Riverdale BOE notes to extend no-contract period

MOUNT BLANCHARD — Students who participate in athletics at Riverdale Schools now will have a 12-day no-contact period in the summer in which there are no practices, workouts or anything else to maximize family time during the busy athletic season. The Riverdale Board of Education decided at its regular monthly meeting Monday to extend the district’s no-contact period from the current eight days.
According to Athletic Director Craig Taylor, some coaches were concerned that other schools that have less of a no-contact period will gain an advantage by having more workout and practice time. Board member Ryan McKinniss, while saying he understood where the coaches were coming from, did not agree with the theory.
“Coaches ask so much of kids during the summer, and not that the kids are going to quit doing that, but it gives the parents the opportunity to say, ‘For these two weeks, you’re mine. We’re going to spend a week-and-a-half or two weeks together,’” McKinniss said. “Whether that’s taking family vacations or spending time together, parents don’t have to worry about running their kids back and forth to practices.”
It is important for families to have that extra time, McKinniss said, because he thinks children, with as many activities as they are involved in, are “losing their youth.”
“I think we’re losing the family aspect of society. We’re losing out on seeing our kids grow up and spending time with our kids,” McKinniss said.
Board President Sarah Gilbert noted how much positive feedback was received last year by starting the one-week break.
“Parents have been ecstatic about it. I couldn’t tell you the number of calls that I got the week after (the last no-contact period) saying ‘We’re so grateful,’ because they actually had that time,” Gilbert said. “For some of them, it was the first time in years they’ve even taken a vacation because there’s usually something else going on.”
After deciding it was best to extend the period, the board agreed upon the dates of June 26 to July 7.
Also during the meeting, board member John Livingston explained the school’s endowment fund. He informed board members that the fund allows people to donate to the school and in return, receive that amount as a tax exemption. The donated money, Livingston said, must only be used toward the “betterment of the school.”
Livingston explained that it was important to have in place because there are those in the community who want to give to the school despite the levy not passing.
The board unanimously agreed to go along with the endowment fund.
The board also:
— Learned the fifth grade will participate in Hancock County’s Talented and Gifted program this year.
— Approved a one-year contract for Mike Rickle as bus driver for the 2012-13 school year.
— Approved the supplemental contract for Jaclyn Rothenbuhler as basketball cheerleader advisor for the 2012-13 school year.
— Approved a resolution for the employment of the following non-licensed individuals for the 2012-13 school year: Aaron Theis, seventh grade boys basketball coach; Chase Barnes, eighth grade boys basketball coach; and Ronda Balko, junior high school basketball cheerleading adviser.
— Approved a lengthy list of substitute aides, bus drivers, custodians, lunchroom monitors, substitute cooks, cashiers, secretaries, library aides and maintenance workers, along with school volunteers.
— Approved the eighth grade Washington, D.C., trip from Wednesday, May 22 to Sunday, May 26, 2013.
— Approved the 2013 budget of the Forest-Jackson Public Library.
— Agreed to enter into an agreement with the Logan County Educational Service Center for vision impaired services for the 2012-13 school year at a cost of $5,750.
— Approved a resolution authorizing the Riverdale superintendent to initial the agreement and bylaws of the Ohio Schools Council and for its treasurer to pay the annual fee of $357.44.
— Approved a payment to Marion Technical College in the amount of $13,510 for dual credit classes offered to students during the 2011-12 school year.
— Approved the tuition rate of $3,208.94 for the 2012-13 school year as calculated by the Ohio Department of Education.
— Approved the amendment of Terry Huffman’s contract by changing the number of annual duty days to 225.
— Approved the amendment to Julie Spade’s contract by changing the number of annual duty days to 225.
— Approved Doug Pever as the delegate and Nelson Shultis as the alternate to the 2012 Ohio School Board Association annual business meeting.
— Approved the following personal days: Vicki Drummelsmith, Aug. 31, 2012; and Angie Bostic – Jan. 3-4, 2013.
— Approved the employment of Tami Kotterman as a one-on-one special education aide for a student in the emotionally disturbed unit on an as-needed basis at a rate of $12.59 per hour.
— Approved the Future Farmers of America trip to the National FFA Convention held in Indianapolis, Ind., Oct. 24-27 at no cost to the board.

By TY THAXTON
DC-U news bureau

Posted by Daily Chief on August 28, 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