North Union Superintendent Rich Baird reported on many high school celebrations since the beginning of the school year at Monday night’s regular board meeting.
Student athletes, coaches and teams where recognized for the many accolades during the fall and winter sports seasons. The Students of Service (SOS) Club was highlighted for its 15 service events performed throughout the school year.
FFA students were congratulated for achievements, along with the robotic teams who are proceeding to the World Competitions this year, the Business Professionals of America and the NU Age A Cappela Choir. During each regular meeting, Baird will recognize the accomplishments of our students and staff who excel and put North Union on the map.
Also receiving congratulations and this month’s #NUPride Award was FFA teacher Breck Mooneyham, nominated by a parent who said the teacher goes well beyond just being a teacher. The parent said she helps students and has earned their trust.
The second #NUPride Award went to Kevin Smith, a 1976 North Union graduate who lives in California. He has always been appreciative of his education at North Union, so much that he has donated approximately $35,000 in scholarship money over the years. He gives two scholarships to students each year and Baird wanted to express his appreciation for his scholarship money and giving back to North Union.
North Union High School Principal Janal Chapman gave a presentation of the High School Pathways programs. To help students lean towards a career while in high school, the district has always had pathways, but now they are more defined. These pathways are high school courses of study and students earn college credit while in high school. Those pathways are in careers of Construction Technologies, Engineering, FFA Agribusiness and Production Systems, Interactive Media/Marketing, Business/Administrative Services and newly added, Pre-Nursing Studies.
Chapman said that these pathways are within state guidelines and students are earning college credits. Each pathway has guidelines as to the grade level they have to be in, and a list of at least four classes in that pathway that they must take to earn the college credits. So that when students graduate high school, they will have some of the credit needed toward their degrees. The classes have been successful and help students to find out what their interests and talents are in.
Thomas Brown, the districts Director of Special Education announced to the school board that North Union’s Preschool recently received a Five-Star “Step Up To Quality” rating from the Ohio Department of Education. The Five-Star rating is the highest rating awarded bye ODE.
In other business, the board:
-Reaffirmed the April 16 meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at North Union Middle School.
-Will discuss with the Labor Relations Committee regarding the 2019-2020 calendar recommendations. There will be a public meeting held April 3, at 6 p.m. at the North Union Administrative Offices on Route 739. This meeting will be open to comments regarding the 2019-2020 calendar. There are four calendars to choose from which include the starting and ending dates of the school year.
-Will hold a Finance Committee meeting April 16 at 5:30 p.m. prior to the regular board meeting.
-Will set a Policy Committee meeting April 16 at 5:45 p.m.
-Approved a list of volunteers and substitute personnel for the remainder of this school year as needed.
-Approved the 2018-2019 school year’s high school and middle school curriculum guides.
-Accepted the hiring of Cy Kincaid as the high school varsity boys golf coach.
-Approved an overnight trip for the North Union VEX Robotics teams that will be competing at the World Competition in Louisville, Kentucky April 24-29.