BCS Board Meeting

Bellefontaine City Schools Superintendent Brad Hall and Director of Administrative Services Roger Ely offered an in-depth back-to-school update at the board of education’s monthly meeting Monday night, Aug. 14.

Hall reported that transportation is one of the biggest challenges at the beginning of each school year.

“Transportation issues always arise when school starts. We ask that families be patient with us and each other as we start the new school year.

 “I can’t emphasize this enough: Families, please check your Final Forms account. The transportation schedule has been posted in your individual accounts. Login, select the Transportation tab, then (most importantly) check it for accuracy.

“If something doesn’t look right, or is confusing, let’s get it straightened out before school starts. Call the transportation department at 937-651-3497.

“Bus routes can also be found on the BCS website highlighted in blue under the school calendar at https://www.bellefontaine.k12.oh.us or under the Transportation tab in Quick Links.”

The superintendent noted that BCS transports 1,000 students each day. Middle school and high school students will ride on the same route. The other combined route will include elementary school and intermediate school students.

The school year starts on Tuesday, Sept. 5. Here are the school hours for each building. Bellefontaine High School – 7:20 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.; Bellefontaine Middle School – 7:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; Bellefontaine Intermediate School – 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Bellefontaine Elementary School – 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

The board also approved the cafeteria rates for this year. The district will offer free breakfast to all students.

Lunch prices are: High School/Middle School, $2.25, reduced lunch – 40 cents; and Intermediate School/Elementary School $2, reduced lunch – 40 cents; extra milk will cost 55 cents for students in grades K-12.

Adult prices: Breakfast – $2; Lunch – $3.75; and milk – 55 cents.

Ely gave an overview of the federally-funded high school renovation project. The new 300-ton chiller was installed over summer break. The chiller will cool the BHS gymnasium. It also incorporates fresh air and CO2 sensors for a healthier air environment.

New windows and seven new doors were installed at the high school this summer, which will save on heating expenses.

All the doors at BHS were rekeyed over the break.

Three main doors were replaced at Bellefontaine Intermediate School recently. Each door is equipped with card reader locks.

Finally, sealcoating was performed on the driveway to Bellefontaine Elementary School this month. Twenty plus parking spaces were added to the BES parking lot in July.

Marc Stakey and Matt Heaston provided a technology update to board members.

New terminals have been added to lunch lines, tech forms have been moved to Final Forms, and 2,000 Chromebooks were repaired and cleaned up this summer.

In other action, the board:

• accepted the following resignations: Aaron Gregor – Arts/TV Production; Jill Roode – Language Arts; Bill Branan – Maintenance; Amanda Fisher – Custodian; Diane Hartzler and Margarita Shell, Food Service Worker;

• hired the following employees: Mark Butler – Chieftain Pride Lab Academic Advisor; Ashton Childs – Second Grade; Tasidee Fagg – Kindergarten; Heidi Heacock – High School Art; Olivia Starkey – Intervention Specialist

• Bill Tipple was placed on the salary schedule at BA 10 (bachelor’s degree with 10 years of experience) based on his experience in the field of media production.

• approved Costin Family Practice as the medical provider to BCS for 2023-24 at the annual fee of $1;

• approved extended time for the following employees:  Morgan Fultz, Strength & Wellness Instructor, nine days; Eric Hamm, Intermediate School Guidance, 10 days; Brice Henry, Vocal Music,10 days; Jeremy Karg, Instrumental Music, 10 days; Julie Kurtz, Middle School Guidance, 10 days; Shalie Logan, High School Guidance, 20 days; Lindsey Maus, Middle School Guidance, four days; Rebecca O’Rielley, High School Guidance, 20 days; Jake Kennedy, Marketing Education, 10 days; Paula Shaw, High School Guidance, 20 days; Dawn Spangler, Elementary School Guidance, five days; Bill Tipple, Television/Communications, 25 days;

• extended the following supplemental contracts: Meghan Ashcraft – High School Girls Basketball Head; Brooke Bahr – Middle School Basketball Sideline Cheer Head; Jim Ball – High School Boys & Girls Tennis Assistant; Jason Calton – Middle School Site Manager (Fall & Winter); Johnny Boling Maurice – Middle School Wrestling Assistant; Delmar Fogan – Eighth Grade Football Assistant; Morgan Fultz – Boys/Girls Weight Room Coordinator; Brady Hiatt – High School Girls Wrestling Head; Chelsea Johnson – High School Swimming Assistant; Connor Kellogg – High School Boys Soccer Assistant; Jane Kline – High School Bowling Head (50 percent); High School Bowling Assistant Coach (50 percent); Alysia Kuba – High School Competition Cheer Head; Aaron LaBatt – High School Boys Wrestling Head; Sharon Lewis – High School Swimming Head; Cam Mitchell – 8th Grade Boys Basketball Head; Mike Mosbarger – Middle School Boys Basketball Assistant; Tammy Overholser – High School Bowling Head (50 percent),  High School Bowling Assistant (50 percent); Hunter Pool – High School Boys Wrestling Assistant; Tom Rose – 7th Grade Boys Basketball Head; Kyle Spence – Middle School Wrestling Head; Henry Stolly – High School Boys Basketball Head; Heather Storm – High School Basketball Sideline Cheer Head; Theresa Vigansky – 8th Grade Girls Basketball Head; Michelle Zedeker – High School Girls Basketball Assistant;

• approved the following volunteer coaches:David Overholser – High School Bowling; Brad Rader – High School Girls Basketball; Jeremy Ryan – High School Bowling; Randy Varner – High School Girls Basketball;

• approved bus routes and curriculum for the 2023-24 school year.

The next board meeting is 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, in the Distance Learning Center at BHS.