Springfield Township is no longer the only entity voicing its displeasure over a proposed traffic pattern change at North McCord Road and Spring Valley Drive.
At the July 28 meeting, the Springfield Board of Education formally expressed its concern in a resolution to the Ohio Department of Transportation.
ODOT is currently planning to eliminate the left turn lane from northbound North McCord Road onto Spring Valley Drive.
Superintendent Matt Geha said ODOT plans to bid the project in December and begin work on it in April with completion by August 2022.
He believes eliminating the turn will place too much traffic into the “already overstressed roundabout” at the high school campus. “We’d like ODOT to consider an alternative,” he said.
In the resolution, the school board points out that more than 2,200 students and 300 faculty and staff are on the campus each school day. In addition, more than 27 buses, 400 plus parents and more than 200 students drive to and from school and “the vast majority of the transportation enter and exit the campus from McCord Road.”
The board also noted that ODOT never notified them “that such a change was under consideration or what other alternatives were being discussed.”
They are asking ODOT to reconsider its options “for the safety of our student population, our bus drivers, our students who drive themselves to school and our employees.”
In conclusion, the school board said it opposes “any alternatives for McCord Road that would direct traffic into our school safety zone due to the danger said plans would needlessly present to students and employees of the Springfield Local School campus.”
The superintendent pointed out that in addition to the school district and township, businesses along Spring Valley object to the proposal, noting that 42 businesses are against eliminating the left turn and consider doing so to be detrimental to their businesses.
Personnel
The board took action on a number of personnel matters. Those include:
•Issuing one-year contracts to Lori Archer, SHS math; Rebecca Freman, digital academy grades six through eight; Kailee Wood, digital academy grades three, four and five, and John Hritz, information technology specialist.
•Authorizing a change of assignment for Sandy McCaleb, Holloway recess monitor 2 hours to Holloway lunchroom monitor 2 hours, effective August 13.
•Awarding a casual labor in athletics contract to De-Wayne Houghtlen.
•Approving leave of absence for Katelyn Collier, mid-August to mid-September.
•Approving pupil activity contracts for 2021-22 to Sierra Cleary, SHS freshman cheerleading assistant coach, and Anthony Scott, SHS volunteer football coach.
•Accepting retirement resignations from Stan Davis, Holloway lunchroom monitor and delivery person, effective August 12, and Ricky Shoemaker, general maintenance, effective December 31, who “has been here for some time and is a great man,” said Mr. Geha, adding that Mr. Shoemaker has been a dedicated employee, serving the district for more than 30 years.
•Approving supplemental contracts for Kailyn Bates and Christopher Young, SMS building leadership team (BLT) math co-chairs; Ms. Bates and Kimberly Bryson, SMS math counts co-advisors; Jessica Bennett and Jamie Schwieterman, SMS BLT social studies cochairs; Olga Block, SMS quiz bowl advisor; Shannon Brazzil and Tyler Haughawout, SMS BLT special education co-chairs; Michael Clark, SMS SYSOP systems operator; Mr. Clark and Chad Krukemyer, SMS BLT science co-chairs; Lisa Holden, SMS BLT special areas chair; Jamie Lenox, SMS Science Olympiad advisor; Amy Merrill-Wyatt and Tom Mockensturm, SMS Power of the Pen coadvisors; Benjamin Miller, SMS yearbook advisor; Mr. Mockensturm and Tracy Roscoe, SMS BLT English co-chairs; Michael Ransford, SMS Science Olympiad assistant.
Other Business
In other business, the board of education:
•Authorized the purchase of four 84-passenger buses and one lift-handicap bus using federal funds. Treasurer Ryan Lockwood said the district is “looking at a six month lag” from the time the order is placed until they are received.
He added, “The larger capacity buses will allow us to more safely transport students.”
•Approved an updated program cost agreement with the Educational Service Center of Lake Erie. The ESC will provide JROTC and gifted programming services as well as serve as an at large school improvement consultant in 2021-22 at a cost of $329,833.
The cost breakdown is JROTC, $101,909; gifted program services of gifted teachers, $171,149; universal design for learning coach, $39,242; at-large consultants, $40,652. The agreement includes a $6.50 per pupil credit totaling $23,121.
•Appointed board member Rick Helminski as the district’s delegate to the 2021 OSBA annual business meeting. Board member Ken Musch will serve as the alternate.
•Approved the independent contractor agreement with Green Options for Autism of Lucas County for two students.
•Contracted with Bill Geha to serve as the prevention and intervention coordinator for the 2021-22 school year at a cost of $20,000.
•Approved the JLJ Vision Outreach proposals for Springfield Middle School and Springfield High School to provide assistance with student attendance issues.
•Updated job descriptions for assistant mechanic, high school attendance secretary, middle school attendance secretary, middle school building secretary, on-board instructor, records secretary for high school counseling office, school counselor, secretary to assistant high school principal-student services, secretary to athletic director, secretary to high school principal, secretary to middle school counseling department, secretary to middle school principal, teacher, and teacher intervention specialist.
•Approved an addendum for client services contract with the Renhill Group, changing the pay rate to between $13 to $16 per hour for aides based on years of service and other factors.
•Issued commendations to all building principals and administrators for their work during last year’s pandemic. “When we got knee deep, it was rough, it was bad. I can only thank you for your patience, what you accomplished and your work together,” Mr. Geha said.
He noted that on a number of occasions, administrators had to respond often with less than 24 hours’ notice to changes. “Thank you for getting us through this pandemic. Hopefully, there won’t be another,” he added. •Updated policies pertaining to use of medication; procurement and use of epinephrine auto-injectors in emergency situations; procurement use of asthma inhalers in emergency situations, and class rank.
•Entered into executive session to consider the purchase of property, but took no action afterward.
The next board of education meeting will be at 9 a.m., Wednesday, August 11, at the board meeting room 6900 Hall Street, and is open to the public.
