The Clear Fork Valley Local Schools Board of Education was put to the test during its regular meeting on Thursday, Dec. 11. During a presentation by math teacher Stacey Swank and Technology Services Director Cindy Kochheiser, the board took part in a sampling of the computerized testing students must face. The board also heard a presentation on Go Guardian, discussed an FFA trip to Honduras, early graduation, and hourly pay rates for student employees. A slogan contest was also announced.
As part of their demonstration, Swank and Kochheiser asked the board to take ten minutes during the meeting to complete a sample test. The board was asked to complete the fifth grade version of the test, leading to a few jokes referencing the television show “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” as board members asked for calculators.
During the testing presentation, Swank explained that all testing will become computer-based. She also noted that incoming freshmen will no longer depend on the Ohio Graduation Test (OGT), but will shift to a point system for graduation.
Kochheiser also addressed the board regarding Go Guardian, a software package that provides Chromebook monitoring, filtering, and anti-theft for schools. The school, noted Kochheiser, had recently purchased over 600 Chromebooks with a grant from the Department of Education, and the software would assist administrators in monitoring their use as well as tracking any that were stolen.
Board member Jason Snyder portrayed a “thief” for Kochheiser’s demonstration, as she explained how the software is used not only to track the item via GPS, but also turns on the camera for a picture of the person using the Chromebook.
As Snyder’s photo appeared on the screen, Kochheiser asked if he knew the photo was being taken at the time. “Obviously not,” he joked, “or I would have smiled.”
The board will vote at a later time on a subscription to the Go Guardian software, as a free trial version is active until the end of the school year.
Clear Fork parent Naomi Wade addressed the board regarding the charge limits on school lunches. Wade was advised the administration would look into the issue.
A donation of $1,000 to Butler Elementary School was accepted from Jerry and Susan Smith to purchase an amplification system.
The board voted to approve a transfer from the general fund to the athletic fund in the amount of $123,000 for partial payroll expenses for the months of October through December. It was noted by treasurer Larry Lifer that this transfer brought the total for the year transferred to athletics from the general fund for payroll expenses to $155,300. The prior year-to-date for the same period was $167,227.35.
The board voted to approve hourly rate changes for student employees and substitutes due to the increase in the Ohio Minimum Wage to be effective January 1, 2015. The changes included a 15 cent per hour increase for the positions of Library Aide/Aide, Food Services, and Student Intervention Workers, bringing those positions to an hourly rate of $8.10.
The board unanimously approved a trip to Honduras by FFA Advisor Adam Staley and FFA students. The group will travel as participants in the Ohio State University Honduras Program in June of 2015.
A list of senior candidates for early graduation, as recommended by Clear Fork High School Principal Brian Brown, was approved by the board, provided all local and state requirements are satisfied prior to graduation.
Superintendent Janice Wyckoff announced “The Great Slogan Contest” to find a slogan that best describes the Clear Fork Valley and the school district. All Clear Fork residents and employees are invited to participate. The deadline is January 31. The top ten entries will be selected by the board, and the community will vote for their favorite among those ten. More information will soon be available on the website.
Donations for a cash prize are currently being sought, noted the board. Wyckoff added that she did not know how much the cash prize would be. “But I know there’s probably going to be a giant check involved,” she joked, referencing the oversized checks often presented to contest winners. “Who doesn’t want one of those?” she said.
