By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
Some holiday cheer was foremost on the agenda for the Galion School Board Thursday night. Board members had the privilege of listening to a couple of positive reports, and were even treated to a special presentation by several middle school students as they showed off the fruits of their labor.
The first order of business was presenting teacher and coach Matt Tyrell with the “Believe, Achieve, and Succeed Award.” Tyrell merited this award by “Going above and beyond,” in his work with the students, both in academic and athletic capacities. The words of praise came from Superintendent Jim Grubbs as he presented the commendation.
Next up was Joe Morabito, with his presentation, “A Day in the Life of Galion Middle School.” This came as part of the Superintendent’s initiative of setting aside one meeting for each of the school buildings to make a presentation to the board about life in their respective corners of the district.
The highlight of the discussion was when teacher Isaac Keineth brought forth some of his students to demonstrate the robots they have constructed. The board looked on as several machines were demonstrated. Natalie Link and Olivia Miller put their driverless car through its paces. This was a small robot that was programmed to drive itself along a path with no human guidance.
Kennedy Butterfield then stepped up and exhibited his remote control robot. This device drove around the boardroom, and picked up and deposited a small block in different corners of the room. Keineth even admitted that he did not know how to program the remote control, Kennedy and his fellow students had taught themselves how to use it.
Morabito was particularly proud of this work in the STEM classes, calling it “Learning through inquiry.”
“It’s brand new and the kids are just eating it up,” Morabito said.
Brian Kinnard weighed in on some of the things they are doing for student well-being. Chief among these has been the new mentoring program. At the beginning of the year, teachers were given various students that they connect with well, and could perhaps benefit from some extra guidance. Teachers then went about making first contact, letting the kids know that they were available to talk anytime and about anything. After that, it’s an open door policy that the students then have to initiate. Kinnard has been very pleased so far. “I’m seeing results,” he said, and especially in reducing some repeat disciplinary issues.
In winding down the talk, Morabito said that a future area of focus is to have more high school level offerings at the middle school level.
In the financial world, the situation is also looking rather good. Treasurer Charlene Parkinson presided over a breakdown of fund balances, and it was impossible not to notice how the general fund has grown significantly since the slightly darker days of June 2014. In that month, the general fund balance was a paltry $1,871,110. Today it is a much more robust $4,489,792.
“I’m encouraged,” Parkinson said.
She elaborated on this trend by citing “What the district went through in those challenging financial times.” Staffing levels were reduced in that period, and the district has been able to continue along without returning to those levels of personnel.
“We learned to do more with less, while still remaining focused on the children,” Parkinson said.
There was also some bittersweet news, as the district said goodbye to several longstanding employees. Margie Sebrell, primary school secretary; Jeff Shipman, maintenance department; and Cathy Jo Brown, intermediate school cook; all had their retirement resignations ratified by the board. They will all be effective in the summer.
“All of them are going to be very difficult to replace,” Grubbs said.