The Clear Fork Valley Local Board of Education held their regular board meeting Thursday evening during which several members of the community addressed concerns regarding the transportation change at Butler Elementary and the contract status of James Ludwig, eighth-grade football coach.
At the end of the evening, the board entered into executive session for the purpose of investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee. School board president Jim DeSanto said that no action would be taken at that time.
Prior to the public addressing the board, DeSanto asked that speakers limit themselves to three minutes and keep their comments positive. He encouraged anyone with negative or personal comments to contact the board or administration at another time.
Butler resident Dave Smith read an email he had sent to the board regarding, as he said, the rumored cancellation of Ludwig’s contract. Smith said he would like to voice his concern over the rumored termination as well as the state of the Clear Fork football program.
Smith noted his son did not feel that the high school football program offered a positive influence, and therefore had declined to play after his freshman season. “I could not be more proud of my son. His choice has taken both courage and integrity,” he said.
His voice breaking with emotion, Smith continued, “I strongly believe the middle school coaches, especially Coach Ludwig, have a lot to do with Ashton being the man he is today.”
Smith’s address was met with applause from the crowd.
Clear Fork student Stuart Brenkus also spoke in support of Ludwig, “As one of his former players, I feel like he does the best job.”
Transportation: Butler Elementary parents Sarah Shade and Rebekah Beachy, as well as Butler Elementary School staff member Nicole Walker addressed the transportation change that went into effect recently at the school.
“The busses go in the back, and the student drop-off is in the front,” said Shade. “The very first day, my daughter came out and was almost hit by a car driving by.”
Shade, Beachy, and Walker all made suggestions to the board to remedy the situation.
Athletic Code: Fred Neumann addressed the board regarding the athletic code and his suspicion that it had been tampered with. DeSanto refused to address the comment at this time and said it would be deferred to administration.
Neumann’s wife, Jackie Neumann, addressed the board in support of Ludwig. She also asked the board and the athletic director, “How do we handle police reports with respect to drugs and alcohol; how are those handled exactly?”
DeSanto said that the question would be referred to administration and they would get back with her.
Agenda notes: Other agenda issues discussed included the National FFA Convention. Clear Fork FFA Advisor Adam Staley said the soils team had qualified for nationals and was currently at a recognition banquet. He also discussed the possibility of International Development with tech schools in Honduras through The Ohio State University. The board approved an FFA trip to Denver, but discussion for the Honduras trip was postponed until next month.
The board adopted a beverage provider agreement with Coca-Cola Refreshments, USA, Inc. The board noted that $2,500 per year is raised by the agreement and that the money is earmarked for track repair.
The board adopted a revised school calendar. Superintendent Janice Wyckoff noted that, due to the unfortunate passing of staff member Treisa Nedrow, Wyckoff had approved a day off school. “Unfortunately, in contacting ODE, death of a staff member does not meet the level of a calamity day. They instructed me that we needed to make up the day somewhere else in the calendar and have the board adopt a new calendar.”
Wyckoff said the union had agreed to use the in-service day of Jan. 16 as the make-up day.
Throughout the meeting, board members expressed their sorrow at the loss of Nedrow. “It is a terrible loss to the community; a terrible loss in general for someone so meaningful to us to be taken at that young age,” said DeSanto, who expressed his gratitude to Wyckoff for arranging the day off for staff and students to attend the funeral.
Nedrow taught in the Clear Fork School District for over 20 years. She also coached the Lady Colts Varsity softball program. She passed away on Nov. 5 at age 46 after a battle with cancer.
