MINUTES OF WAPAKONETA CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR SESSION
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
5:00 PM
The meeting of the Board of Education of the Wapakoneta City School District was called to
order by President Pat Gibson.
ROLL CALL
Upon the roll being called, the following were present:
BOARD MEMBERS:
Pat Gibson
Eric McKinniss
Ron Mertz
Willie Sammetinger
Member Brent Schwartz was excused for the meeting.
Also in attendance were Keith Horner, Superintendent; Angie Sparks, Treasurer; staff members;
community members; and the Wapakoneta Daily News.
The pledge of allegiance was led by President Pat Gibson.
REPORTS TO THE BOARD
Virtual School - Travis Moyer and Joe Bender provided a report on the Virtual School program
at Wapakoneta High School. A recap of the information provided by Mr. Moyer is included in
the minutes.
Mr. Bender stated that there is a designated room at the high school for the virtual students. This
could be a blended student that is taking mainstream English but an on-line math class, for
example. They can stop in any time they have free time. A blended student would be one taking
mainstream classes, but maybe taking one on-line class. It is also open to those students that are
taking the classes from home. They are free to come in any time. He stated the main reason he
is there is to tutor any students that need help and to monitor the classroom. The most important
thing he does is communicate constantly with the students and parents. He monitors what the
students are doing and if assignments are not getting turned in, then he will first call the parents.
If nothing happens after that, they will step in and inform the students they need to come back
into the classroom so we can get them back on track.
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Blended students have a designated time to come in during first and second mods. They will
also stop in during their homerooms and study halls. There are Chromebooks set up in the
classroom. Everything is there; that way if they run into a technical problem, Mr. Bender can
call the ACE Academy or Jen and they will get it straightened out usually within a day or two.
It has been a very good year for the Virtual School. There have been a lot of students who have
been struggling, and they have thrived on this. Some of the others need a little push. They have
seen the success stories. It has been a very rewarding and very successful year for the students.
Mr. Gibson asked if both Mr. Bender and Mr. Moyer have found themselves having to fight the
stereotypical opinion that this is for at-risk or those on the verge of dropping out. He was
looking at some of the courses and felt that was obviously not the case. He wondered if there
was anything the Board could do to help remove the stereotype to inform people that it is serving
all types of students, not just those struggling. Mr. Moyer stated that this is the big change to
where this is going in terms of the opportunities for all types of students. The guidance
counselors do a great job when scheduling classes for next year. The biggest thing we need to do
is communicate about the program because there are a lot of opportunities for the students.
Mr. Mertz asked if there was anything they would like to change to put their stamp on and make
it more theirs, since they have worked with the program for a year now and have seen what
works and what doesn’t. Mr. Moyer stated that he is always asking ACE Academy how they can
make their program better. He stated that Wapak is considered one of the leaders in this area.
He stated that he and Mr. Bender want to continue to grow the program. We will continue to
communicate what we are about. We just want to give our kids as many opportunities as
possible.
Mr. Bender stated that they work closely with ACE Academy. He stated that a lot of times ACE
Academy will go to Mr. Bender and Mr. Moyer and ask how things are going and what is
working and what is not. Having that person in the room is a success as opposed to not having
that student at all.
Mr. Horner asked Mr. Bender if the coursework through ACE Academy is more rigorous than
that through TRECA, which preceded ACE Academy. Mr. Bender stated that the coursework is
more rigorous. From the little he saw of the transition, since he came in towards the end of
TRECA, he stated that he thought TRECA was geared towards middle school students so the
coursework is more rigorous. He said there are more options for the students with the ACE
Academy.
Mr. Horner stated that we are serving kids that for whatever reason don’t fit into our typical,
traditional school to kids that are pushing themselves academically that can’t fit everything into
their day for whatever reason. So there are multiple needs. From his experience, ACE Academy
is much more responsive than TRECA was.
Mr. Bender stated that there is a good bond between the District and ACE Academy.
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Mr. Gibson asked about the 19 students that are considered full-time in the virtual program.
Would those have been full time students that we otherwise would have lost and lost funding if
we didn’t offer this program?
Mr. Horner indicated that is the potential. These students are choosing virtual school for a
reason and if we didn’t offer virtual school, they could have very easily enrolled somewhere else.
