During the July meeting of the Clear Fork Board of Education board members approved the addition of a drug prevention officer, approved the district’s Drug Prevention Plan, and discussed hiring a special education assistant director. The board also entered into the Richland County Sheriff’s Department for services. The drug prevention officer came through an agreement with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. The special education position was identified as a need.
The board entered into a contract with the Richland County Sheriff’s Office for Police Services for the 2013-2014 school year. The net cost of the program provided by the sheriff’s department will be approximately $1,108 with a max of $1,648 for implementation of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program. The cost covers the training for a deputy and a refresher course for another deputy.
Superintendent Matt Dill reported that Sheriff Steve Sheldon offered to provide the program from available department funds. “We are blessed to have his generosity,” stated Dill.
The DARE program will begin in Butler in October and will subsequently be conducted at Bellville.
The board also approved a motion to hire Jeff McBride as the drug prevention officer. McBride was hired to provide services for 15 hours a week at $15 an hour for “an increased need for services.” The Bellville officer will lead the district’s drug prevention plan. McBride is a 30-year law enforcement officer.
The board then approved the district drug prevention plan.
During the meeting, the board discussed the Special Education Assistant Director Position discussed in May. The position would be as assistant to Butler principal Matt Caputo. The board approved of posting the position. The position is a fulltime administrative position, preferably with special education experience, for $58-65,000 a year.
Treasurer Larry Lifer said the intent is to use federal IDA funding to finance the position.
Dill described it as an assistant position that would collaborate with administration and monitor the development of the special education processes. The assistant would plan and implement training for staff members.
Caputo noted, “There’s definitely so much involved with special education today, it would make your head spin.” He further noted that there are 755 compliance items in the state review process. “We definitely can use the help,” he added.
Dill explained that Clear Fork failed to pass the state review in the second year of the evaluation. “This is our enemy,” he said, “We haven’t had time to fully implement the process we put in place.”
The state evaluation involved legally compliant issues for the federal Individual Education Plan (IEP). The district received two letters of complaint from the Ohio Department of Education.
Board member Jim Jackson suggested a one-year contract for the first year. Jin Klenk, a former superintendent at Clear Fork, spoke up and said, “I finally believe we need a special education coordinator.”
Klenk also said he thought it would be difficult to find a candidate in July for a one-year contract.
The board agreed to post the position and board member Nick Kuelling suggested, “If it doesn’t work out, we look at some other options.”