Green Local Schools Board reorganizes and hears middle school report
SMITHVILLE – Green Local Schools Board of Education elected officers and appointed members to committees Monday at its organizational session and then held its regular monthly session of the board.
Previous meeting:Green Local BOE: American Rescue Plan funds to cover cost of Berkey Fieldhouse upgrades
This year’s president of the Green Local Schools Board of Education is Brent Steiner. Brad Yochheim will serve as vice president.
Appointed as liaison for the academics, leadership and culture committee is the new board member, Brandon Von Almen, who also will be the liaison for Student Life.
Yochheim and Steiner will serve as family and community engagement liaisons; Mike Davis and Randy Brillhart, business and finance liaisons; Brillhart, facility and grounds liaison; Yochheim, safety and security liaison; Steiner, board policy liaison; Davis, Ohio School Boards Association legislative liaison; and Steiner, SALT (Student Achievement Legacy Trust) Fund liaison.
Green Middle School accomplishments mentioned
Green Middle School LEAD students, part of the district’s Leader in Me program, gave the board a report of their accomplishments over the school year, including a food drive on behalf of district families, Make A Difference Day for which all students participated in off campus jobs benefiting the community; and a variety of student activities during the school day, such as selling Candy Grams and hosting a pep rally, Principal Jennifer Shutt said.
The LEAD team also summarized several future endeavors — hosting a Hats and Gloves Drive, planning a February Fiesta, sponsoring another pep rally and planning a Spring Fling for the second year in a row, Shutt said.
Middle school students apply through an application each spring to be on the LEAD student team for the following year, said Shutt, noting the team functions like a Student Council “by developing ideas for the student body to encourage school spirit, team unity and leadership skills.”
Other business for Green Local Schools Board
- Board of Education members were honored for their service as part of School Board Recognition Month.
- Superintendent Dean Frank gave a COVID-19 update, noting the recent week’s absentee rate was about 9%, as compared to a typical week of 4% to 5% absenteeism. He compared it to the first week of September, which was 15%. “It’s something we monitor closely,” Frank said, adding, masks remain optional in the district. “I don’t foresee that changing.”
- The board will hold a work session for strategic planning on Jan. 31. The range of the strategic plan is from 2021 to 2024. “We’re getting into Year 2 of it,” Frank said, asking,”What did we accomplish last year? What changes do we want to make next year?” The work session is also scheduled for the benefit of Von Almen, to give him “a chance to weigh in and ask questions,” Frank said.
- A special session of the board will be held on Feb. 9, 7:30 a.m., in the Wilbur Berkey Fieldhouse in anticipation of reviewing bids for the Berkey Fieldhouse HVAC improvement project using American Rescue plan funds; and to possibly approve a contract for that project, Frank said.
- The board approved its existing open enrollment policy, and open enrollment applications may be made beginning March 1, 2022.
UP NEXT
Work session, Jan. 31, 6 p.m., Wilbur Berkey Fieldhouse, 100 Smithie Drive, Smithville
Regular session, Feb. 21, 6:30 p.m., Wilbur Berkey Fieldhouse, 100 Smithie Drive, Smithville
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