By James Massara
CCN News Director
NORTH ROBINSON — Bus surveillance was a focal point of discussion during the Colonel Crawford Local Schools Board of Education’s regular meeting Monday evening.
Colonel Crawford Superintendent Todd Martin told board members updates were made to internal cameras on the district’s buses, but additional cameras on the exterior of the buses also have been installed.
Martin said cameras now are installed on both sides of the stop arm on the left side of the buses and will be used to report motorists who run the stop sign when the bus’s lights are activated.
Board member Scott Rike, who works in law enforcement, said the pictures are high quality and the cameras do help law enforcement properly charge individuals guilty of the infraction, as the cameras on both sides of the sign may take a photo of the front or back license plates of the vehicle involved.
Rike said the photo is sometimes so clear; the motorist’s face is often visible.
Martin added the cameras would be used on both routes and extracurricular trips on the buses.
Also during the meeting two teachers were approved to join the Colonel Crawford staff, including Justin Cooper as an instrumental music teacher. He will teach fifth- through 12th-grade band, music theory, pep band, jazz band and hopes to work with the guitar classes.
Cooper is a graduate of Bucyrus High School and a 2010 graduate of Ohio University, where Cooper was a member of the Ohio University Marching 110. Cooper plans to bring the style of the 110 to Colonel Crawford as he did at his previous schools.
Cooper previously taught at Paint Valley Local Schools and Graham Local Schools. Cooper brought Graham’s “Dancin’ Band From Falconland” to the 2017 Bratwurst Festival to participate in a parade.
Cooper said he is happy to be home.
“The stress of the job wears on you at times,” Cooper said. “It’s nice to have family in the area and to have people there to support you.”
He said his goal is to create an inclusive environment for his students.
I’m excited to work with the kids and make a family culture within the band,” Cooper said. “The key is to have a family environment where everyone feels welcome to make memories and to let the kids have fun.”
Also hired during the meeting was Michelle Ashley as the business/computer technology. Ashley, who was not in attendance, is a Colonel Crawford graduate and was mentioned to be the daughter of Mike Holtzapfel, who resigned as the high school swim coach during the meeting.
Ashley comes to Colonel Crawford after more than a decade at Mount Gilead School District.
“It’s always good to get an Eagle back home,” Martin said.
The board’s next meeting is Aug. 20 at 7 p.m.