By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com

In a sure sign the spring time is officially here, even if the weather is only now starting to cooperate, the Galion Board of Education approved the list of prospective graduates for the class of 2014. This yearly ritual sees the administration present the school board with the list of students who, pending completion of their final quarter, have met the graduation requirements set forth by the district.

This year 148 names were approved by the Board.

Garrett Murphy, a sixth grader at Galion, also gave a presentation that reminded everyone present that summer is nearly upon us.

Young Garrett showed the board his plans for at the nature trial behind the school as part of his Eagle Scout project. Murphy presented blueprints as prepared by Bruce Heinlen out of Mansfield for the 16-by-24-feet shelterhouse. The materials are set to be provided by Gledhill lumber, and if his fundraising goes according to plan, he will be done by the end of the summer.

Garrett needs approximately $7,000 for his project, and plans to raise this money by doing such things as paid dress down days at the school. The board was very supportive of Murphy, and Superintendent Mark Stefanik remarked at how impressed he was that such a young student was working on his Eagle Scout project.

The March financial report showed, “Nothing out of the ordinary,” per treasurer Terri Day. The real estate tax money from Morrow County was collected, with the same funds from Richland County being collected in April. These funds should provide sustenance for the next six months, but the district still had a $300,000 deficit for March. Day described as the norm for the current situation in the district.

Dr. Sandy Powell gave a report about wrapping up of year four of Race to the Top. The district is way ahead of the rest of the region in this program, and has been approved to apply for a year five extension.

Due to consistently meeting its goals, Galion has seen its funds from this grant increase every year: $70,771 in 2011; $73,958 in 2012; $76,691 in 2013; and now $80,827 in 2014. This program was what allowed the district to start the one to one program, and most recently gave them a great practice round of assessments to acclimate the students to the new technology that will be a part of all official test taking.

In other news, longtime Middle School Principal Andrew Johnson announced his retirement effective next October. Johnson served in this post at Galion for 18 years.