Bellefontaine High School Guidance Counselor Paula Shaw delivered a passionate presentation on the Opportunity Program Tuesday night, Nov. 11, at the Bellefontaine City Schools’ Board of Education meeting.
Board members learned about the highly successful credit recovery program at BHS. It is grant funded and serves high school students each week from 3-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Shaw shared that 42 students have graduated from BHS since the program’s inception in 2022-23.
These students have struggled in a traditional classroom. Many have flourished through the one-on-one attention offered in the Opportunity Program.
Shaw detailed how students’ attendance and grade point average have steadily increased the last three years.
The average attendance rate jumped from 63 to 83 percent, while the average GPA went from 1.5 to 2.4.
The after school program is staffed by 12 BCS teachers, with Shaw serving as the program manager. Sarah Gossard is the site manager.
The board then approved the monthly financial reports, along with five out-of-state trips for BHS Robotics this school year.
The trips include competitions at Speedway in Indianapolis on Nov. 21-22, Sugar Rush in Hershey, Pa., on Jan. 4-5, Gateway to the West in Triadelphia, W.Va., on Jan. 28-29, and Bristol Bots in Bristol, Tenn., on Feb. 12-13, and the VEX World Championship in St. Louis in late April/early May.
Several personnel items were approved, including supplemental contracts for the following musical production assistants: Maverick Aldo, Meagan Antram-Hoyt, Jere Daniels, Keri Fergus, Trinity Floyd, and Robin Henry. BHS will present the musical Mamma Mia! Feb. 27-28, 2026.
The board also approved an attendance incentive for BCS teachers in 2025-26. Teachers are eligible to receive $300 per quarter (if they miss 1/2 day or less).
In other action, the board approved, accepted or extended:
• the following new hires: Cindy Agamez, educational aide; and Connie Sanders, food service worker;
• the resignation of Jessica Pender, food service worker;
• the following home instruction/tutors: Angie Horvath, Ric Prine, Kate Smith and Jordan Vermillion;
• the following supplemental contracts: Brandon Rutherford, high school and middle school assistant girls wrestling; Jeremiah Vigansky, assistant boys basketball at BMS;
• volunteer coaches as follows: Nicole Hall, Amy Kerns, competition cheer; Dylan Legge, Trent Nicholl, ESports Team; Maelinn Myers, high school track; Hunter Pool, high school boys wrestling;
• the indoor track program to be coached by Ben Davis and Cody Sigrist.
• a one-time $3,000 stipend to Katie Davis for taking over Building Leadership Team duties at Bellefontaine Intermediate School;
• the following individuals for the professional substitute list at BCS: Caitlyn Brown, Isaac Pennymon, Kassi Prine, Shianna Miller, Melanie Rapp, Lee Adrienne Siler, and Tayteum Vigansky; BCS is seeking additional substitutes; you’re encouraged to call the board office for more details at (937) 593-9060;
• approved the following substitute appointments: Ciara Ericksen, Pamela Russell, Lisa Stewart, Elaine Thompson, food service workers; Trinity Floyd, educational aide; and
• recognized November Seniors of the Month Isabel Beck and Jacob Henry; they each received an achievement pin and a $15 gift card to Ron’s Pizza; Isabel plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in marketing; Jacob Henry will study pre-med.
The next meeting is 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, in the Distance Learning Center at BHS.
