Following a review of content, the Springfield Schools board of education approved student handbooks for the upcoming school year.
At the August 10 study session, the board received updates on changes to the books from administrators at the elementary, intermediate, middle and high schools.
The most notable across all buildings was a change to the dress code when determining whether attire is too short.
Administrators noted the old rule of measuring so many inches above the knee was not effective and was difficult to enforce universally.
They are opting for a more “common sense” approach when it appears a student is showing too much skin and will review each incident on a caseby- case basis.
For his building, Holland Intermediate Principal Andrew Evans said nothing in the handbook changed drastically.
“They are still young so we wanted to keep much of the same rules,” he added.
He pointed out that students and teachers are experiencing significant changes this year with building reconfiguration, which entailed removing fourth and fifth grades from the elementary setting and into an intermediate school.
“There are a lot of changes going on in my building now, so we wanted to make as few adjustments to the handbook as possible this year. We can always adjust it for the next school year.”
Mr. Evans noted that because the children are younger, they decided to continue offering recess.
The principal said the biggest changes for students will be the school hours which now run from 7:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. and the move to letter grades which are not given in grades kindergarten through three.
In closing, Mr. Evans commended the custodial crew for their work over the summer to prepare the building for fall classes. “They did an amazing job this summer.”
At the elementary level, Crissey Principal Oatis Amick said only minor changes were made to the handbook including the removal of Holland as the fourth elementary building.
“Most of it was updates like lunch prices,” he added.
Regarding the dress code, the handbook stipulates that pajamas are not permitted to be worn in school unless it is for a special occasion such as at the holidays when teachers show the film “Polar Express.”
At the middle school, in addition to the dress code, the only other changes were that book bags will be allowed but must be kept in lockers throughout the day and students will not be permitted to visit their lockers at midday.
Andy Ward, assistant principal, said they also created traffic signal zones where electronic devices such as cell phones may be used.
Green allows for free usage before and after the school day. In yellow zones, they may be used but cameras must be down, and in red zones, such as restrooms, they are not allowed to be used at all.
“That’s a pretty big overhaul on our code,” he explained.
SHS assistant principal Kevin Rupp said that other than the dress code, the biggest change is the 8 a.m start time.
And with the dress code, he noted teachers who are uncertain if an outfit is inappropriate may send a text to the office, and administration will address the issue, taking corrective action if needed.
He also pointed out that this school year will be the last a valedictorian and salutatorian are chosen.
Personnel
The board also took action on a number of personnel matters.
They awarded one-year contracts to Noah Badenhop, SHS social studies; Beth Barrow, school psychologist; Liliana Esquivel, Randy Norris, Christina Ruiz and McKenzi Stanley, interventionists; Jan Courtney Gibson, Crissey kindergarten; Kelly Nottingham, Dorr/Holland STEAM teacher; Jennifer Thomas, SMS math.
Serving a one-year internship is Easton Rudasill, school psychologist.
Bradley Konrad is changing positions for 2022-23 from Holloway second grade to social emotional learning coach. Several classified employees received one-year contracts. They are Debra Sanderson, two hour, midday bus driver; Gabriel Kuhns, 12 month information technology specialist, and Tyler Smith, 10 month information technology specialist.
Classified changes in assignment were issued to Tammy Fehser, 3.5 hour to 2.5 hour SHS food service; Cindy Keefer, from 3 Hour Crissey food service to 2.5 hour SHS food service; Lois Taberner, from 2.5 hour Holloway food service to 2 hour midday bus aide.
Casual labor contracts were awarded to Brittany Alcock, Scott Bachman, Scott Brooker, Michelle Bryan, Cheri Casper, Lee Chau, Gregory Daniels, Laura Dauer, Brandon Edwards, Sean Enck, Jaden Fink, Kelly Fink, Mike Fink, Rachelle Frank, Dustin Hamilton, Heather Hawk, Jenni King, Brad Konrad, John Konrad, Teresa Krohn, Gary Leasure, Kyle Linehan, Thomas Neuhaus, Martin Perlaky, Aalea Robertson, James Schwieterman, Andrew Screptock, David Screptock, Reese Shull, Ben Southworth, Beth Urton, Amy VanDromme, Angie Van-Dromme, Jeff VanDromme, Katie Vogt, Brett Warner, Danielle Welch, Jake Yoder, Chris Young, Lisa Palmer, concessions manager, and James Vislay, football/ laundry.
