St. Henry schools, WSU to partner on tutoring

ST. HENRY - The district is partnering with college students to offer Saturday morning tutoring sessions for area youngsters needing a boost in reading and writing.

The program for kindergarten through third-grade students is dubbed Skills, Knowledge and Independence Needed to Succeed Learning Academy. The first of two 10-week sessions starts Oct. 5 at St. Henry Elementary School; classes are 8:30-10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. until noon.

"We're trying to get other districts involved," elementary principal Sandy Stammen told board members Monday night. "We had a meeting last spring to get other schools interested."

Several area schools plan to participate, she added.

Interested youths will be paired with students pursuing careers in the education field at Wright State University-Lake Campus in Celina, she said. The goal is to help area youngsters who experience difficulties with reading and/or writing by providing assessments and individualized instruction, Stammen explained.

The cost per student for the 10-week SKINS Learning Academy is $100, she said.

"We're trying to get funding," Stammen said, after a board member questioned the affordability for parents.

She's hoping some local organizations are willing to defray some of the costs until the program is established, she added.

The Lake Campus formerly offered a similar tutoring program for area youths but it was terminated a few years ago, she explained. She believes the new program is needed and likely will grow as time goes on.

"We're very excited about this," she added.

More information about the academy can be obtained by contacting Stammen at 419-678-4834, ext. 2400, or stammen.sandy@sthenryschools.org, or Vicki Koesters at 419-678-4834, ext. 2477, or koesters.vicki@sthenrschools.org.

In other business Monday, board members,

• learned superintendent Rod Moorman is working with the Mercer County Sheriff's Office and St. Henry Police Department to keep the school safe. Both agencies are planning unscheduled walk-throughs this year, he said.

Moorman said he also plans to bring officer K-9 dogs into the school unannounced to search the buildings.

In a related matter, the school is planning a waiver day Sept. 24 to hold ALICE training, which helps staff members prepare for a possible armed intruder in the building.

• learned officials are working to complete a physical inventory of the district, which includes 3,900 items, treasurer Glenn Miller said. The value of the school's property is $41 million, he added.

• allowed current ag instructor Matt Pleiman to resign from his teaching contract effective Sept. 27, on condition a certified and viable candidate is found to replace him by that date. Pleiman accepted a position at Fort Loramie schools - his alma mater.

The board in an addendum approved a one-year contract with Dustin Knapke - a Parkway High School graduate - as the new ag instructor beginning Sept. 30. Knapke's contract is contingent upon a release of contract by the Hi-Point Career Center Board of Education at its Sept. 25 meeting.

• approved the hiring of Maureen Kramer as yearbook co-advisor for the present year.

• accepted the resignation of teacher Lori Schwieterman for retirement at the end of the school year.

• approved hiring Kurt Huelsman as high school student council advisor for the 2013-2014 year.

• approved teacher Candy Hemmelgarn as elementary choir director this year.

• approved hiring Tom Hoelcher as a marching band assistant this year.

• approved maternity leave for teacher Jessica Huelsman.

• approved several paid and one volunteer coaching position for high school and junior high track.

• held an executive session to discuss personnel but took no action.