Middle school updating materials

FORT RECOVERY –– The middle school plans to update its materials over the course of the next several years.

Fort Recovery Middle School teacher Jessica Jutte shared an update on the curriculum revision plan with Fort Recovery School Board on Monday.

The school board also hired Kevin Eyink as the high school baseball head coach (see related story). Prior to the decision on Eyink and other hires, board members held an executive session lasting about an hour.

Jutte spoke briefly about plans to update learning materials.

“This came about with our action plan in terms of just creating a process where we are consistent in the rotation of who’s getting new resources,” she said.

The plan includes a trial year with teachers testing different materials prior to purchasing. Social studies departments (fifth through eighth grade) started with the trial year in 2020 and began using new textbooks at the start of the current school year.

After rotating through all departments (including language arts, mathematics and science as well as non-core subjects) through 2027, the rotation will begin again with social studies.

Council also heard from high school principal Tony Stahl that the high school is hosting two more student appreciation nights involving attendance prizes, games, face painting and other activities.

At the first student appreciation night on Sept. 16 at the Fort Recovery volleyball match against Knoxville, there were about 90 students, Stahl said, or double the normal attendance.

Another similar event is planned Oct. 15 alongside military appreciation night. The National Guard is bringing in a rock climbing wall that evening, Stahl continued.

Stahl also shared a few upcoming event dates:

•A Vietnam War veteran and motivational speaker will be visiting the high school Oct. 1. Veterans in the community are welcome to attend.

•Homecoming is slated for Oct. 8 and 9

•Student council is hosting a blood drive Oct. 20

Superintendent Larry Brown noted repairs to the chiller system at Fort Recovery Elementary/Middle School have been completed. The new parts should allow for more efficient air conditioning.

“I’m sure the teachers are happy,” said council member Greg LeFevre.

“Very happy,” an educator chimed in from the crowd.

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

•Recognized Sophia Pearson for organizing and mounting banners to light posts through the village honoring local veterans. Pearson noted she is planning a second round of banners and encouraged those interested to reach out to her via email ([email protected]), her home phone number or by visiting her address.

•Approved an overnight trip for gifted students in fifth and sixth grade to Chicago on May 5. (Typically the event is for fifth graders but with the coronavirus pandemic students were not able to travel last year.)

•Hired or renewed contracts with the following: substitute Lacy Heinrichs and volunteer coaches Rachel Klosterman (assistant volleyball coach), Steve Westgerdes (girls bowling coach) and Brad Miller (assistant boys basketball coach); high school boys assistant basketball coach Robert Leverette, high school assistant basketball coach Kyle Whitesel and high school Scholastic Bowl advisor Marcia Weigel.

•Accepted $16,917 in donations, including $10,000 from Fort Recovery Athletic Boosters toward the weight room and a $4,330 grant from Auglaize County Educational Center toward the elementary school for literacy purposes.

•Approved high school student fees for the 2021-22 school year.