The Plymouth-Shiloh Board of Education extended their open enrollment deadline at Wednesday’s regular meeting. The board also discussed fringe benefits for new hires and the details of their drug testing policy.
The board moved to extend open enrollment to August 1. The board addressed and passed the item on Monday’s agenda. Anyone interested in enrolling should call the Department of Administration and ask for Susan Porch, Administrative Assistant. 419-687-4733.
The school board also discussed a fringe-benefit package for new-hires and non-certified employees. A bus driver at Plymouth-Shiloh, for example, typically works 20 hour a week, and can be expected to work up to 30 hours. The school system tracked the hours, and found that even with fieldtrips, a bus driver has less than the expected job hours on paper.
In accordance with the Affordable Healthcare Act, new hires working between 20-25 hours must be provided a plan. The Plymouth-Shiloh Board of Education are deliberating between two quotes for single healthcare plans, which do not include spouse.
“Obamacare legislation is being pushed back a year,” Brenda Schwamberger stated. “Everyone would be grandfathered, those who already have insurance.” The board called for a motion to go ahead with the quotes and the motion carried. “Every day there’s new rulings out.” The board chose to be proactive with their policies in light of changing legislation.
In the discussion of drug testing, Superintendent James Metcalf and the board already approved random drug testing for students participating in athletic activities. The board had received quotes for testing, though they needed to determine how many students needed tested at random.
“We start August 1, with football, cross-country, volleyball,” Metcalf said, “The policy hasn’t been put to action since I’ve been here, strictly because of financial reasons.” The board determined their financial standing, and decided the money was there to enforce their policy. “We really only do bus drivers because of mandates,” stated Metcalf, “So let’s determine the random.”
One quote for drug testing required sixty students tested per season, so the board determined that most every athlete will receive a drug test. “Seems like the only thing random, will be the day we test,” Metcalf said.
Athletic spending has been different this year. The school system has invested in new batting cages, new football helmets and new bleachers. Their local income tax has been fair, three out of four quarters of the year were higher than expected. Tuition and open enrollment are the additional factors which create revenue for the school. Schwamberger stated, “Over 50 kids in our five year forecast makes a huge difference.”
