PTO donates $47K for playground equipment; students raise over $17K

MARIA STEIN - School board members accepted a $47,000 donation from the Marion Local parent-teacher organization on Monday evening to help build a new elementary school playground.

Elementary school principal Nick Wilker said the PTO had been saving for a few years to fund the donation.

"We're really excited," he added.

Wilker said elementary school students raised more than $17,000 from their Read-a-Thon to benefit the playground. The Read-a-Thon allows kids to read and raise money through sponsors without selling items.

Wilker said the playground will be bigger and safer as it will be moved away from a parking lot and will feature a poured-in-place rubber surface. The surface is comparable to an all-weather track surface and is the safest surface for playgrounds, he said.

Board members in December approved a nearly $250,000 contract with Snider Recreation through the state procurement program for the new equipment and surface. Wilker in May said while the current playground is still in good shape, more equipment is needed to accommodate all students.

He said they anticipate installing the equipment in the spring and having the playground ready for students' return to school in the fall.

Kids are looking forward to the new playground, Wilker added, with many saying they are excited about the installation of two zip lines.

"The kids are jacked up about those," he said.

In other business, Randy Bruns was re-elected as board president and Tim Pohlman was re-elected as vice president.

Board members also,

• authorized the treasurer to seek or solicit bids to renovate/seal the high school and elementary drives and parking lots. Superintendent Mike Pohlman said officials estimate the project to cost around $160,000.

• accepted the resignation of Katie Heitkamp as head cross country coach.

• hired Eric Prenger as a substitute bus driver.

• agreed to pay athletic secretary Kelsey Koenig at a rate of $8.70 per hour retroactive to Jan. 1.

• approved Family Medical Leave to the following employees: Renee Hartings, retroactive from Dec. 13-Jan. 2; Marilyn Bomholt, retroactive from Dec. 18-March 18; and Sandy Bruns and Marcia Tebbe, both retroactive from Jan. 2 and is ongoing.

• approved membership renewal to the Ohio School Boards Association at a cost of $3,673.

• approved payment to Connie Brunswick and Mandy Koenig for directing the fifth- and sixth-grade drama to be reimbursed by the 200 Drama Club Fund for $200 each along with retirement expenses.

• approved Kyle Grabowski as a volunteer indoor track coach.

• approved a donation from the Marion Local Athletic Boosters for new signs in the high school gymnasium.

• accepted a $2,000 donation from Honda for the LEGO League.

• approved the Tri Star fee billing notice at a cost of $25,350.

• approved the Tri Star Advisory Board's recommendation to allow online purchases of more than $7,500 for online auctions without prior approval from the Tri Star Advisory Board and local school boards.

• approved the Tri Star Advisory Board's recommendation to purchase a skid loader for $46,603.33 to be used in the construction, agriculture mechanics and animal health programs, as well as for snow removal. Funds would come from the building fund, reserve capital fund and building maintenance budget account.

• met in executive session for roughly 90 minutes to discuss employment of a public employee. No action was taken after the session.