New Bremen FFA among tops in state

NEW BREMEN - The district's FFA chapter has earned Gold Star status, placing it in the top 30 in the state.

Five FFA officers and instructor Maria Homan shared the news and other accomplishments during Wednesday's school board meeting.

Two students received the American FFA Degree. This distinction is awarded to less than 1 percent of all members nationally. The chapter has 30 students involved in the program and a goal is to increase that number.

Also at the meeting, Brian Stetler of Tri Star Career Compact shared updates on the new building project.

"The new state-of-the-art, technology-driven building will be a high school and adult training facility and will to continue to add programs," he said.

The plan is to sell bonds to cover the $17 million local portion of the $25 million project. Stetler hoped local individuals would invest in the bonds, which are expected to have a return between 2.5-3.0 percent with a minimum $5,000 investment.

Eleven New Bremen students attend Tri Star.

Elementary principal Diane Kramer reported diagnostic assessments were recently completed for grades K-3. The assessments showed 13 students are not on track to achieve the appropriate reading level by the end of the school year. Parents will be notified of their child's progress prior to the upcoming parent-teacher conferences, and reading improvement plans will be developed.

Twenty high school students volunteered to tutor elementary students one-on-one or in small groups during their study halls. Nearly 200 students participated in the Cardinal Jets running club this fall. The season ended with the students running prior to a home football game and a cross country meet, she said.

Middle school principal Jason Schrader updated the board on the expanded gifted education services for the year. The program will serve students identified as gifted from grades 2-12. This will include visual and performing arts and creative thinking in grades 9-12.

Parent-teacher conferences are Oct. 31 and Nov. 3-4. To date, 73 percent of parents have completed the online sign-up.

High School principal Brian Pohl recognized students recently inducted into the National Honor Society. Congratulations went to Cassandra Albers, Ashley Bowers, Joe Maurer, Derek Bergman, Cale Brackman, Koby Paul, Caity Bergman, Lily Brautigam, Katie Paulus, Tara Berning, Julia Goettemoeller, Wyatt Puthoff, Emily Bertke, Paige Jones, Claire McClurg, Kennedy Hoying, Celeste Kuck, Sam Rutschilling, Garrett Doherty, Charlie Sailer, Gregory Steed, Marcella Travis and Nichole Wente.

Scott Daly, a former Navy SEAL, will speak to students on Veterans Day. He will discuss leadership and his time on SEAL teams. Daly also teaches leadership training to the Ohio State football team.

Pohl expressed his appreciation to local business representatives Tony Holdren of Precision Reflex, Barb Zigenbusch of Eiting Real Estate, Tim Hemmelgarn of Remax and the New Bremen Emergency Squad for donating in support of the presentation

Jill Ahlers has completed all requirements and on Oct. 6 received her state treasurer's license. This allows her to take over officially as district treasurer. She had been serving as assistant treasurer until she obtained the necessary license.

Also on Wednesday, board members,

• thanked community members and the police personnel for their support and funding of guest speaker Ethan Fisher from Life Consequences. He will speak to the students Dec. 9 about decision-making and how drugs and alcohol have altered the course of his life.

• accepted a $3,200 donation from Crown Equipment Corp. for materials and competition entry fees to support the new robotics team. Led by superintendent Andrea Townsend, the team - the first in Auglaize County - hopes to enter its first competition robot later this year at Versailles High School.

• accepted a $1,093 donation from Walk 4 Hearing to purchase special-education supplies.

• accepted the resignation of Chad Williams as high school basketball facility coordinator and then hired him to serve as assistant girls varsity basketball coach.