Another St. Marys levy bid likely

ST. MARYS - School board members likely will seek another levy issue on the November ballot after the 1.5 percent earned-income tax was rejected by voters in Tuesday's primary election.

"We're going to regroup and see what we can do," board president Karl Dammeyer said at Wednesday's regular board meeting. "We're going to have another meeting next week of the finance committee to try to figure out what steps we do from here on. We won't put (a levy) on in August, so for sure November. So we've got to figure out what steps we are going to do in order to make that happen."

Dammeyer thanked everyone who had worked on the campaign and who had supported the levy.

"A lot of people did a lot of hard work. Unfortunately, it didn't pay off this time," he said.

Interim superintendent Howard Overman said administrators were expected to meet today to possibly "make some reassignments" to help cut spending, but he offered no details.

Treasurer Robin Laman said the finance committee will meet at 6 p.m. May 16 at the administrative office, 100 W. Spring St. Laman will review the district's updated five-year financial forecast, which must be approved and submitted to the state by the end of May. She also will present figures for all district funds and will answer any questions. The public is encouraged to attend.

Also on Wednesday, board members approved 11 permanent improvement requests from staff members. Approved projects include replacing microphones and receivers in all buildings, commons, gyms and the high school/middle school auditorium, $18,362; installing a slide at the intermediate school, $9,430; installing a new P.A. system for varsity baseball at K.C. Geiger Park, $1,500; buying Texas power weight bars for the weight room, $3,000; renovating rooms into offices for central offices at the high school/middle school, no cost with the work to be done in-house; renovating a STEM room into the opportunities/alternate school, no cost with work to be done in-house; landscaping at the primary school, $4,000; window tinting at the district service center, $3,500; installing a window cover at the intermediate school, $3,900; installing a projector/remote screen at the middle school, $3,000; and setting aside $60,000 in a reserve account. All these projects are to be paid from the permanent improvements funds, which are separate from operating funds.

Board members approved several personnel changes, including the resignation of high school assistant principal John Meinerding, who leaves after 10 years with the district. Replacing him will be Nick Hager, who will resign as a teacher. A resignation also was approved from student assistant Julie Schroeder. Baseball coaches Adam Graves, Shawn McGee and Derek Turner received new supplemental contracts with new responsibilities.

Substitute teacher contracts were approved for Katelyn Freewalt, Morgan Limbert, Abagail May and Makenzie Welker. Summer school contracts went to Allie Boley, John Meinerding, Shane Patterson, Julie Hollman, Kendra Seewer and Kerri Sharpin. Samantha Clouser and Kim Kill were appointed as substitute custodians, and Joni Patton was appointed as substitute paraprofessional and substitute bus aide.

Supplemental contracts also were approved for Scott Dieringer, Tanner Zizelman and Andy Rammel for volleyball; Kelly Fulmer, Rob Cisco and Lauren McDonough for cross country; Doug Frye, Nick Yahl, Bo Frye, Koby Frye, Mike Reams, Tom Knous III, Kevin Jacobs, Scott Schlosser, Cody Martin, Craig Carey, Dave Brewer and Shane Patterson for football; Doug Frye, Bo Frye, Shane Patterson, Julie Reams and Julie VanGundy for the weight room; Mariah Krugh for tennis; Allie Boley as head musical director; Marissa Lewis as assistant musical director and vocal director; Steve Brown and Jeff James for soccer; Steve Schmitmeyer for golf; and Jeff Hughes, Ryan Buck and Brad Anderson for baseball.

In other action, members,

• accepted a $500 donation from VFW Post 9289 to St. Marys East Primary School for the purchase of Chromebooks.

• accepted cash donations totaling $2,875 from a range of local businesses and organizations for the 2018 after prom.

• approved student handbook changes for the high school and the middle school.

• approved a high school choir trip to Toronto on Nov. 1-4.

• approved a contract with West Central Ohio Assistive Technology Consortium to continue services for 2019.

• approved school consumable student fees at or just slightly above last year's rate.

• approved lunch prices for 2018-2019, which will be unchanged. This is the fourth consecutive year without an increase in lunch prices.

• approved a list of 177 seniors for graduation, contingent on the certification of eligibility.

• approved a list of revised board policies to correspond to current law.

• approved changes to the athletic code as presented.

• approved an agreement with the Northwest Ohio Virtual Academy.