By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Showing their confidence the Pioneer Career and Technology Center, members of the Buckeye Central Board of Education voted to back the Pioneer replacement levy Thursday night.
Approximately 45 Buckeye Central students attend Pioneer which is looking to combine its two currant .85-mil levies into a single 1.7-mil levy in November’s election.
Buckeye Central High School Principal Jay Zeiter explained the decision to get behind the levy for the vocational school district that includes Crawford County
“We strongly support Pioneer in our partnership with them. They are a very valuable part of our school district,” Zeiter said.
The board also approved a reduction in lunch prices for the fifth and sixth graders. Beginning October 10, lunch prices for the two grades will drop from $2.80 to $2.50. The change comes due to fewer items available “a la carte” during the students’ lunch period.
Treasurer Nancy Ackerman gave her update on the five-year forecast. During her update Ackerman said that there hasn’t been much change and that expected and actual expenditures have been in line with each other. Ackerman noted that the district will break even in 2015, and begin deficit spending in 2016.
The school board approved hiring Sarah Stapleton as speech and language therapist. Stapleton’s contract is for 128 designated days for the 2014-2015 school year. Additional days will be dependent on student need and superintendent authorization.
All items on the agenda were approved including the hiring of Ansley Myers as a teacher’s aide.
Ray Stahl was recognized for being commended by the National Merit Scholarship Committee. Stahl scored in the top 50,000 students of the 1.5 million that tested the PSAT. Also recognized were members of the FFA Soil Judging team which took first and second place in the District Soil Judging competition.
The next Buckeye Central Board meeting will be held at 7 p.m., Nov. 13, in the multi-purpose room.