Stadium fund drive nears half of target

ST. MARYS - The Roughrider Philanthropic Association has raised nearly half the funds needed for a new football stadium at Memorial High School.

Matthew Hughes of JMH Development on Wednesday told school board members the association has raised $1.377 million of the $3 million needed for the project. Members hope to have the money raised and the stadium built by the first football game of the 2018 season.

"One of the things I keep hearing about are the expenses," Hughes said. "What happens if we fall short? What happens if we don't raise the $3 million? Well, we're going to raise the $3 million. We're on track to do it."

Hughes and association treasurer/secretary Dan Burke gave a presentation of the organization's new website, roughriderpride.com, and spoke about the planned features of the new facility.

"I've got five kids," Hughes said. "I (have) raised $1.7 million in my high school district in Chillicothe. I don't want anybody to think we're just winging this. If you listen to what you hear, you'd think we're just winging it. We're not winging it. We have $1.377 million in pledge cards."

In other news, building and grounds committee member Brian Little told fellow board members that "nothing has changed" and no action would be needed after the committee met in executive session earlier that evening to discuss the possible sale of property for public purposes.

Board members also honored Jill Schmitmeyer for placing as state runner-up in golf; middle school students Evan Vogel, Conner Trogdlon, Nathan Wycuff, CJ Vanderhorst and Jason Tylor for placing during the MakerFest 2017 competition in Lima; and Aliya Patterson, who was elected parliamentarian for Business Professionals of America Association at the annual fall leadership conference.

Board member Bob Valentine requested additions be made to the October meeting minutes before voting for approval. He asked language be added to show board president Karl Dammeyer had not allowed Valentine to speak when Valentine requested a point of order while interim superintendent Howard Overman read a prepared statement. Members denied Valentine's request and voted 4-1 to accept the minutes as presented.

High school principal Bill Ruane gave a presentation about the district's grades on the local report cards issued by the Ohio Department of Education. He said it's difficult to assess how district students are faring using only the grades provided. He then showed the district's rank against the 20 most similar districts. The district's scores topped that group's. St. Marys also is ranked 158th in the state, putting the district in the top 25 percent in Ohio.

Also on Wednesday, members,

• accepted the resignations of Seth Hertenstein as girls soccer coach, Andy Rammel as volleyball coach and Dave Ring as boys soccer coach.

• appointed John Carman, Brittany Schwartz, Krista Seibert and Angela West as substitute teachers; Kathy Lampert as a substitute nurse; and Dawn Yerian as a middle school paraprofessional.

• approved a gifted policy/plan that is an update of a similar plan adopted two years ago.

• accepted donations of $160 from B Courageous Venture LLC, $2,500 from Midwest Electric and $625 from Mike and Kelly Jay.

• approved reimbursing Jerry Kohnen $750 for attending the National Skills USA convention with a student.

• approved updated board policies about homeless students, children and youth in foster care, a continuity of organizational operations plan and letters of reference.

• approved a resolution of support of Ohio Senate Bill 216, the Public School Deregulation Bill.

• approved overnight field trips for the boys and girls bowling teams and for the FFA.

• observed a moment of silence in memory of longtime Memorial High School sports announcer Don Hinckley.