St. Henry board repeals superintendent's power to hire

ST. HENRY - School board members on Monday revoked the superintendent's power to permanently hire an employee without their formal approval.

The change in district policy was requested by board president Bruce Miller during the board's organizational meeting. He suggested superintendent Rod Moorman be allowed to only temporarily employ personnel. The current policy says the superintendent may temporarily or permanently hire an employee.

Miller said board members shouldn't get second-hand news about permanent new-hires within the district.

"Especially this year. We're going to be hiring so many," he said, explaining that numerous employees are retiring.

The formal hiring process should be finalized by board action, Miller added.

Moorman said the school could lose quality candidates if he isn't allowed to hire them on the spot during interviews.

Board member Paul Moorman said allowing that option wouldn't eliminate the risk; candidates could still accept a job elsewhere after the interview but before a contract is formally approved by the board.

Moorman also noted that giving him the authority shows consensus between the superintendent and the board.

"That has to be the relationship," he said.

The board ultimately disagreed and changed the language in the policy.

Also during the organizational meeting, board members re-elected Bruce Miller as 2013 president and Paul Moorman as vice president. Miller announced that he won't seek re-election to the board after this year.

In other business, Rod Moorman told the board about an emergency preparedness webinar titled "Intruderology" that he and other school personnel recently viewed. The film - created by SafePlans - provides strategies for confrontation with a shooter or similar threat.

Moorman said Intruderology teaches that suspects most often have "no exit strategy."

"They want to kill as many people as possible and then kill themselves," he said.

After reviewing outcomes of past public shootings, experts advise people not to huddle together and stay put.

"It's not hunker down; it's run," Moorman said, adding the time to be passive is over.

Students and staff should get out of the building quickly, or if that's not a safe option, barricade themselves in a room, he told the board. As a last resort, the experts advise people to confront the suspect and use all available items as weapons, Moorman noted.

Board members also,

• learned there were no bullying incidents yet this year, as reported in the district's semi-annual report.

• learned the school will have a two-hour delay for teacher in-service Jan. 30.

• approved approximately $3,500 in annual membership dues to the Ohio School Boards Association for the 2013-2014 year.

• approved an increase in the preschool tuition rate from $65 to $70 per month for 2013-2014. The amount has remained the same for nine years.

• opted to change future board of education meetings to 7 p.m. the second Monday of each month in the middle/high school media center.

• approved changes and revisions to board policies.

• approved a 210-day contract for next school year for Brian Killian, who serves as a bus driver and transportation manager, media center aide, athletic trainer and district site manager.

• approved the resignation of John Dorner as the girl's golf coach for the 2013-2014 year.

• approved coaching positions for spring junior high track for Jerry Homan, Lisa Huelsman, Jill Ontrop and Adam Steinbrunner. The board also approved Patrick Reichert as an assistant high school track coach for 2013.

All hirings are pending the completion of paperwork and approval of pupil activity permits.

• approved Mitchell Schulze as a volunteer coach for junior high and high school track for 2013.

• approved Brenda Link as a new girls junior varsity softball coach this year.

• approved Josh Link as a volunteer coach for varsity baseball this year.

• approved maternity leave and possible use of the Family Medical Leave Act for second-grade teacher Kristy Wourms.

• approved the resignation of middle/high school custodian Bill Koesters, effective Feb. 22.