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WHAT: Board of Education organizational / regular meeting Jan. 11
PRESENT: Karen Ancell, Diane Duncan, Tim Gibson, Gary Morton and Russell Sewell
The board:
• Named Sewell as president and Gibson as vice president;
• Approved Duncan as delegate and Gibson as alternate to the Ohio School Board Association and Ancell as legislative liaison;
• Heard from Superintendent Anthony Calderone the district will receive a $5,200 security grant through House Bill 166 this year. The district received a $4,800 grant in 2020 used for safety training and classroom safety equipment. Calderone said staff received training from Warren Township police in the event of an intruder in the buildings;
• Heard from Calderone that Everflow Eastern Partners will cap a nonoperable gas well near the bus garage. He said the well is defunct, and when capped, it no longer will annual service;
• Heard from Calderone 63 students who were learning remote during the first semester will return to in-person learning starting Jan. 25. The district is on a hybrid learning schedule, with students attending two days per week and rest of week online;
• Heard from Calderone he has spoken to Mathews school officials who are pleased with the sharing of a school treasurer. Calderone said the two districts are reviewing the evaluation process for the treasurer. He said LaBrae pays a share of the salary for having Mathews treasurer Brad Panak and may look at a 50-50 split in salary cost in the future;
• Are reviewing the 2020-21 school calendar to have school start before Labor Day and have less teacher in-service days to allow for students to be in school more. The calendar is scheduled to be acted on at the Feb. 8 meeting;
• Accepted the retirement resignation of bus driver Alan Montgomery effective Jan. 1. He has been with the district since 2011;
• Approved an agreement with Kent State University to offer College Credit-Plus courses for high school students for the 2021-22 year;
• Hired James Bailey as varsity baseball head coach and Demetra Noble as varsity softball head coach;
• Approved a stipend of $125 per meeting for board members for 12 meetings per year;
• Set meetings for 6 p.m. the second Monday of month at the school complex band room.
-- Bob Coupland