By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
During Wynford’s school board meeting Wednesday night Superintendent Steve Mohr announced that the school will join with a rival in seeking a grant.
During his report to the board Mohr announced that he will meet with Bucyrus Superintendent Kevin Kimmel along with business and community leaders for the Community Connectors Grant. Mohr explained what Thursday’s meeting between the schools will entail.
“Really it’s kind of an organizational meeting for us to put our minds together, to put our ideas together, and put our ideas together as strong of an application together as we can,” Mohr said. “I am really excited with because we got with Crawford 2020 Vision, done a lot of great things, and they are going to be the sponsoring organization. I think it is going to be an exciting time to work together with Bucyrus.”
The grant which provides up to $500,000 in 3-to-1 matching grants towards schools was enacted by Gov. John Kasich. It is designed to provide students’ access to role models and mentors within businesses, faith based groups, and community organizations.
All of the school districts except for Colonel Crawford in Crawford County are qualified to apply for the grant.
Prior to entering their monthly regular meeting board members held their annual organizational meeting. The board approved keeping Jeff Schiefer as its president, and Steve Crall as vice president for the 2015 calendar year.
Also at that organizational meeting board members were designated to committees. Debbi Gifford was appointed as legislative liaison. Rhonda Rowland was appointed to serve as the district’s student achievement liaison. Fred Hendricks and Gifford were appointed to the Policy Committee. Steve Crall and Rowland were appointed to the Finance Committee. Crall and Schiefer were appointed to the Building and Grounds committee.
The school board approved all items on the organizational agenda including board members receiving a raise in 2016. Board members pay will go from $20 per meeting to $125 per meeting which is the maximum allowed by the state of Ohio. The pay raise won’t come into effect until new terms for board members begin in 2016.
Schiefer addressed the board about the decision for the raise.
“Steve (Crall) and I spoke about this earlier in the year. We did not run for paycheck. When I ran I didn’t even know we got paid. Time is valuable and it is time for a change. If you feel that the compensation is too high I suggest donating the money back to the school, or one of its programs,” Schiefer said.
The board approved proceeding with renewing the existing 6.9-mil operating and $350,000 emergency levies for the May 5 election. The levies are renewals and will not require any new money from voters if passed.
The next school board meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 9 in the Wynford High School library.