Changes are coming to Benjamin Logan High School, and Principal Annette Alatorre gave the district’s board of education a brief rundown of those changes at their regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 24.
In her report, Alatorre stated they finished scheduling for the next school year on Friday, which involves moving from an abbreviated block schedule—two periods, three blocks—to seven 48-minute periods.
The new system also means classes stay the same throughout the year rather than switching each semester.
“We had lots of grumbling,” Alatorre told the board, “but we’re finding the positives, and giving [teachers] a chance to address their concerns has helped us embrace that positive attitude.”
Though they’re still “working through some kinks,” Alatorre added there’s been minimal pushback and “everyone’s ready to go now.”
Connected to that is a variety of new courses the high school will offer students when classes start in fall 2025. Superintendent John Scheu presented that list to the board at Monday’s meeting. Board member Deb Johnson said she was “really impressed,” and feels the students will be even more ready for college as a result.
According to Alatorre, some of these courses combine subjects to prepare students for higher learning. In fact, they already have juniors and seniors taking enough College Credit Plus (CCP) classes to complete their college freshman general education studies by the time they graduate high school.
These new courses include: English studies CCP, which combines college writing 1 and principles of speech; Baking and pastry arts; Music in media; Honors biology—a more challenging course designed for students with health-focused career goals; Behavior studies CCP, which combines general psychology and sociology; and renamed Spanish classes that have been tweaked to offer additional materials; e.g. Spanish 4 is now Exploring the Hispanic World and Spanish 5 is Hispanic Voices and Perspectives
“With moving to the seven-period day,” Alatorre later explained, “our students are going to have more time with their teachers. Instead of a semester of math, for instance, they’ll have that interaction the entire year. That’s one of the benefits.”
Besides the new high school courses, the board approved inter-district and intra-district open enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year.
Scheu said they usually see 50 to 60 students come in through open enrollment, which provides a “huge amount of income” for the schools.
“It speaks highly of the district, our teachers and staff, and our reputation,” he said.
Midwest Regional ESC Contract
The contract with Midwest Regional ESC for 2024-2025, which, Scheu said, includes everything from “curriculum to physical therapy to speech and language assistance,” was approved.
Scheu stated the contract should have been taken care of last summer but it was missed then, so they’re “catching up.”
The district will receive a bill for any other money owed beyond the contract at the end of the school year.
Salary Placement Resolution
Next, the board approved a resolution specifying salaries for new positions and credit for placement on the district’s salary schedule, “especially considering the scarcity of certain educational license holders.”
This resolution concerns Samantha Schaffner Gessler, who was appointed as the middle school counselor on a one-year contract effective Aug. 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026.
Superintendent’s Report
Scheu started his report by congratulating the Career Technical Education (CTE) program and student organizations for their presentations to board members and the administration.
Next, Holly Barr, elementary principal, highlighted community involvement outings like the father/daughter dance, which had over 400 people attend, the mother/son dance and the school’s annual science fair.
Barr also said they plan to spend the next month revising their credit cards since the current process has differences in assessment criteria and methods, and they “want to create consistency.”
Middle school principal Todd Shadley reported on a variety of successful athletic events and their recent spelling bee achievements.
In addition, Dr. John Collins with the Collins Writing Program met with middle school staff last week about improving student writing skills across all subjects.
Finally, Shadley said he’s been working with Sally Stolly, director of administrative services, about updating the school’s entrance decal to include the new logo.
Alatorre also reported the boys’ and girls’ wrestling teams are both advancing to districts. And the boys’ bowling team will compete at the state championship this weekend.
In other action, the board approved, accepted, extended or recognized:
• the resignations of Scott LeVan, teacher, effective June 1, for retirement and Kary Henry, bus driver, effective Jan. 31, for personal reasons.
• the employment of Mel Roberts and Ashlee Phillips as bus drivers on a one-year limited contract; and Ronald (Jamie) Gill, a 2020 BL graduate, as a middle school teacher, effective Aug. 1, 2025. Gill, who attended The Ohio State University, said he felt welcomed back at the district and called it “a nice coming home moment”;
• the hire of Erica Caudill, head cook, effective March 3;
• the following athletic contracts: Quinn Morris and Cody Wood, high school baseball assistants; Jeremy Allen, high school baseball head; Tracy Gregg and Jim Parker, high school softball assistants; Amanda Davis, high school softball head; Lance Predmore and Jamie Gill, middle school track assistants; Brian Hemmelgarn, Jamie Hughes (1/2 contract), Mike Overturf (1/4 contract) and Jeff Wical (1/4 contract, high school boys track assistants; Trish Hemmelgarn and Scott Wenger, high school girls track assistants; Kevin Butler, high school boys track head; Sheridan Storm, middle school boys head track; Mike Coder, high school girls head track; Colleen Bodin, middle school girls head track; Kyle Seeley, high school weight room assistant coordinator;
• baseball volunteers Derek Leva, Nolan Roose and Trey Allen, and softball volunteer Adam Brunson.
• an ESC substitute list at a rate of $115 per day, effective Jan. 13, 2025.
• the following grants: Logan County Electric Co-op grants for $500, $499 and $480; an Ohio Beef Council grant for $200; a Logan County Cattle Association grant for $300; the 2025 NASSP student service grant for $1,000; and the Rushylvania Alumni Scholarship for $1,100;
• a transfer of funds to support the Builders Club as well as the student activity coffee cart budget and purpose statement for the high school;
• seniors of the Month for January—Taytum Daniels and Kameron Lockwood (who couldn’t attend due to a Quiz Bowl competition), and February—Kate Gulick and Dylan Vance.
• a resolution authorizing membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association for the 2025-2026 school year;
• high school course selection handbooks as well as the district’s 2026-2027 school calendar both passed;
• Siina Grondahl from Finland as the Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) student for the 2025-2026 school year. The RYE host families are Melissa Vance, John and Colleen Bodin, and Mitch and Morissa Sweeney;
• a travel proposal for a trip to Montreal and Quebec in June 2026 at a cost of $3,006 per student. Shelley Lane will lead the group;
• Karen Barnes as a trustee of the Belle Center free public library, effective Jan. 1, 2025; and
• a donation from Byhalia.net, LLC for project and internet services for $17,674.34.
The next meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, March 17.