By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
The Buckeye Central school board held a special meeting Monday night to ratify an agreement that will generate some good dollars for the district.
Interim superintendent Todd Martin explained some ongoing litigation concerning the school’s educational broadband services. This is the means by which the school contracts for its in-room, educational television. They contract for a certain amount of broadband width, any of which they do not use they are able to shop on the open market. In the past they have been receiving only $2,500 for this excess, a figure which is well below the market value.
BC, along with six other schools, has been working with Sue Yount of Bricker-Eckler, and Todd Gray, a lawyer out of Washington D.C. who specializes in these sorts of educational services. They have renegotiated a rate of $10,000 per year, starting retroactively for this school year, and advancing out two more years. After this period they will be able to hit the open market, where a payment in the range of $40,000 to $50,000 per year would not be out of the question.
“This is a great thing,” Martin said, “Everyone’s excited to get this off the books.”
After approving this bit of business, the Board adjourned to executive session to consider applicants for the superintendent job. Board President Missy McDougal stated they had received 16 applications, of which six to eight will be considered for an interview. Once the initial interviews are conducted, the board will proceed with second interviews as they see fit.