The Bellefontaine Board of Education praised a class that’s helping hundreds of residents across our community during their Monday evening meeting, Feb. 12.
Bellefontaine High School Principal Jason Brown, along with teachers Rick Reed and Skylar Mifsud, explained the impact of the BHS Service Learning class.
The class combines servitude along with authentic learning opportunities outside the classroom.
Students have helped numerous local organizations and agencies, including: Discovery Riders, Our Daily Bread, Second Harvest Food Bank, Bellefontaine Joint Recreation District, and Logan County Health District.
Most recently, the BHS students have been delivering items from the Second Harvest Food Bank to 36 area families in need.
Reed believes that number will increase to 50 families by the end of this school year. Reed said the families are gracious for the support, and the students look forward to serving.
If you know of a family who could benefit, contact Mr. Reed.
Board members were thrilled with the program’s growing success.
In other news, Bellefontaine City Schools Superintendent Brad Hall thanked the board members for their leadership and commitment. Each board member was given a gift bag for their service.
New BCS band director Ken Hoffman Jr. was introduced at the board meeting. He was approved by the board for a one-y
ear contract for the 2024-25 school year.
Hoffman then met with band students and their parents in the BHS Band Room from 7 to 8 p.m. He is currently the Upper Sandusky Middle School band director.
The board also heard about the continued success of the BHS and BMS robotics teams from BMS robotics coaches Sandi Chervenak and Jordan Reser.
Two high school teams, along with one middle school team, have qualified for the state competition in Marion on March 7-9.
Chervenak and Reser are hopeful the teams can qualify for the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dall
as this spring. Fundraising efforts would help offset the cost of the trip should the teams advance.
In other action, the board:
• accepted the following resignations: Olivia Starkey, intervention specialist; Delmar Fogan, Rebekah King, educational aides; Stephanie Yowler, school nurse (Bellefontaine Intermediate School);
• accepted the supplemental contract resignation of Aaron Peitsmeyer, head football, effective Feb. 5, for the 2024-25 school year;
• hired Tami Hardin, Sue Crawfis, and Peggy Phillips as educational aides;
• approved Mary Smith and Candace Wagner as home/school tutors;
• extended the following supplemental contracts for 2023-24: Nathan Arbogast, Middle School Girls Track Assistant; Katie Buffkin, High School Softball Head; Jason Calton, High School Boys Tennis Head; Ben Davis, High School Boys & Girls Track Head; Eric Fatzinger, Middle School Boys Track Head; Matt Gallaway, Middle School Boys Track Assistant; Joseph Gengler, High School Baseball Assistant; Steve Henry, Middle School Girls Track Head; Kenneth Hoffman Jr., High School Instrumental Music Director; Russ Hogue, High School Baseball Head; Zoe Price, High School Track Assistant; Jim Robinson, High School Track Assistant; Cody Sigrist, High School Track Assistant; Doug Walters, High School Softball Assistant; Stacey Wilson, High School Track Assistant; Larry Young, High School Track Assistant;
• approved the following volunteer coaches: Trinity Floyd, Musical Production; Rick Gildow, High School Softball; Richard McDaniel, High School Track; Jeff Morrison, High School Softball; Mike Mosbarger, High School Baseball; and Michelle Zedeker, High School Softball;
• approved the following athletic workers: Johnny Boling Maurice, Damon Dixon, Jon Hayduk, Aaron LaBatt, Adam Middlesworth, Hunter Pool, and Kyle Spence;
• approved membership into the Ohio High School Athletic Association;
• approved the job description and salary schedule of the electric operations coordinator; the board is seeking candidates for this position; and
• recognized February Seniors of the Month Parker Penhorwood and Truman Howell; they each received an achievement pin and a $15 gift card to Ron’s Pizza.
The next board meeting is 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 11, in the Bellefontaine Middle School Library.
