Springfield Local Schools is about to get a little bigger.
At the August 11 meeting, the school board unanimously approved the purchase of a building at 6924 Spring Valley Drive.
The property, being purchased from Joyce Lutton for $1.15 million, has a 23,000-square-foot building.
“We are using ESSER III federal grant monies to purchase the majority of this building and are paying for the majority of the renovations as it falls under the guidelines for educating our students during COVID,” said Treasurer Ryan Lockwood.
Superintendent Matt Geha said the district plans to use it for its Springfield Digital Academy, career-based intervention program and career technical offerings.
He hopes to have the building ready for occupancy in mid-September.
“There will be 100 students attending from Springfield High School and more than by 200 by school year’s end,” he said.
Mr. Geha noted that the digital academy has been operating from a rented office, which was a challenge during the pandemic.
“Our old lease for the one room SDA was approximately $15,000 per year,” Mr. Lockwood said.
The superintendent believes acquiring the building will alleviate issues with the academy space. “This [purchase] is great timing,” he added.
Mr. Lockwood said the 1.72-acre property “can easily be integrated into our main campus,” noting the parcel backs up to the middle school grounds.
Transportation
Transportation director Ron Smith presented an update on plans for this school year, as well as a review of last year.
Mr. Smith told the board that last year, they began with 27 routes, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic consolidated to 23 routes.
“We will remain at that number this year,” he said.
He noted they lost four drivers last year–one retired, one went to another department and two others found different jobs. He currently has three substitute drivers in the process of becoming credentialed drivers.
Mr. Smith said the department will continue to deliver students to and from extra-curricular sporting events, but acknowledged that finding sufficient drivers for field trips will be a challenge. “There is not always someone available,” he explained.
He admits that Springfield, like other school districts, is facing a shortage of drivers, but believes they have sufficient drivers to start the school year.
“It’s a tough world right now in transportation. It’s going to be a tight start, but we will make it,” he added.
Personnel
The board took action on a number of personnel matters. Those include:
•Awarding one-year contracts for 2021-22 to Stefani Dutcher, Crissey autism intervention specialist; Mitchell LeStrange, SHS credit recovery; Jenna Moden, Holland social emotional learning coach; Brett Mueller, SMS/SHS SDA intervention specialist; Michelle Young, Holland first grade.
They also approved changes in assignment for Teresa Doran from SMS/SHS choir and general music to SHS choir and other electives; Jennifer Stonitsch from Holland first grade to Springfield Digital Academy grades three to five, and Jeanene Drozdowicz, Dorr food service four hours with additional cleaning duties.
•Issuing one-year classified contracts to Veronica Cannan, SHS 4 hours food service with additional cleaning duties; Michelle Fry, SMS 2.5 hours food service; Danielle Wulf, SMS 4 hours food service with additional cleaning duties; Angelica Brown, district 5 hour delivery person, and Wade Opaczewski, Karen Willis, and Sharon Turner, SHS 2.5 hours food service.
Mr. Geha is pleased with their ability to hire more food service personnel. “This is great for us to see,” he said.
•Awarding academic interventionist contracts for 2021-22 to Adam Bick, Amy Goulding, Christen Grime and Abbe Whitacre.
•Approving pupil activity contracts for 2021-22 to Christopher Fryzel, SMS football assistant co-coach eighth grade; Robert Materni, SHS football assistant coach JV/varsity; Sawyer Schafer, SHS volleyball, assistant coach freshman, and Joshua Wray, SMS football assistant cocoach seventh grade.
•Accepting the resignation of Jamie Parton, SHS 6 hour food service, effective August 5.
•Approving a stipend for Kelly Kahmann, resident educator coordinator. This is Ms. Kahmann’s second year serving the district in this capacity, Mr. Geha explained.
•Awarding substitute teaching contracts to Adam Bick and Melissa Weisner and a classified substitute contract to Tami Bombick, food service, secretary and lunch-recess monitor.
•Issuing supplemental contracts to Bonita Adams, SHS African American advisor and SHS building leadership team (BLT) business; Sara Beamer, Holloway SYSOP and BLT chair fifth grade; Julie Boehler, SHS Science Olympiad assistant; Michelle Bryan, SHS BLT math chair; Chelsea Byrosingh, Holloway BLT chair third grade; Gina Ciminillo, SHS class co-advisor 2023; David Connelly, SHS BLT health, physical education and JROTC; Karma Cook, Holland RTI co-chair; Tara Cowell, Holloway BLT chair kindergarten; Dorianne Cox, SHS class co-advisor 2025; Kathryn Crago, SHS class co-advisor 2022, SHS prom advisor co-chair and SHS speech/debate team; Mark Davidson, SHS director/producer of radio operations; Molly Davis, SMS LPDC member; Kelly Deisher, Holland SYSOP; Teresa Doran, SHS drama director fall and spring plays and theatre manager; Elisabeth Fausnaugh, Holloway RTI co-chair; Amy Fleming, SHS National Honor Society co-advisor; Elizabeth Garner, SHS class co-advisor 2024; Amy Hagan, SMS RTI chair; Matt Kemp, SHS class coadvisor 2024; Brad Konrad, Holland BLT chair K-1; Jeffrey Lowery, Holland safety patrol; Ryan Machoukas, SHS class co-advisor 2022; Stephanie Mahoney, SHS Science Olympiad advisor; Latrice McCarver, SHS guidance director; Timothy McDaniel, SHS class co-advisor 2025 and volunteer Anime Club advisor; Nikki Medjesky, SHS class co-advisor 2023; Jenna Moden, Holland RTI co-chair; Susan Muller, SHS Quiz Bowl coadvisor; Amy Neal, SHS student government co-advisor; Emily Nixon, SHS BLT special education and RTI chair; Travis Pennell, SHS BLT applied arts, pep band director and SYSOP; Martin Perlaky, SHS LPDC chair; Barb Pitsinger, SHS Yearbook advisor; Linda Post, SHS foreign language club advisor; Mary Ralph, Holloway BLT chair fourth grade; McKenna Reitz, SHS BLT social studies and prom advisor co-chair; Annette Riedel, Holloway RTI co-chair; Richard Rinestine, Holloway safety patrol; Liza Runyan, Holland BLT chair 4-5; Chelsea Sample, SHS Quiz Bowl co-advisor; Stephanie Saunders, SHS BLT science chair; Zachary Smith, SHS BLT foreign language; Zachary Smith, SHS student government co-advisor; Kristin Stanfill, SHS BLT English chair; Holly Thomas, Holloway BLT Chair second grade ; Grant Toepfer-Gaver, Holland BLT chair 2-3; Katherine Vogt, SHS National Honor Society co-advisor; Kristine Walter, Holloway BLT chair first grade; Carrie Wcislek, SHS Homecoming advisor.
Other Business
In other business, the board of education:
•Approved 2021-22 school fees. “There were no major changes,” Mr. Lockwood said, noting that clear backpacks, included in the fees, approved by the board several months ago were added to the list.
•Authorized purchases of $19,500 to Ring Central; $6,702 to Sergeant Laboratories, and $77,572 to Renaissance Learning.
•Approved a petty cash amount for SHS student fees collection and ticket sales.
•Contracted with New Horizon’s Academy (Sara’s Garden) for specific student cases within the district.
•Issued commendations to the SHS softball team and track players for their performances this past spring. They also commended teaching staff, central office assistants and administrators for their diligent efforts during last year’s pandemic.
•Approved two requests to attend professional development meetings.
•Entered into executive session to discuss safety and security, but took no action afterward.
The next board of education meeting will be at 4 p.m., Wednesday, August 25, and is open to the public.
