The North Union Board of Education watched a demonstration regarding robotics technology from middle school and high school robotics teams at Monday’s regular meeting.
Kristi Matlack, the robotics coach and coordinator stated that North Union is scheduled for 30 competitions this year, hoping to earn their way back to the National World Competition, which North Union has participated in seven straight years. Students told the board the ins and outs of the program, how they have to build and come up with codes to make the robots move and compete against other teams in Ohio and in the world. They have been working since the beginning of the school year and begin with a competition this Saturday at North Union High School. They also talked about the skills they are learning that could get them an engineering career.
The board thanked the students and coach and wished them well this year.
The next presentation was from board member Shelly Ehret, who is also on the board at Tri-Rivers Career Center, located in Marion, Ohio. A video shared the many fields of employment available for students, such as nursing, engineering, agriculture and culinary. Currently North Union has 65 students enrolled at Tri-Rivers, the highest number of students ever from NUHS.
Another presentation was given regarding the Mental Health and Wellness Plan. This was initiated by Governor Mike Dewine, who has allocated funds for every school district in the state. North Union will receive $957,618.00 to be used in 2019 and 2020 school years. The funds will be used district-wide in all three grade levels. The district has partnered with several operations to have resources available for all students in the district. Those partnerships include;
-Operation Warm – this group will have warm winter coats available for children in need of coats for families who need a helping hand
-Ohio Guide stone will proved the program “School Navigator.: This program helps provide on-site help in various areas;
-PASS helps staff to look for signs of suicide (SOS) and looks for the right help instantly;
-Nationwide Children’s Hospital will provide staff with Mental Health First Aid, looking for signs of depression, addiction, anxiety and get help from many sources;
Superintendent Rich Baird told the board that the district doesn’t have to rush into using the money right away. Officials want to provide the best source of mental health for the students and staff in the district.
Baird and members of the high school volleyball team presented the staff NUPride Award to Sandy Blanton, a school bus driver for North Union. A month ago, Blanton was driving the volleyball team to New Carlisle to a volleyball game. While pulling into the school, a branch from a dead tree fell, hitting the bus and other limbs scraped across the roof, with one branch running into the side of the hood, rendering the bus undriveable.
Blanton’s emergency training went into affect securing all people aboard the bus, contacting Brian Nauman, the district’s transportation coordinator and the superintendent. The district appreciated her calm, responsible manner in keeping everyone safe and received the October NUPride Award.
In other business, the board:
-Set the next regular meeting of the board for Monday, Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the board office, with the Policy Committee meeting prior at 5:45 p.m.
-Approved a list of field trip volunteers and athletics volunteers for the 2019-2020 school year.
-Approved Angel Hudson, Mackenzie Lee, Allison Clark, Allison Clark, Taurey Lemke as personnel to be called on an as-needed basis for the 2019-2020 school year in various positions.
-Accepted the resignation of Logan Dunn as Middle School Dean of Students and Athletic Supervisor.
-Hired Debra Frasier on a one-year contract as a bus driver.
-Approved one-year limited expiring pupil activities contracts to Sarah Arver, eighth grade cheer coach, Winter;Wendy Taylor, seventh grade cheer coach, winter; Corey Lyles, varsity baseball assistant coach; Trent Pugh, asst. varsity baseball coach (JV); Terry Setser, varsity softball asst. coach; Logan Martino, JV softball head coach; Jeff Parish, eighth grade boys basketball coach (1/2 contract); Glen Edgar, eighth grade boys basketball coach (1/2 contract); Cole Krawczyk, high school head track coach; Katie Bruner, head varsity cheer coach, winter; Katic Bruner, head JV cheer coach (1/2 contract); Klarke Ransome, head varsity baseball coach; Dawn Draper, head varsity softball coach.
-Approved five extended days for CTE teacher Carrie Williams.