The North Union Board of Education held their monthly meeting at the North Union Middle School Monday evening. Board members toured the facility prior to the start of the meeting.
NUMS Principal Matt Burggraf gave a report of great things taking place in the school. A seventh grade boy talked about the “Driven” program, that was started by Roy Hall and Antonio Smith, both former Ohio State University students and football players. Their goal was to give back to schools to teach students about leadership and making a mark on someone in your life. This is a program for middle school and high school young men, to learn to become leaders, to be positive and be able to address others in a public forum.
The next presentation was by three middle school girls who are members of the “ROX” program, which stands for Ruling Our Experience. Girls are taught to handle conflict, be empowering leaders, have healthy communications, gain self confidence and learn self defense techniques.
Burggraf mentioned that both of these programs are grant funded and the hope is to be able to continue providing these programs.
School Superintendent Rich Baird also presented the April #NUPride Award to Richwood Resident Sue Ann Bails. Bails has been involved in the school district in various capacities. She has been the high school band president and can be found at any North Union basketball game serving ice cream as a fundraiser for the band boosters and also organizes the annual Band Show in September, showcasing area school bands. She’s also supportive of the robotics program, a member of the Richwood-North Union Alumni Association, organizing the annual banquet.
School Resource Officer, Shawn Dyer is a member of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, who is also assigned at North Union Schools. He gave an overview of the classes he interacts with the students on all grade levels. He has talked with students for the DARE Program, stranger Danger with first graders, talked about drugs and vaping, over the counter drugs, sexting and internet safety, situation awareness to your surroundings, vehicle crashes and seat belt safety, safety town and mock crash accidents before prom.
Baird announced during the meeting that North Union had two winners of the Franklin B. Walter Outstanding Educator Awards. The North Union Middle School Intervention Specialist Team of Rachel Haynes, Lisa McKinley, Andrew Owens, Rebecca Wade and Amanda Wiley won they award from the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities at state recognition.
The second recipient was North Union senior student Zak Kratowicz. Both recipients will receive their awards at the June 11 luncheon in Columbus.
In other business, the board;
-Authorized the construction of certain school facilities, the granting of a base leasehold interest in certain school district land, and the lease back to the board of education of the school district the newly constructed school facilities in connection with the constructing, furnishing and equipping a field house for school district use, and approving execution of a base lease and lease-purchase agreement.
-Approved the low bid and acceptance of Alternate #1, Alternate #2, and Alternate #3 from Thomas and Marker Construction in the amount of $2,574,000.00 for the new Athletic Field House Project. Thomas and Marker Construction was the company who performed the high school renovation project several years ago. It was also told that there were six bidders for the project and that after the issue of the contract for the program, the company will have 365 days to complete the project, which would be approximately May, 2020. They plan to start moving direct in July.
-Heard that graduation is sets for May 31, 2019 at 7 p.m. in the north Union High School gymnasium for the Class of 2019.
-Approved the employment of Lisa McKinley as a middle school intervention teacher for the 2019-2020 school year.
-Approve persons for liability purposes for field trip volunteers, certified substitute personnel to be called on an as-needed basis for the remainder of this school year; approve Abby Evans as a healthcare provider substitute to be called on an as-needed basis for the 2018-2019 school year.
-Accepted the resignation of Emily Freshkorn as an elementary school intervention specialist.
-Voted to approve a resolution to administer the third-grade English language arts and mathematics (Ohio State Test) in a paper format for the 2019-2020 school year;
-Accepted the resignation of Kevin Chapman as a high school sweeper/cleaner, effective May 10, 2019.
The next regular meeting of the board will be held Monday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. at North Union Elementary School.