Herman proposes CV students attend core classes at home school, tech classes at BCC

By Jacquie Humphrey 

CCM Correspondent

Conotton Valley Local School District Superintendent Todd Herman presented school board members with the option of having Conotton Valley students who attend Buckeye Career Center complete the academic portion of their classes at Conotton Valley.

Herman presented statistics he’d compiled on both attendance and financials of the arrangement. Herman stressed he is “not trying to compete with Buckeye as far as skills (training)” goes but believes Conotton can provide better core academics. 

Board President Chris Bower inquired how transportation would be handled. 

Herman said he included those calculations in the spreadsheet presented to board members. With all factors considered, the district would save approximately $106,000 per year by making the change. 

A lengthy discussion took place. Board member Kevin Willoughby asked if it would be optional or mandatory for the Buckeye students, and Herman said that his intentions were for it to be mandatory.

Board members discussed both the pros and cons of mandating this option and presented valid arguments both for and against, but the members did not disagree that offering the core classes at Conotton was advantageous overall. 

Board member Debbie Carrothers stated she felt having the juniors and seniors at the high school more would be helpful in keeping them involved with their home school and the community. No action was taken at this time. 

In other discussion, Athletic Director Jonathan Stuck presented detailed quotes for the video boards discussed at the October meeting. 

Ultimately, the board voted down the approximately $195,000 estimate for a new video board for the football field, but approved the estimate of around $70,000 for a video board to be erected in the new Rocket Center gymnasium by a 3-2 vote margin.

The video boards for the Bowerston and Sherrodsville communities, at an estimate of $52,580, were approved unanimously. This purchase is contingent upon finding suitable land in Sherrodsville and WiFi service in Bowerston. 

In other matters the board:

-APPROVED expenditures totaling $1,256,754.83. Heard General Fund balance in Unified Bank of $250,000.00 and Mutual fund balances of $2,788,109.56 in Unified Bank, $3,561,823.06 in Star Ohio. The balance of the Star Construction Fund was reported at $4,283,412.62 and the balance in the US Bank Account reported at $5,139,947.99. 

-APPROVED the certified employment of Tayla Barker as a full-time substitute for the 2021-22 school year at a salary of $110 per day, the classified employment of Deborah Addy as an educational aide at 1 year experience per the OAPSE negotiated agreement and the addition of Sarah May to the certified substitute list.

-APPROVED an agreement with Photographs by Sarah for a Photography Program to include yearbook, sports, dance and school events for the 2021-22 school year. 

-APPROVED the reappointment of Kathleen Wallace to a seven-year term as a member of the Bowerston Public Library Board of Trustees. 

-APPROVED the supplemental employment of Josh Carlisle as a junior high boys basketball coach at a stipend of $2,501.59 or the 2021-22 school year. 

-APPROVED field trips to Bowerston for students in the Journalism class on Dec. 7, March 22, 2022, and May 10, 2022, to get pictures for the Bowerston Village website. 

-SCHEDULED the next meeting Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. in the new library at the high school.