By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
In what was otherwise a fairly routine meeting for the Colonel Crawford Board of Education on Monday, it was the special presentations that took center stage.
Jennifer Sautter presented awards to the top spellers from the fourth and fifth grade spelling bee led by overall winner Sydney Sullivan. Parker Ketterman was second, Hailey Slagle third and Carter Jones fourth. Each student was presented with an award and then congratulated by board members.
Athletic Booster Club members Travis Koshnick and Lindy Rachel detailed four-year plan for club projects. Included in 2016 are a fence for the high school baseball diamond, lighting at the football field and a concession bathroom area for the softball field.
Koshnick also explained that the scoreboards in the high school gym went down this season and need replaced. Estimates were from $9,000 for just scoreboards to $13,000 with wings on one scoreboard for individual player information, including installation.
Athletics Director David Sheldon said his office received several comments from fans. “Our community likes those wings,” Sheldon commented.
Koshnick asked that in light of all the past projects completed by the boosters and planned projects, if the school board would be willing and able to help with the cost of the wings and installation, a total of $6,000 to $7,000.
Colonel Crawford Superintendent Todd Martin called the boosters the district’s permanent improvement fund. The board said it would discuss and investigate the matter and communicate with the booster club so scoreboards could be in place for the fall volleyball season.
Representing the PTO, Michelle Fike gave an update on the playground renovation project. Fike said the project has been extended to two years in order to try and access some grants.
“The PTO wants to write a check for the upgrades,” Fike said. “We’re going to do it big and do it right the first time.”
Board members passed the consent agenda which included agreements with North Central State College and the University of Northwestern Ohio for College Credit Plus.
Board member Norm Huber gave an update on continuing discussions with representatives from the state regarding the district’s building projects and made his frustration apparent.
“The moral of the story is if you have a fantastic group and do everything – you get nothing,” Huber said, comparing state aid Colonel Crawford received to other area districts with recent building projects. “It’s not fair.”
Martin said that asbestos abatement has been completed in the old high school and demolition is scheduled to begin in March. Martin said that overall the project was $2 million under budget at this time.
The school board adjourned its regular meeting and went into executive session to discuss the appointment/employment of a public employee. No action was taken following the executive session.