Mr. Gibson then indicated that it appears the District would have lost 25% of the students
choosing virtual school if it was not offered. He also inquired if there was partial funding for the
other students.
Mr. Horner stated that we do charge for some of these courses. Mr. Moyer stated that next year
it will be per class. They will be charged based on the number of classes they are taking. Mr.
Horner stated that students will be considered full-time if they are taking five classes. Anything
under that will result in a loss of state share per kid.
Mr. Horner and the Board thanked Mr. Moyer and Mr. Bender for their report.
ROUTINE BUSINESS
36-15 Member Ron Mertz moved and Member Eric McKinniss seconded to approve the
following items:
Approve minutes from the meeting held May 26, 2015.
Approve monthly financial reports.
Approve the following appropriation modifications:
Band (Fund 300-9200) - $7,830.00
School Choirs (Fund 300-9202) - $421.37
Class of 2015 (Fund 200-9915) - $0.21
eTextbook Grant (Fund 499-9215) - $3,455.00
Approve FY '16 temporary appropriations.
Southwestern Ohio Education Purchasing Council (EPC):
Continue membership in the Southwestern Ohio Education Purchasing Council (EPC) for
the 2015-16 school year at a cost of $1,573.60, to be paid 33% from cafeteria funds and
67% from the general fund.
Purchase of Two Buses:
Approve the purchase of two new 78-passenger buses from Cardinal Bus Sales &
Service, Inc., at the 2014 EPC contracted price of $85,286.00 each.
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Calendar Revision:
Revise the 2015-16 school calendar, moving the graduation date from May 28, 2015, to
May 21, 2015.
Approve the following school fees for 2015-16: (no change since 2012-13)
Kindergarten $36.00
1st Grade $53.00
2nd Grade $70.00
3rd Grade $68.00
4th Grade $60.00
5th Grade $40.00
6th Grade $40.00
7th Grade $50.00
School fees for the 2015-16 school year will be due October 15, 2015. This will allow the
free/reduced lunch applications to be processed before fees are collected.
Parents/guardians not applying for free/reduced lunches may pay fees prior to the due
date. Students who qualify for a reduced lunch will also have their academic fees reduced
by 60%. Students who qualify for a free lunch will have their academic fees waived.
School fines and dual enrollment charges are not eligible to be reduced or waived.
Approve the following lunch prices for the 2015-16 school year: (student lunches
increased by 5 cents over previous year; all other prices remained the same)
Student Breakfast (K-4/elem) $1.20
Student Breakfast (5-7)/MS) $1.45
Student Breakfast (8-12/HS) $1.55
Student Lunch (K-4/elem) $2.60
Student Lunch (5-7/MS) $2.70
Student Lunch (8-12/HS) $2.80
Reduced Price Breakfast FREE
Reduced Price Lunch $ .40
Adult Lunch $3.25
Emergency Operations Plans:
Approve the Emergency Operations Plans for Wapakoneta High School, Wapakoneta
Middle School, Wapakoneta Elementary School, and Cridersville Elementary School.
Softball Team Trip to Florida:
Allow the softball team to travel to Florida from March 23 to March 27, 2016, with no
cost to the district.
Membership in ATC Consortium:
Continue membership in the West Central Ohio Assistive Technology Center (ATC) for
2015-16 at a cost of $900.
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Mr. Horner stated that the emergency operations plan must be done for all buildings and
kept updated. The plans are getting more scrutiny until they meet whatever standards
they have. The District is not far off; they just need cleaned up and then will be
resubmitted.
Mr. Horner stated that there are no changes in school fees and that the buses come out of
the Permanent Improvement Fund, not the General Fund.
Mr. Gibson stated that the purchase of the two buses will put the District back on the
normal purchase cycle.
Mr. Horner stated we are on a 13-year replacement cycle.
Mr. Mertz also stated that the lunch prices went up a nickel.
Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was: Aye: 4 Nay: 0. The motion carried 4 – 0.
