FR board thanked

School board members started the meeting Monday with a small surprise.

Fort Recovery Local Schools principals and treasurer Deanne Knapke presented handmade art to the board for School Board Appreciation Month. Staff coordinated with each board member’s family during school to have their children paint their handprints on canvas.

Board member Anne Guggenbiller said she was surprised her 4-year-old didn’t tell her beforehand, but principal Kelli Thobe explained she probably thought it was a classroom project.

Also Monday, the school board appointed new positions for 2021. Nick Wehrkamp was elected again as president of the board, with Don Wendel as vice president. Jake Knapke will serve as the 2021 Ohio Schools Board Association legislative liaison, with Guggenbiller as an alternate. Wendel will also serve as the 2021 Student Achievement liaison.

The board also agreed to keep its meetings on the third Monday of every month starting at 6:30 p.m.

Deanna Knapke discussed a report for income and taxes she received from the Mercer County auditor. In the forecast, she said, it was predicted there would be a $77,000 increase in taxes compared to 2020 figures.

She also compared the first six months of fiscal year 2021 to school year 2020. Fort Recovery Local Schools have about $163,000 less total revenue than last year, or 3.1%, she said. Total expenditures are also down about $177,000, or 3%.

“So really, our revenue and expenditures are kind of balancing each other out,” she said.

There is less state funding ($122,000) and other operating revenue as well this year, she continued. Knapke commended school principals for controlling spending on needs rather than wants.

“You guys have done a very nice job of keeping things stable,” board member Greg LeFevre added.

Also Monday, high school principal Tony Stahl noted the meeting about college credit options will be held online this year. There will be pre-recorded video and links online. Also, the FFA won second place in the state on an agriculture, technology and mechanical systems test in December, he added.

Superintendent Larry Brown also talked about pursuing an Ohio safety grant. As a result, some classrooms will receive safety bags equipped with items such as generator-based radios, phone chargers and flashlights, he said.

In other business, board members:

•Accepted amended amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission, authorizing tax levies and certifying them to the Mercer County auditor

•Hired three volunteer softball coaches (all former players) — Renee Evers, Lauren Day and Jackie Bruggeman

•Accepted a $12 donation from Network For the Good to FFA.