Members of Marysville’s School Resource Officer team were introduced to the Marysville Board of Education during Thursday night’s meeting. Members pictured above are, from left to right, Don McGlenn, Joe Petzinger, Josh Dillahunt, Steve Hardy and Amy Findley.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson)
—-Thursday night’s Marysville School Board meeting was dominated by topics of police, pigskins and physical education.
A pair of speakers approached the board about the ability of the district to allow show choir to count as a physical education exemption. Currently, school affiliated sports and marching band allow students to fulfill their physical education requirements for graduation without taking a gym class.
Pam Klaus, president of the Marysville Choral Boosters, said that the work of Ohio Representative Tracy Richardson of Marysville paved the way for show choir to be allowed as a physical education exemption in Ohio.
“They are athletes and they are highly competitive,” Klaus said.
Rachel Morgan, a Marysville senior who is a member of the show choir and marching band, offered her opinion on the matter. She said both groups are physically demanding and noted that students must perform cardiovascular training ahead of the show choir season to prepare.
She said the 15 minutes shows are very taxing and noted that the duration of the show choir season is longer than those of sports, running from August to April. She said members spend about six hours per week practicing.
Marysville Superintendent Diane Mankins said the district is aware of the change in the waivers and is awaiting suggested policy wording from Ohio School Boards Association. Once that information is received, it will be forwarded to the district policy committee for a recommendation.
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Mankins also updated the board on progress with the district football stadium project. With the project still running behind schedule, the prospect of the first two home high school football games being played at another location is still on the table.
Mankins said after the meeting that a final decision on the first couple of games will be made after a meeting next Wednesday with construction officials.
“I think its unrealistic to think they will catch up on five weeks of work in a month,” Mankins said.
She said the visiting bleachers are in place and work on the home bleachers is progressing. She added that the press box has been installed and the concrete pad for the student bleacher section has been poured. She said the turf will be on site this weekend and will be installed soon.
She also emphasized that the goal posts have not been installed backwards. Apparently, the posts are in place and are facing the opposite direction in preparation for the turf installation. The posts reportedly swivel to allow for soccer goals to be put in place.
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The board was also introduced to the school resource officers who will serve in the district’s buildings this year.
Sergeant Don McGlenn of the Marysville Police Department introduced the four officers who will walk the halls. The high school, early college high school, middle school and intermediate school will each have an officer assigned to them, while the elementary schools will see officers on a rotating basis.
Officer Joe Petzinger will serve at the high school, officer Amy Findley will be assigned to the early college high school, officer Josh Dillahunt will work at Bunsold Middle School and officer Steve Hardy will be at Creekview Intermediate. McGlenn helps out at the district’s Tri Academy and will also work within the other schools as needed.
The officers also perform other school related duties, for example Dillahunt supervises Alice (active shooter) training and Hardy is a DARE officer.
Board president Sue Devine said the interaction is critical to show students that police officers are real people and even friends. Board member Dick Smith said schools are driven on relationships and adding officers into the mix is important.
“Every one of you puts kids first,” Smith said.
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In other business, the board:
-Heard an update on personalized learning and mental health support program.
-Approved a three year contract with the district bus drivers that mirrors raises given to teachers. Drivers will receive raises of 2, 3 and 2.5% in the next three years.
-Heard Tony Eufinger speak in support of the district’s idea of allowing alcohol to be served at privately hosted events in the new football stadium during the summer. The policy change was tabled in recent months. He also voiced approval of the district’s handling of an issue surrounding a third grade teacher and some questionable reading materials.
-Discussed preliminary enrollment numbers within the district. The student population size is still in flux as the school year is just beginning.