By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The Bucyrus Board of Education agreed Thursday evening to cut ties with health insurance consortium OME-RESA at the end of the calendar year. The move will save the school an estimated $325,000 per year.
Treasurer Ryan Cook requested that the board make a motion to for the termination letter to be sent to OME-RESA due to multiple disputes including using an invalid contract that was not signed by Board President Sandra Stone, as well as not being able to get out of the contract without a 6- to 8-month notice.
Cook explained what caused him to review the contract.
“I think initially looking at the state of finances and obviously when you look at the budget health care is such a huge line item for us,” Cook said. “Obviously it peaks your interest you know how is our plan working, what does it look like in the future, and are there any additional ways to save money within the plan.”
The school board will vote at its next meeting on a replacement consortium, which will take effect on January 1. The main effect of the switch according to Cook will be switching medical cards, and possibly the prescription drug insurance card.
During Thursday night’s meeting, Secondary School Principal Matt Henderson gave the board an explanation of the new state school district report cards.
While the school district faired decently through most of the rankings, like many of the county’s schools, it was the Annual Measurable Objectives or gap closure measure that Bucyrus had fared the worst in receiving an F grade. Henderson explained to the board that for the school to be successful it will need three more students per grade level to improve on reading scores, and two per grade level to improve on their math scores to move the district’s grade upwards.
Henderson explained that part of the strategy is a program that the school is involved in called the Ohio Improvement Process which requires teacher and administrative based teams to analyze data, and make instructional decisions, based off the data.
Henderson looks at the grade as opportunity.
“It’s not just addressing what our deficiencies are, we use this information to look at as an opportunity for growth, we look at it as an opportunity to evaluate our curriculum, and to evaluate what we are doing instructionally,” Henderson said. “It is bad news and a tough pill to swallow when you see an F, because what that reflects, but we look at it as an opportunity. Let’s evaluate what we are doing district wide from the preschool level all the way to the twelfth grade level and we make instructional decisions based on that.”
In a switch from regular meetings the Bucyrus Board of Education voted for and approved all certified staff, classified staff, as well as business decisions which included a $426,282 contract with Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center (MOESC) prior to committee reports.
Shortly after being called to order, the board of education gave commendations to middle and high school students for their artwork.
Prior to the meeting beginning Senior Nate Johns was introduced as the new student representative for the board meetings for the semester.