Kelsey Webb, communication coordinator at Ohio Hi-Point, right, goes over the school’s new web page, which gives details on the events OHP will host during the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024. (EXAMINER PHOTO | SHARYN KOPF)
It might still be seven months away, but if you’re looking for a good spot to view the solar eclipse as it passes over Logan County next April, Ohio Hi-Point Joint Vocational School District (OHP) has a suggestion: spend the day with them.
Plans are already underway for a family-friendly, day-long event on Monday, April 8.
So when the Ohio Hi-Point Board of Education gathered for their regular meeting Wednesday night, Aug. 23, Kelsey Webb gave them a rundown of what the day will entail.
“We’re planning ahead so we’ll have smooth sailing that day,” Webb, who serves as the school’s communication coordinator, told the board.
A total solar eclipse is a rare occurrence for the area. We won’t see another one here until 2099. With that in mind, OHP is selling tickets so people can see the phenomena from the highest point in Ohio.
Tickets are $25 per vehicle, whether it’s one person or more. Buses can park there for $125. They will have 500 spaces for cars and 14 for buses. They anticipate selling out by November. According to Webb, though, more might open up that day depending on the weather and how dry the grounds are.
Besides a good viewing spot, the day will include activities, bounce houses and food trucks. The event will go from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., so participants are encouraged to bring their own chairs/blankets. They’re expecting about 4,000 guests that day.
“We want to make sure there’s plenty for the kids to do,” Webb said. “And most of that will be free.”
They will offer several additional options, like the family eclipse adventurers package for $50 or the eclipse enthusiast package for $75. Attendees are in charge of providing their own viewing glasses and, in fact, must sign a waiver accepting that responsibility.
“Our insurance company has made it very clear we’re not covered to sell the glasses,” Superintendent Rick Smith stated.
OHP students will, of course, be very involved, from creating T-shirts to supervising children’s activities to making food in the Sloan kitchen.
To find out more about the day’s events, visit ohiohipoint.com and choose the Solar Eclipse 2024 tab.
In other board activity:
• Smith reported the school is up about 90 students this semester with around 625 total. And, he said, “We’re off to a good start,” especially compared to 2022 when they had to wait a week due to water issues. He stated the programs not yet full still have at least 17 to 18 students in classes that cap at 25.
• Brad Richardson, assistant superintendent of Career Tech, gave his own update and shared the excitement the students and staff have to being back. Though the new teachers may have seemed a bit overwhelmed during their “bootcamp” at the beginning of August, over the last few days he could tell “they’re all ready.”
Still, Richardson added, “One of our biggest barriers continues to be transportation.” With that in mind, they’ve hired a new part-time van driver and are working on implementing a driver’s education course, which OHP will pay for using state funding.
• The board approved the attendance of at least one administrator to assist in chaperoning all out-of-state study trips for the 2023-2024 school year. This includes previously approved trips.
• Richardson and Smith were approved to attend the ACTE National Convention in Phoenix, Ariz., from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2. The approximate $4,000 price tag will come out of the general fund.
• Molly Harshbarger, Riverside satellite agriculture instructor, was approved to chaperone 15 students to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis from Nov. 1-3. Approximate cost will be $775 for Harshbarger (from general fund) and the students/CTSO will pay $1,690.
• Approved certified substitutes for the 2023-2024 school year are: Rosalind Brown, Kimberly J. Collier, Rebecca L. Stahl, Michael J. Moore and Jack H. Harshbarger.
• Trish L. Wilcox was accepted as an educational aide.
• The board approved Kathleen Risner as the aforementioned van driver through June 30, 2024.
• Lori J. Lowery will fill the data & assessment coordinator position from Aug. 28, 2023 to June 30, 2024.
• The board accepted the donation of two 2017 Freightliner Cascadia semi-trucks to be used in the diesel technology lab at OHP from Meijer, Inc. of Grand Rapids, MI, at a value of over $55,000.
• At Smith’s recommendation, the board authorized a contract with Bender Communication Inc., for the school’s Security Radio Project.
The Ohio Hi-Point Board of Education’s next meeting is 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27.
