Honing in on projects

FORT RECOVERY — Fort Recovery School Board got a clearer picture of what capital projects may be in the plans for this summer.

Superintendent Tony Stahl gave the board a primer on potential projects for the coming year after sharing a 10-year capital plan with the board last month.

While not yet asking for project approval, Stahl listed the following Monday as possibilities for this summer:

•Improving facilities at Barrenbrugge Athletic Park — The project, in partnership with Fort Recovery Athletic Boosters, is proposed to start with construction of a new ticket booth and the addition of space for referees and storage. Future phases could involve relocating the visitors’ locker room, adding student training and medical space, replacing lights and resurfacing the track. (Stahl noted that school officials will meet with architecture firm Garmann Miller of Minster regarding the project this week.)

•Website upgrades — The current hosting contract expires and school officials are looking at a revamp that could include tying athletics pages more closely with the school site and updating graphics packages.

•Replacing electronic devices for students and teachers

•Installation of a new water heater at the elementary/middle school

•Replacing the sign in front of the high school

Potential future projects laid out in the 10-year plan approved in December include roofing and maintenance for the elementary/middle school and high school buildings.

Also Monday, high school principal Ryan Steinbrunner updated the board on recent changes to the ACT. The test that is used by some colleges for admission will now have fewer questions, fewer answer options for math and less time for some sections. Also, the science portion of the test will be optional and will not be part of a student’s composite score.

Steinbrunner said Fort Recovery students will continue to take the science portion of the test. They will not be required to take the science portion if they retake the test multiple times.

He also told the board about a recent Business Advisory Council event during which students on a panel pushed for more technology education, specifically related to using laptops and Microsoft Office.

In other business, the board:

•Re-elected Wendel as president with Kahlig as vice president. Also, treasurer Deanna Knapke was approved as public records officer for board members. Sean Kahlig and Nick Wehrkamp were sworn in for another term as board members. Wehrkamp was appointed as student achievement liaison.

•Learned from middle school principal Holly Wermert that Kayla Dues won the school’s spelling bee with Zoey Wendel second and LaMichael Heitkamp third. All three are seventh graders. All three will compete in the Mercer County Spelling Bee in March. Dues will also compete in the regional bee. She also noted that student appreciation nights will be held at girls and boys basketball games on Jan. 20 and 29, respectively. The middle school will also host a quiz bowl on Jan. 31.

•Heard from elementary school principal Laura Brandt that information is being gathered for the 2026-27 kindergarten class. She said 54 students have already signed up. She also noted that the eligibility rules for kindergarten have changed, with children now required to be 5 before the first day of school. (Previously they had to be 5 by Aug. 1.)

•Learned from Steinbrunner that scheduling for the 2026-27 school year is underway at the high school and that eighth graders will be making a visit during which they will learn about elective class options. He also noted that 27 out of 61 sophomores have applied to the Tri-Star Career Compact for career and technical education for next year.

•Appointed Knapke as the authorized financial agent for the district and Ennis Britton as legal counsel.

•Accepted the resignation of Bonnie Fortkamp as a full-time custodian retroactive to Dec. 31 and granted severance and unused personal pay.

•Approved the following: A request for an advance draw on 2026 tax collections for the general fund and bond retirement from Mercer and Darke counties; a resolution that the district is in compliance with its Nutritional Standards Policy; establishing a board service fund not to exceed $5,000 to pay expenses incurred in the performance of board duties; and accepting amended amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor.

•Authorized Wendel, Stahl and Knapke to attend local, district, state and national meetings.

•Authorized Knapke to pay all invoices within the limits of appropriations as they are received; secure bonds of $50,000 for the board president and superintendent and a $100,000 bond for the treasurer.

•Authorized Stahl and Knapke to: accept donations on behalf of the board; continue an agreement with Mercer Health for drug testing services; enter into federal, state and local grants and for the treasurer to appropriate those funds, and to enter into an internet service provider agreement.

•Authorized Stahl to: make offers of employment when the board is not in session; accept resignations from employees when the board is not in session; approve staff member attendance at conferences and meetings; enter into agreements with institutes of higher education for College Credit Plus services; enter into agreements with other schools for special services; make technical corrections to policies; employ substitutes on an as-needed basis; be purchasing agent for the school district; employ temporary personnel and casual labor as needed.

•Accepted donations totaling $7,307, including $1,500 each from Tom and Mary Pat Zitter for the elementary, middle and high school activity funds.

•Set its regular meetings for 6:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. The board will hold a work session at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, with a regular meeting to follow at 6:30 p.m.

•Heard thanks from Stahl to the board members for their continued service. January is School Board Appreciation Month.