Springfield Local Schools food service managers were recognized for their work at the December 13 board of education meeting. Superintendent Matt Geha presented commendations to managers Tina Buchhop, SMS/Holland; Rosemary Ratajczak, Crissey; Mary Simpson, Dorr; Kathy Augustyniak, Holloway, and Barb Mohr, SHS.
Following the presentation, Jamie Filipiak, supervisor of food service, provided an update on the department.
She noted that in 2022-23, they served 100,419 breakfasts. “At the middle school and Holland Intermediate, we started grab-n-go breakfast bags with a huge success,” she said, adding, “Each morning the kitchen staff prepares more than 300 bags.”
The lunch program also is doing well with 296,513 lunches served. A la carte sales totaled $90,439 last year. “This is mostly the high school and middle school. Elementary didn’t sell much a la carte due to short staffing,” Ms. Filipiak explained.
The department began the 2022-23 school year with a cash balance of $579,800 and ended the year June 30, 2023 with a balance of $609,663. Revenues totaled $1.75 million and expenditures were $1.72 million.
Staff continously strives to prepare healthy meals that meet all the food groups. They also provide students with ethnic foods such as Chinese, Indian, Italian and Mexican dishes, she added.
Menus are based on favorite foods as well as new recipes.
Personnel
The board took action on a number of personnel matters.
They issued a one-year contract to Karen Rhegness, Crissey Elementary, effective December 4; Robert Edwards, 2.5 hour Holland recess monitor, November 28, and Cole Kwapich, 2 hour Crissey recess monitor, November 28.
The board also awarded casual labor contracts 2023-24 to Corey Daniels and Tyler Haughawout.
Translator/interpreter contracts were issued to Farah Sammouri, November 15, and Michele Mawad, December 1.
Pupil activity permit contracts for 2023-24 were approved for Markese Hicks and Jewel Rollins, SHS girls basketball volunteer coaches, effective November 17.
The school board accepted a retirement resignation from Richard Barnhizer, 8 hour Dorr head custodian, effective January 1.
They also accepted resignations from McKenna Reitz, SHS volleyball coach, November 28; Ashley Zeiler, SMS interventionist, November 18, and Kelly Santus, 7 hour SHS food service, January 3, 2024 In addition, the board of education approved stipends for SMS After School academic tutors Isabel Chaplin, Kelsey DePompei, Amy Hagan, Maxwell Meany and Delaney Smith; SMS after school academic program director Brianna Mitchell; Dorr After School Springfield Reads, Liliana Esquivel and Kristin Wilkins; Holloway After School Springfield Reads, Rachel Hetrick; Crissey After School Springfield Reads, Randy Norris and Kim Simon.
Employed as substitutes for 2023-24 are Justin Key, Laurie Kwiatkowski and Krystin Warner, teachers, and Sarah Thorson, lunchroom and recess monitor. Other Business In other business, the school board:
•Appointed board member Ken Musch as president pro tem, and set the annual organizational meeting for Friday, January 12, at 4:15 p.m.
•Authorized two transfers: $7,777.65 to SHS athletics for Homecoming 2022, and $7,521.69 to SHS athletics for Homecoming 2023.
The change was made as a remittance to athletics which ran the last two Homecoming dances.
•Approved purchase orders of $12,903.93 to Torrence Sound from the maintenance department for the SHS PA system, and $4,894.16 to ITSAVVY, LLC from the Technology Department.
•Recognized outgoing Village of Holland Mayor Lee Irons for his years of service to Springfield Schools and as a 42-year member of village council and mayor. The mayor, a retired SLS school teacher, was presented with Springfield Schools spirit wear.
•Approved an addendum to a client services recognition for paraprofessionals with the Renhill Group for $11,695.
•Entered into an agreement with Boundless for student services at a cost of $11,235.
•Approved a transportation services agreement with Elite Up Transportation LLC for special education.
•Entered into a third party service agreement with Sara’s Garden for special education services.
•Increased the hourly rate for student workers from $10.10 to $10.45 in accordance with the January 1, 2024, Ohio minimum wage updates.
•Approved revisions to the preschool program and interscholastic athletics policies. The changes were made to bring policies up to date with changes in law, explained Treasurer Ryan Lockwood.
•Approved seven requests to attend professional development days.
•Entered into executive session, but took no action afterward.
The next school board meeting will be at 4:15 p.m., Friday, January 12, at the Springfield administration building, 6924 Spring Valley Drive, Holland, and is open to the public. It will begin with an organizational session followed by the regular meeting.