PERSONNEL MATTERS
37-15 Member Eric McKinniss moved and Member Pat Gibson seconded to approve
the following items:
Accept the following resignations as of the end of the 2014-15 school year:
ARIANE BILLING
PAUL KUHN
Employ the following new teachers on a one-year contract for the 2015-16 school
year, pending verification of documentation:
 BRITTANY BILLINGS - Intervention Specialist at Wapakoneta Elementary School Bachelors Degree - Step 6 - $44,141
 MELISSA BURK - 2nd Grade at Wapakoneta Elementary - B+150 - Step 0 - $36,319
 DOUG DAVIS - 8th/9th Grade Science at Wapakoneta High School - Bachelors
Degree - Step 29 - $58,840
 TRACY JACOBY - Math at Wapakoneta High School - Bachelors Degree - Step 2 $37,995
 TARA JOHNSTON - Computer Literacy/Keyboarding at Wapakoneta Middle School
(75% contract) - M+9 - Step 10 - $43,554
 KELLI KENDIG - Preschool at Wapakoneta Elementary - M+30 - Step 10 - $59,112
 SHELBY ROLLAND - 7th Grade at Wapakoneta Middle School - Bachelors Degree
- Step 1 - $36,459
 SPENCER WELLS - Social Studies at Wapakoneta High School - Bachelors Degree
- Step 4 - $41,068
 RUSSELL WHITE - Intervention Specialist at Wapakoneta Middle School - M + 18 Step 5 - $49,024
 ANDREA ZICKAFOOSE - Kindergarten Teacher at Wapakoneta Elementary B+150 - Step 1 - $38,030
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Employment of Food Service Worker:
Employ Tracy Wolfe as a food service worker beginning August 17, 2015, at 2.75 hours
per day, 188 days, Level 2, $10.83 per hour.
Employ the following substitutes for the 2015-16 school year, pending satisfactory
completion of criminal records checks:
JULIANNE BARNETT - Bus Driver
DALE PALMER – Teacher
MARLENE SCHULZE – Secretary
LISA TUCKER – Secretary
LISA TUCKER – Paraeducator
SHANNON VICKERY - Paraeducator
Employment of Casual Laborer:
Employ Leah Schattschneider as a casual laborer for the 2015 calendar year at the rate of
R-1, $8.10 per hour, beginning 6/5/15.
Amendment of Resolution #13-15:
Amend resolution #13-15 to move Jeremy Dickey from position of Football Assistant to
MS Football - Step 4 - $3,073.14.
Employ the following on supplemental contracts:
SPENCER WELLS - Football 1st Varsity Assistant (3/4 contract) - Step 4 - $3,823.96
GAGE ROE - Football 1st Varsity Assistant (1/4) contract) - Step 2 - $1,108.77
DAN ALLISON - Football Varsity Assistant - Step 4 - $4,085.87
ROB FLINN - Football Varsity Assistant (1/4 contract) - Step 4 - $1,021.47
BRENT COPELAND - Football Varsity Assistant (1/4 contract) - Step 2 - $855.59
DOUG DAVIS - Head Boys Basketball - Step 4 - $6,809.79
KIRK LOOSER - Boys Basketball Varsity Assistant - Step 4 - $5,098.61
ALISON KLIMA - Volleyball Assistant - Step 2 - $3,422.36
TODD CROW - Middle School Volleyball - Step 4 - $3,073.14
MIKE BROWN - Boys Golf - VOLUNTEER
Mr. Gibson welcomed the new hires on board. Mr. Horner stated that the administrators
worked really hard to find good people and he is sure they did.
Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was: Aye: 4 Nay: 0. The motion carried 4 – 0.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The next board meeting is Tuesday, July 28, at 5:00 p.m. at the Board Office.
Mr. Horner introduced Mr. Jim Neu. He is taking some classes that required him to attend a
board meeting. Mr. Horner and the Board welcomed him.
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EXECUTIVE SESSION
38-15 Member Ron Mertz moved and Member Eric McKinniss seconded to adjourn to
Executive Session at 5:21 pm for the following purpose: appointment or employment of
public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual, unless the public employee,
official, licensee, or regulated individual requests a public hearing; with no action to be
taken.
Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was: Aye: 4 Nay: 0. The motion carried 4 – 0.
ADJOURNMENT
39-15 Member Eric McKinniss moved and Member Ron Mertz seconded to exit from executive
session and adjourn the meeting at 5:30 pm.
Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was: Aye: 4 Nay: 0. The motion carried 4 – 0.
______________________________
President
________________________________
Secretary
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