Bev Wasserbeck, Food service Director for North Union Schools, addressed the board at Monday night’s meeting.
She explained the guidelines of the food service that they have to follow in furnishing healthy foods to the students.
The state has certain guidelines for food that is offered to the students. A few years ago, the types of food on the menu changed, removing a lot of sugar and fats and providing fruits, vegetables and whole grain items. Wasserbeck said that it took awhile for the children to accept the changes. But over time, she began to see more lunches and snacks being purchased by the students.
When a head cook finds a food that fits the guidelines, they may submit it to see if it is acceptable. In some households, fast food and easy-to-cook processed foods are fixed because of the busy schedules some families have. Children are finding that the fruits and vegetables are a nice change in their daily diet.
Superintendent Rich Baird discussed the importance of improved teaching and learning. The staff is continually making adjustments where they are needed.
Other areas he noted were improving culture, learning to build community connections, making connections with senior citizens, getting acquainted with the community and working together.
During the meeting, the board also:
-Approved MKC Associations, Inc. as the Architect of Record for North Union Local Schools for the time period of June 2018 until June 2028.
-Approved the motion of MKC Associates, Inc. for the design, construction documents, and construction administration in relation to the new athletic facility to be added to the high school area near the NUAC concession/locker/weight room building.
-Approved Josh Hoover and Kyle Willis as summer custodians and Caron Stillings to work in the cafeteria;
-Accepted the resignation of Sondra Taylor, middle school and special education secretary, effective June 15, 2018;
-Hired Emily Swain, on a one-year limited expiring certificated contract,for the 2018-2019 school year. Her assignment is elementary school intervention specialist;
-Hired Isabella Weirick on a one-year limited expiring certificated contract for the 2018-2019 school year as an elementary intervention specialist;
-Approved employment of Andrew Owens, on a one-year limited expiring certificated contract for the 2018-2019 school year as the middle school intervention specialist;
-Approved hiring Alexis Parsons, on a one-year limited expiring certificated contract for the 2018-2019 school year as a high school math teacher.
-Hired Breanna Nauman on a one-year limited expiring certificated contract as middle school eighth grade science.
-Approved a motion to employ Emily Levings on a one-year replacement certificated contract as elementary school second grade teacher;
-Approved student fee rates for 2018-2019 school year, as recommended by the building principals.
-Approved one-year limited expiring pupil activity contracts to Simeon Wilson as middle school VEX IQ Robotics, Kara McElroy as seventh grade girls basketball coach, Kristy Smith as high school assistant varsity girls basketball coach, and Katie Beeney as eighth grade girls basketball coach.
-Approved one-year limited expiring supplemental contracts for the 2018-2019 school year for Paige Bayer and Chelsea Foos as Co-Students advisors of SOS Club, Logan Dunn as eighth grade football coach, Klarke Ransome as varsity baseball head coach, and Dawn Draper as varsity softball head coach;
-Approved the revised classified salary schedule for 2018-2019 school year and the 2019-2020 school year. This schedule has been modified to include a salary line for the classification of “van driver.”
-Approved the revised administrative salary school for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years.
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Valedictorians/salutatorians
Four valedictorians and two salutatorians were announced during the high school graduation ceremony for the class of 2017-18 on June 1. Listed below are those honored students with a brief biography of the school history.
Abigail Lin Anderson – is the daughter of Kevin and Holly Anderson of Marysville. Her academic bio includes receiving the McElheny Book Award for English 2 and 4, English 3 (gold award), Spanish 5 (gold award), Honors Diploma and VEW Post 870 Athlete of the Year Award.
Extra curricular recognition includes the Wildcat Award in Bowling (sophomore and senior year), bowling state qualifier, peer collaboration, National Honor Society (secretary), FFA, 4-H, Spanish club, drama club, student council, yearbook editor, chamber choir and Students of Service (SOS).
She received the Trustee Scholarship at Ohio Northern University, Choose Ohio First Scholarship, American Red Cross Scholarship, Burnside-Imbody-Fish Scholarship, Richwood-North Union Alumni Scholarship, Memorial Hospital Medical Staff Scholarship, Books and Pizza Award, Erin Y. James Scholarship.
Her plans are to attend Ohio Northern University and major in nursing.
Abigail Marie Davis – is the daughter of Mike and Tammy Davis of Richwood. Her Academic Honors include being on the All A’s list, Honor Roll, is a Scholar Athlete in softball and track, received the McElheny Book Award for Math, English (gold award), History (gold Award), Marketing (gold award), English III (silver award), Senior Service Award.
Davis also received athletic honors in softball and track. In softball, she was first team MOAC all-league, MOAC Player of the Year, First team Central District, Central District Player of the Year, 2017, First team All-Metro Columbus dispatch, Second Team All-State, First Team All State and a member of the State Final Four Team.
