Some called it the most exciting bowling match they’d ever seen.
But for the Benjamin Logan High School bowling team, winning the Division II state championship came down to one truth, expressed by senior Nate Davis: “We all knew we could do it.”
Once they made it to the state competition in March, the team fought all the way to the final two, a best of five competition against defending state champion Marion Pleasant. After winning two out of the first four matches, they took the title in the fifth with a score of 270 over 257.
The Benjamin Logan (BL) Local School District Board of Education recognized the team’s achievement at their regular meeting on Monday, April 21. Coach Barney Sullivan gave the board an overview of the team’s “tremendous season.”
According to Sullivan, Davis made a bet with him—steak dinners for the team with every tournament win.
“They cost us a lot of money,” Sullivan said, “but every penny was worth it.”
“It’s a very proud moment for Benjamin Logan Schools,” John Scheu, district superintendent, stated.
Senior Landon Stoodt told the board it was a “really big deal to all of us.”
The board also spent considerable time on Monday hearing from Jeff Carr, director of water and wastewater engineering with Environmental Design Group, regarding the school’s collection system and wastewater treatment plant evaluation.
Originally constructed in 1987, the BL high school’s plant was expanded to double its flow capacity to 30,000 gpd in 1995. Carr’s assessment determined the plant’s sanitary sewer collection systems includes 16 manholes, 3,442 feet of six-inch PVC pipe and 396 feet of eight-inch vitrified clay pipe.
The plant’s 30-year age, Carr said, is evident, with most of the equipment needing to be replaced or rehabilitated. Considering the extent of the work needed on the plant, the district has released a full overview in an accompanying article.
Principal Reports
Holly Barr, elementary school—the school will host a grandparents game night and Unified Arts day, which will include a high school student-run petting zoo and food trucks, on Saturday, April 26.
Barr then shared their iReady progress report, which showed signs of progress from fall to spring in each subject and grade level.
Todd Shadley, middle school—the staff made changes in how they handle breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria to address an ant problem in the lockers and hallways, partly due to waste being thrown in recycling bins instead of trashcans. It has also made a difference in how long students have to eat, giving them 20 minutes or more.
Approximately 90 percent of students showed improvement from winter to spring. They were rewarded with an iReady growth celebration and ice cream bars.
As a further incentive, students with perfect attendance who improve on their tests will get to participate in a pizza party before the end of the school year.
Annette Ramga-Alatorre, high school—end-of-course exams started Wednesday and go through May 8. WebXams for the career tech program are also underway.
The Ohio Hi-Point showcase to introduce freshmen to the career school’s programs was on Tuesday. Other updates from Alatorre included:
- The robotics team gave a lunch presentation to eighth graders and hosted an open house for families.
- Improvising a Cure, presented by the jazz band, is Thursday, April 24, at 6 p.m. The funds raised will go to charity.
- The quiz bowl team will compete at Nationals in Illinois this weekend.
Financial Report
Leah Baker, district treasurer, expressed her concern over House Bill 96, a budget bill that passed the Ohio House of Representatives and now is heading to the Senate.
“It changes the cash balance a school can hold,” Baker said, “so that it can never be more than 30 percent. I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on. Everybody is.”
Baker believes this could affect other schools more than Benjamin Logan because they “rarely go over 30 percent.” Still, she added, she’s “nervous” about what is happening in the state budget at this time.
In other action, the board approved or recognized:
- Resignations of Michael Dove, music teacher; Pete Keeran, mechanic; and Chris Roberts, bus driver;
- One deduct day for Kandi Brown on March 20;
- Change of assignment for Katie Lacher from third-grade teacher to guidance counselor and for Jaclyn Atherton from intervention specialist to psychologist case manager;
- the following new hires: One-year limited contracts to Sandy McKirahan, food service worker, and Dale Miller, bus driver;two-year administrative contract to Laura Croniser, school psychologist; one-year limited teaching contracts to Elanie McWade and Lily Hoeppner, elementary school teachers;
- three-year administrative contracts to Art Daniels, transportation director, and Tim Scheiderer, building/grounds supervisor;
- Lexi Archer and Wyatt Blackburn, April Seniors of the Month;
- the Class of 2025 graduation list, certifying eligible students to receive diplomas Friday, May 23;
- reimbursement of electrical costs for bus drivers based on timer usage during the 2024-2025 school year; and
- a list of licensed doctors authorized to conduct bus driver physicals .
The next meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, May 19.