Pupil activity permits were issued to Bryan Bosch, SHS football volunteer coach; Crystal Ellis, SHS JV boys soccer assistant co-coach; Chelsea Haas, SMS seventh grade volleyball head coach; Brad Kerns, SHS boys golf coach; Jessica Shepherd, SMS eighth grade volleyball coach; Dirk Ruckman, SMS assistant football coach; Jeffrey VanDromme, SHS assistant athletic director half contract, and Kayla Watkins, SMS cheerleading coach.
They also accepted the resignation of Michael Freado, SMS eighth grade football coach, effective August 1.
•Accepted the resignation of Lisa Seitz, SMS math. Mr. Geha noted she has been with the district for more than 20 years.
Also resigning were Gloria Bishop, SHS food service; Colleen Robbins, bus driver and Holloway recess monitor, and Debra Sanderson, midday bus aide.
Substitute teaching contracts were approved for Susan Dziubek, Liliana Esquivel, Austin Farnsel, Randy Norris, Marilyn Peth, Anthony Scott, McKenzi Stanley and Jessica Thacker.
Shelby Simon was awarded a long-term substitute position teaching third grade at Dorr Elementary.
Other Business In other business, the school board:
•Awarded a bid of $840,800 to Midwest Contracting of Holland for the second phase of renovations to the 6924 Spring Valley Drive building.
The structure is being modeled to house the district’s digital academy, career-based intervention program and career technical offerings.
•Approved a contract for $20,000 with Bill Geha as the prevention and intervention coordinator for the 2022-23 school year.
•Set a substitute pay rate scale for this school year.
Mr. Geha noted that the rate increased to keep in line with other area districts.
Daily rates vary and are licensed administrative substitute, $300; administrative substitute with a minimum of two years at SLS, $350; teacher, $125 days one to 29 and half day, $60, and teacher, $135 for days 30 to 59.
For classified staff, the substitute hourly rates are secretarial and custodial, $13; food service, monitor and bus aide, $11; van driver, $15, and bus driver, $18.50.
•Adopted performance levels for the kindergarten and first grade students.
Taryn Miley, director of curriculum, said the levels are being changed to provide more clarity for parents and students and will replace the satisfactory, needs improvement and unsatisfactory marks.
•Entered into a vendor agreement with the Renhill Group to provide student aides this year.
•Entered into an executive session to discuss union negotiations, but took no action afterward.
•Issued commendations to students and staff of the Summer Spark program.
Renee Mruzek of Paramount, which sponsored the program, awarded five grand prizes of tickets for four to Cedar Point to the top students and their families.
“Thank you for helping the idea of Summer Spark become a reality,” Mr. Geha said to the teachers.
Leading this year’s program were instructors Sara Beamer, Brandy Bilek, Kelly Deisher, Kristy DiSalle, Barb Eckhart, Nina Hasemeyer, Debbie Hughes-Pettaway, Natalie Kalo, Jenni Lenart, Jennifer Mercer, Theo Middleton, Randy Norris, Jamie Riley, Amanda Schlageter, Leah Schwan, Amanda Wilson, Kristine Walter, Haillie Wright-Comes, Markesha Jackson-Renhill, Jasmine Hyde-Renhill and Amanda Saucedo.
•Recognized the SHS softball team for being state runners- up this past spring. Members of the team are Callee Chappetta, Kenya Crowley, Maddie Darrah, Camryn Eckhart, Camryn Hall, Ava Littin, Taylee Long, Ryleigh Mercer, Audrey Miller, Anessa Morgan, Olivia Rompf, Hannah Schlachter, Sydney Schwieterman, PJ Turner, Kiersten Wilkin, Mady Yackee and Taylor Yackee.
The board also recognized coaches Rob Gwozdz, Mike Haas and Kim Bryson with a special notation for Head Coach Gwozdz for achieving 400 wins.
•Commended track and field state meet participants Maira Scott and Javon Fletcher-Johnson for their performance this past spring.
The next board of education meeting is at 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, August 24, at the administration building, 6900 Hall Street, Holland, and is open to the public.