In track, she was Second Team MOAC, Fairbanks Invitational meet Most valuable Player, First team MOAC, All-State 100 meter dash, All State 200 meter dash, and North Union High School record holder in the 100, 200 and 400 meter dashes.
Indoor track, she was All-State 60 meter dash, All-State 200 meter dash, All-State 400 meter dash, Female School Winner for North Union High School in the Wendy’s High School Heisman 2018, Special Athletic Department 20 Point Award.
Academically, she was a member of the student council, National Honors Society, Students of Service, art club, FFA, prom committee, Junior Fair Boar, and Student Advisor Committee. Davis also received the Bob & Eula Jean Davis Scholarship and the Richwood Area Business association Scholarship. Her plans are to attend Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., majoring in Business Administration and playing softball.
Kayla Nicole Kramer – is the daughter of Kent and Kay Kramer of Ostrander. Her academic schooling involves being a National Honor Society Member, Zonta Club of Columbus Outstanding Young Woman of the Year, National 4-H Conference Attendee, DAR Good Citizenship Award, received the Top Student in Statistics (gold award), Spanish 3 (silver award), Trigonometry (silver award), earned third place in the Ohio State Marion Math Competition, McElheny History Award (top freshman), Honors World History (gold award), Media Design (gold award) and Spanish 1 (gold award).
Her extra-curricular activities include, Best Leadership Project, senior division at Delaware Co. Jr. Fair (4-H, Best Photography Project, senior division at Delaware Co. Fair (4-H), Clock Trophy (Club Leadership 1), Ohio State fair (4-H), Yale Young Global Scholars, program assistant, Mount Leadership Society Scholars at The Ohio State University, secretary, communications committee chair, and representative of The Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council, 4-H member (officer mentor), Yale Young Global Scholars (International Affairs & Security), Buckeye Girls State (director of the Dept. of Aging), 4-H Member (club president), editor of yearbook staff, Youth Capital Challenge (runner-up team leader), Citizenship Washington Focus (presidential inauguration), Young Entrepreneurs’ Academy, student council and Spanish Club.
She received the Elks Top Female Student award, DAR Youth Citizenship Scholarship, Dr. Craig Cooley Memorial Scholarship and the Zonta Blub of Columbus Outstanding Young Woman of the Year. Her plans are to get her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Development Studies from The Ohio State University and become an International Law specialist for the United Nations with a focus in refugee policy.
Madison Elisabeth Wedding – is the daughter of Andrew and Tracey Wedding of Raymond. During her school years, she received the McElheney Book Award in Social Studies, received the Senior Excellence in Leadership Award, OHSAA Scholar Athlete Nominee, MOAC Scholar Athlete, Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award, 2nd team All-State Softball, 1st Team Central District Softball, 1st Team All conference MOAC Softball, 2nd Team All conference MOAC Softball, Ohio High School Fast Pitch Softball Coaches Association Scholar Athlete. She lettered in four years of varsity softball, lettered two varsity letters in basketball, is a member of student council, National Honor Society, SOS, FFA, BPA and DECA.
She received the Valedictorian Full-Tuition Academic Scholarship at Wright State, the Donna M. Flach Memorial, Byhalia-York Scholarship, DMG Memorial, Richwood Area Business Association Scholarship, Burnside-Imbody-Fish Scholarship and the Hub of Ohio Umpires Association Scholarship.
She plans on attending Wright State University to continue her education in finance and accounting and continuing her softball career.
Two Salutatorians were named for the Class of 2018. Anna Elizabeth Arbogast and Paxon Bree Stofcheck.
Anna Elizabeth Arbogast – is the daughter of Debbie Moorman and Peter Arbogast. During her high school carrier, she was involved with the cross-country team, bowling team and Spanish Club.
She received an academic honors diploma, earned a varsity letter in cross country, and the Ohio Education Association House of Representatives Art District Award.
Her plans are to attend Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Oregon and to major in art and ecology.
Paxon Bree Stofcheck – is the daughter of Kyle and Patty Stofcheck of Richwood. Her academic high school history lists her as receiving the Honors Diploma, McElheney Book Award in English, Scholar Athlete (four years), 1st team member All MOAC Volleyball (3 years), 1st Team Central District Volleyball (3 years), Honorable Mention MOAC in Basketball, 2nd team All MOAC Basketball, 2nd Team All Central District Basketball (2 years), received silver award in Financial Accounting, Social Media Marketing (gold award), on the All A’s and Honor Roll lists.
Extra-curricular activities include Five Minutes For Life, student council, Junior Fair Board, FFA (Job Interview, Parliamentary Procedure), Students of Service, club volleyball, AAU and track.
She received the Dan B. Kyle Memorial Scholarship, DMG Memorial Scholarship, U.S. Marine Corps. Distinguished Athlete Award and the Ohio University Gold Scholarship.
Her plans are to attend Ohio University and major in finance and minor in marketing.