Mohawk students convince school board to change its PSEO policy

SYCAMORE — A trio of Mohawk High School students stood up to their board of education during a special session Thursday night and they were able to change a recently passed policy.
At a recent meeting this spring, the Mohawk Board of Education passed a resolution to change its post secondary enrollment options courses from a 1.2 weighted class scale to a 1.0 weight. However, at its last meeting on April 16, junior Tyler Krupp presented a petition signed by 80-some students stating their displeasure toward the decision.
With fellow students Maddie Lersch and Grant Ekleberry as well as about 30 other visitors at his side in a presentation to the board, a 4-1 vote reverted the PSEO courses back to a 1.2 weight.
“They did a really nice job making a case for their position and participating in the political process,” Mohawk Superintendent Ken Ratliff said. “I was blown away and impressed at the job they did and to have the guts to stand up in front of their board of education. It was a good learning experience for them and it shows that you can advocate for what you really believe in and sometimes change policy.”
Board member Dr. Todd Price was the lone vote against reverting the scale back.
The other top action of the meeting was the hiring of John Arnold as the varsity boys basketball coach.
Unable to be present at the meeting, Athletic Director Erik Baker submitted an email to be read.
“The search committee unanimously recommends John Arnold for the position of head boys basketball coach,” Baker said in the email. “(Arnold was the) most recommended coaching candidate I have ever encountered (as) even a state senator called on his behalf.”
Baker said Arnold and fellow finalist Dan Hammer, a former Tiffin Calvert High School and Tiffin University player who last coached in 1999, were both good candidates.
“After meeting with both gentlemen, the committee was unanimous in selecting John Arnold,” Baker said. “His philosophy and background were 100 percent in line with the expressed needs of our program. It is our hope that Mr. Hammer will be an assistant for Mr. Arnold, as he came across well, has kids coming up through elementary and could be an asset to Mr Arnold.”
After a few questions by the board to Arnold, who was in attendance, the board voted 5-0 to hire him as coach.
He was not hired as a teacher as he currently works at Marathon Petroleum Corporation in Findlay.

By PATRICK MASSARA
Staff writer

Posted by Daily Chief on April 27, 2012. Filed under Local News,Recent Headlines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry