurer Deanna Knapke noted a few upcoming dates during her report. Board members scheduled a work session for the five-year financial forecast for 6 p.m. Nov. 16, to be followed by its regular meeting. Open enrollment for staff insurance plans will be from Oct. 19 through Oct. 30, she added.

Financial Aid night will be held virtually this year on Oct. 6 at 6:30 p.m., Brown noted.

Elementary school principal Kelli Thobe said school is going well despite ongoing pandemic concerns.

“It is amazing, going into the school year with COVID, we had two options: we could either go in with a bad attitude or we could have a good attitude,” she said, explaining that staff has kept positive and students are happy to be back.

Steinbrunner also discussed some tech issues with the virtual academy and Google Chromebooks that occurred in the first few weeks. After some problem-solving between companies and students, things have started running smoothly, he explained.

In other business, board members Don Wendel, Anne Guggenbiller, Jake Knapke, Nick Wehrkamp and LeFevre:

•Approved the following: Connor Rammel and Ryan Steinbrunner as substitute bus drivers for the 2020-21 school year; Daniel Braun, Cheryl Perkeybile and Karen Klenke as substitute teachers for the 2020-21 school year; initial transfers, which forwarded $10,000 from the general fund to the coronavirus relief fund; high school student fees for the 2020-21 school year; adding both a Roth 403 (b) and Roth 457 retirement plan for employees of Fort Recovery Schools; a draft for the first reading of additions and replacements to school policies, relating to the following sections: employment of administrators, evaluations of principals and other administrators, vacations, attendance, nondiscrimination on the basis of sex in programs or activities, religion in the curriculum, class rank, sexual violence, due process rights, protective facial coverings during pandemic events, investments, student fines and charges, waiver of school fees for instructional materials, procuring federal grants or funds, procurement cards, religious or patriotic ceremonies and observances and removal, suspension, expulsion and permanent exclusion of students.

•Accepted donations from Fort Recovery Insurance Agency (disinfectant wipes), Pax Machine Works (face shields) and Together For a Change (cloth face masks). Board members also accepted nearly $300 in donations, including $251.10 from AmeriGas Propane LP for capital improvements.

•Authorized Brown to enter an agreement with the Fort Recovery Education Association for the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System 2.0. Scheidt noted all parties involved (teachers, principals and FREA members) seem satisfied with the updated system.