It’s report card time—not for students but for the school districts responsible for their
education. The Benjamin Logan Local School District Board of Education heard how they’re doing at their regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 16. And, for the most part, it was good news.
Superintendent John Scheu started by reminding the board all schools receive a rating
between one and five. In 2023, BL earned 4 stars. This year, that rating moved to 4.5. Of the five components—achievement, progress, gap closing, early literacy and graduation—BL showed the most improvement in progress.
“We are one of about 160 schools that had four-point-five and above out of all 612
school districts,” Scheu informed the board. “That puts us in the top 25 percent.”
Scheu credited their increased rating on several factors, starting with their “absolutely
excellent” staff. He also mentioned staff training, math curriculum, the elementary school’s use of the i-Ready program, dyslexia training, and students’ time spent on-task.
Once again, their greatest area of strength is in graduation, which still holds strong at
98.5 percent. Because, Scheu contends, they make a point of quality time with the kids in their care.
“Students aren’t walking the hallways. They’re engaged and learning is taking place,” Scheu said.
According to the report, BL is similar in size and scope to only 20 other districts around Ohio and, in the entire state, they’re closest to West Liberty-Salem, which also earned a 4.5. Scheu then gave each of the district principals a chance to share information from their respective buildings, beginning with high school principal Annette Ramga Alatorre. Though the high school’s overall rating was still at 4, as it was last year, Alatorre said they’d seen significant growth in achievement. Though they’re proud of the 5-star graduation rating, they specifically need to improve in gap closing.
Alatorre then mentioned a report she read stating one-third of students believe people
don’t even know their name.
“It’s hard to think they’re at a school where no one calls them by name,” Alatorre
admitted. “We want to pinpoint those students.”
Todd Shadley, the new middle school principal, said they received a 4.5 and tested above the state average in all areas. He has seen growth in ELA and science.
“They’re not just writing, but writing deeper, thinking deeper,” Shadley said. On the other hand, they’ve seen a decline in math. So, while they’re doing great in some classes, he added, “We need to dig deep to see where we can do better.”
Finally, Holly Barr, principal for the elementary school, pointed out they’d increased a full star in their rating, with the main improvements in achievement and progress.
“Third grade really nailed it last year,” Barr reported, “and we’re hoping we can continue that.”
With early literacy stuck at three stars, it’s an area the school needs to focus on. As a result, they’re in the process of testing out four state-provided reading curricula. Barr said they want to strengthen their students’ independence.
“We need to work our baby birds out of the nest,” she added. “It’s time to fly.”
Before moving on, Scheu once again praised their staff. “The principals and assistant principals spend a lot of time in the classroom. It benefits the schools and will continue to
benefit them.”
Finances
The board approved the following actions as presented by Treasurer/CFO Leah Baker:
August bank reconciliation and financial reports for August 2024.
Credit card compliance review in accordance with House Bill 312.
Activity budges for the 2024-2025 school year.
Transfer of $920.98 from the Class of 2023 to the Class of 2028. Transfer of $265,181 for a Chase payment (track).
Edited purpose statement for Booster Bars to support Benjamin Logan schools, including student supplies and classroom expenses. Correction of a deposit made to the wrong account code: $50 from student fees to the lunch account.
A resolution accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the budget
commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies to be certified to the county
auditor.
General property tax outside the 10 mill limitation: $10,000,000 (general fund);
$625,000 (permanent improvements fund); total tax rate outside 10 mill limit at
30.45 mills.
Approved tax rates inside the 10 mill limitation: $1,900,000 (general fund); tax
rate at 3.80 mills.
Personnel
According to Scheu, the district now has a full custodial and bus staff. Other
accepted/approved personnel action items were:
Resignations—Michelle Current, bus driver, effective Aug. 19, 2024, and Vincent Conrad Potvin, bus driver, effective Sept. 18, 2024. Robert Wolf resigned as student council advisor at the middle school (1/2 contract).
Deduct days—Lynette Rostorfer, Sept. 12 (1 day) and Sept. 13 (1 day); plus Jaclyn
Powers, who is utilizing personal and sick days first, then the remaining maternity leave will be deduct days.
New hires, one-year limited contracts—Megan Fitzpatrick and Betsy Savage, bus drivers
effective Aug. 1 to July 31; and Chad Jordan, custodian (effective Aug. 22).
Employment of personnel, hourly—Janie Foreman, secretary scale for clerical work in
transportation department, effective Sept. 23, payment per hour, per timesheet as needed, and Deb Wagler, Raider Care aide at $20 per hour per timesheet. Advancements on salary schedule—Tori Purk was approved for having earned additional hours.
Career internship program stipend—Cadan Goldstein was approved as career internship program coordinator for the 2024-2025 school year with a stipend of $2,000.
Home instruction/tutors, paid $24 per hour/per timesheet for the 2024-2025 school
year: Morganne Ackley, Lisa Daniels, Leslie Everett, Aryn Forsythe, Nicole Fuller, Susan
Headings, Rob Painter, Jaclyn Powers, Tori Purk, Abbey Shields, Matt Smith.
Substitutes—Mary Wallen (transportation), Brooke Smith (Raider Care aide), Kandi
Brown (educational assistant and Raider Care aide).
Supplemental contracts for the 2024-2025 school year:
Athletic—middle school boys basketball coach Eric Nichols, girls head basketball coach Greg Saylor, JV high school girls basketball coach Tracy Gregg, middle school girls basketball coach John Fout, boys bowling coach Barney Sullivan, girls bowling coach Tammy Poling, high school cheerleading coach competition Maxine Trout, high school boys swimming coach Mitch Sweeney, high school girls swimming coach Renae Deardurff, high school weight room assistant coordinator Kevin Butler, middle school wrestling coach Cole Carpenter, high school wrestling coach assistants Kiel Henry and Matt Marshall, high school boys head wrestling coach Kyle Seeley, high school girls head wrestling coach Bryan Newland, high school varsity basketball cheer coach.
Non-athletic—middle school Builders Club advisors Holly Bair and Erica Caudill,
elementary school Raider Run Club advisors Tiann Harner and Tyler Young, middle school
student council advisor Gretchen Powell, high school testing coordinators Nicole Fuller and
Matt Smith, elementary school testing coordinators Anthony Given and Lindsay Rose, middle school Washington, D.C. chair Tom Braddock.
Other board action
The board approved the May 14-16, 2025, eighth-grade trip to Washington, D.C.
Benjamin Logan High School will partner with the American Exchange Project for the 2024 2025 school year. This program gives the school’s high school graduates an opportunity to spend a week in another state, typically an area different from where they’re from.
According to Sally Stolly, administrative services director, the school did their first exchange this past summer, with six BL graduates traveling to other states and four students from around the country coming to Logan County.
“We’ve had 10 students express interest already,” Stolly said, then added, “And it’s free for students.”
The board gratefully accepted the following donations:
$200 from Belle Center United Presbyterian Church for elementary
students in need.
$2,000 from the Ohio High School Athletic Association for district
athletics.
Wooden keys from Larsen Woodworking, valued at $200, for the National
Honor Society.
A white tent donated by Alatorre, valued at $200, for outside events.
Various school supplies from Iron Brother LEMC for district-wide
distribution to students in need.
The next BL district board of education meeting will be Monday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m.
