The Springfield board of education opened the July 12 study session in a new location.
The board held its first meeting at the recently completed Ev Harris Administrative and Educational Complex, 6924 Spring Valley Drive, and following the meeting Superintendent Matt Geha offered a tour of the facility.
Purchased from Joyce Lutton in October 2021 for $1.15 million, the 21,480square-foot building was built in 1978 as an office building and additions were made in subsequent years.
The district made adjustments to portions of the building, Mr. Geha explained, but noted that several wings required little more than painting, mechanicals and new lighting as the rooms already fit the office space needs of the district.
Security doors separate the educational areas from the administration on both levels, and emergency exits can be found throughout the structure should the need arise.
Educational and office areas feature light gray paint with the school’s royal blue highlighted on walls of most rooms.
The superintendent was quick to point out the difference between the old building’s meeting room in the center of the building with no windows, and the room at the new facility which is flooded with natural light. “It’s so much brighter,” he said.
In addition to office space each level has a kitchen area and separate restrooms for staff, and for students, the second level contains a small eating area with a refrigerator to store their perishable lunch items.
Board member Ken Musch added that 65 percent of the classroom space will be used to accommodate additional programs such as phlebotomy and construction carpentry.
It also houses the district’s digital academy and career based intervention program.
Mr. Geha pointed out that administration is now entirely relocated to the new building where summer school for older students is currently taking place.
“The old building is largely empty,” he said, but not for long. The district is in the process of filling the Hall Street location with the technology, transportation, food service, community service and special needs services departments. And plans are underway to rename the building.
In the meantime, the administration is settling in to the new offices. “It’s a beautiful building,” Mr. Geha said, adding that funds for the project came from Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund provided to districts to address the impact of COVID-19 on education.
The board set Wednesday, August 9 following the 9 a.m. board meeting as the date to officially dedicate the complex, which is named after Mr. Harris, a 40 plusyear member of the school board.
Personnel
The school board approved a number of personnel matters.
They hired Trisha Hardner, SHS band; Jason Kaczmarek, Holloway and Crissey art; Emily Mullan, digital academy high school English; Roger Niese, SHS intervention specialist; Kristin Schnerer, SHS social studies, and LaCharles Smith, SHS credit recovery, long-term substitute.
Several certified changes were authorized. They are Rachel Hetrick, from Holloway kindergarten to third grade; Jenni King from digital academy English to transitional education program instructor and work-based learning coach-teacher on assignment; Lisa Meeker, from Holland English language arts to Holland/SMS literacy coach-teacher on assignment; Liza Runyan, reassigned from fifth grade to fourth grade math; Kim Schrag, reassigned from fifth grade to fourth grade science and social studies; Tayna Studebaker, from SHS intervention specialist to math, and Emily Witte, reassigned from fifth to fourth grade English language arts.
Also employed as interventionists are Julie Bick, Sarah Bruce, Liliana Esquival, Jessica Maese and Robin Sears.
Pupil activity contracts were awarded to Sierra Cleary, SHS freshman cheerleading assistant coach; Maxine Clum, SHS color guard/winter guard director and SMS winter guard director; Brandon Edwards, SHS football co-coordinator; Chelsea Haas, SMS eighth grade girls volleyball coach and SMS eighth grade girls basketball coach, and Kent Smith and Jason Waters, SHS football assistant coaches.
The board also accepted a resignation from Amanda O’Connor, first grade at Holloway Elementary, effective July 31.
A stipend was issued to Delaney Smith, SMS summer support program instructor.
Other Business
In other business, the school board:
•Took the first step toward placing a 2.25-mill renewal levy on the fall ballot, requesting the auditor to certify the figures.
Because it is a renewal, the levy will not cost homeowners any additional property tax money.
•Approved the petty cash account requests for SHS student fees collection and ticket sales; SMS ticket sales; SHS concessions; SHS beverage dispensers, and SMS student fees collection.
•Authorized compensation per diem from July 1 through August 31 for Kristina White, community liaison.
•Accepted job descriptions for literacy coach grades four through eight, and transitional education program instructor and work based learning coach teacher on assignment.
•Approved five requests to attend professional development meetings.
The next board of education meeting will be at 9 a.m., Wednesday, July 19, at the administration building, 6924 Spring Valley Drive, and is open to the public.
