By Paula Scott
The Ada Schools Board of Education met on Thursday, August 17 with members Ron Fleming, Matt Gossman, Ted Griffith and Amy Mullins in attendance. Steve Ramey was absent. The meeting packet is attached HERE.
SPECIAL REPORTS
High School
Principal Dan Lee reported that CISN grief response services assisted students that day, the first day of school, following the death of 17-year old Jayden Elwood in a bicycle accident. He thanked the Hardin Co. Athletic Hall of Fame for the donation of 30 cases of water. Lee reported that the schools are continuing to implement safety grant updates, including an enlarged playground area with new fencing. He estimated that some 25% of the state awarded safety grant has been spent. The majority will be used for technology updates.
Elementary
Principal Jeremy Clark noted that on the first day of school, third graders went to say hello to their second grade teachers. This year there are about 480 students in K-6, higher than in the past. He thanked staffers who helped complete the new playground story walk, created with donations from two families. Clark also gave a heads up that Senate Bill 688 will require child abuse prevention programming.
Buildings, Grounds, Maintenance
Supervisor Lance Dearth reported that a new sidewalk is in place connecting the administration building and High School wing. He noted hail damage on the flat roof over Elementary and High School offices. A ceiling fell through just outside the elementary office. This roof is past warranty and makes the building vulnerable to further damage. He recommends replacing the roof with a Duralast product. Superintendent Recker commented that this could be a $100K project, but that it prevents much larger issues.
Treasurer
Kim Light noted that this is the first month of the new fiscal year, when they compare everything to temporary appropriations. See attached financials pages 7-26 for the balance of funds, monthly check register, investment schedule, bank reconciliation, income tax revenue, petty cash resolution, FY 2023 annual commercial paper filing.
OLD BUSINESS
Light reported on the HVAC project for the Administration building. The schools met with architects, did a walkthrough and took pictures. She hoped to have a design by August 25 to send to estimators. A rough estimate is $1.8 million with $725K expected from ESSR funds.
SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATIONS
The board unanimously approved Superintendent Dennis Recker’s recommendations A-K, including the following:
- Rehire/Retire of teachers Kim Guagenti and Judy Hedges.
- Certified substitute teachers Lori Acheson, Diane Carter, Mark Daley and Jason Sumner.
- Salary adjustments for four teachers completing their master’s degrees.
- Seven volunteer drivers.
- Substitute driver for Bus or Vat at $19.60/hour.
- Resignation of food service worker Scotty Fuqua.
- Memorandum of Understanding with the Ada Education Association.
SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS
During this segment, there was a discussion of the impact of school being canceled April 8, 2024, the day of a complete solar eclipse. This date will be the third cancellation day for the school year, with no instruction. Therefore, prior to this date, a third cancellation will be a remote learning day.
Recker noted that a wellness committee with an annual review and audit has been established, to be headed by Dr. Devier.
For information purposes only, he noted that there is a permanent improvement levy coming up and an a levy committee has been secured.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Ada School Board is 6:00 p.m. on September 21.
The board entered an executive session with no action to be taken.
