CRESTLINE — Scholarships and policies headlined the most recent Crestline Board of Education meeting.
To begin Monday evening’s board meeting, board member Lisa Anatra gave a report on curriculum-related matters.
“On October 3, the agency responsible for most of our Crestline scholarships, Crawford County Area community foundation, they had their annual appreciation meeting and gratitude report,” Anatra said. “Their fund has nearly doubled in assets since 2007. Currently, 2018 reporting is that are currently managing $17.2 million in assets. Out of those managing accounts, they have 82 scholarship funds that they’re managing for this county. The amount of scholarship funds has nearly tripled since 2007—they went from 36 scholarships to now 82, total.”
Anatra said the foundation is the first in Ohio to start a “come home” scholarship.
“Those awards were given out this year to two students who returned to the county after graduating from college to be a success in our county and help us move forward,” Anatra added.
There were 67 total scholarships awarded in 2018 totaling $124,000 to 50 different individuals. The foundation is making Dec. 3 as “Giving 2sday” to donate to the scholarship funds.
Crestline Superintendent Matt Henderson informed the board the middle school girls volleyball team took second place in the league tournament, which was only the team’s second loss on the season.
“The girls are a lot of fun to watch and I am very excited with where the volleyball program is heading,” Henderson said. “Sometimes we forget that those middle school students work just as hard as those varsity athletes, so I wanted to congratulate them on their great season.”
The board then heard reports on happenings in the school from some of the school’s administrators.
First, was the middle and high school’s principal, Kevin Fourman.
“We already are at the end of the first nine-week grading period this Friday—it’s crazy to think that the school year is already 25 percent over and before we know it, the year will be over,” he said. “Grade cards will be printed off and sent out to students in a week.”
Fourman passed out a flyer to board members that detailed an event that is going to be put on by Ray McElroy, a former NFL player for the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears. The event, through an organization called Sports World, will feature McElory coming into the school and speaking to Crestline students in the afternoon of Nov. 19. He is going to talk to the students about good choices and positive things in life, and what you can do with those things to set yourself up for success.
Fourman also brought to the board’s attention that the staff have been discussing a “no fail” policy that Crestline implemented, that they fear is doing more harm than good to students. The staff members are working on possible ways to help make the policy less harmful to students and their achievements.
Elementary principal Julie Murphy-Theodore presented the board with upcoming events for the elementary school.
On Oct. 31 there will be a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) family engagement night from 6-7:30 p.m. On Nov. 1 is the school’s first set of awards assemblies at 9:20 a.m. for K-2 and 10 a.m. for grades 3-5, and parents are invited. A Veterans Day assembly is Nov. 8 for the entire building, and on Nov. 15, a string quartet from the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra is coming to perform for the students at 9:20 a.m. for K-2 and 10 a.m. for grades 3-5.
The next regular board meeting is Nov. 4 at 7 p.m., and there is a work session board meeting Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.