By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com

While all of the issues at the Wynford Board of Education meeting were voted on without a dissenting vote Thursday evening, one of the voted-on items was met with differing opinions.

Prior to voting on the operational items portion of the agenda, the resolution which deals with Medical, Prescription, and Dental plan amendments was brought into question by board member Fred Hendricks. Hendricks asked if the measure needed to be passed, to which Superintendent Fred Fox noted that it needed to be passed due to the federal funds tied with the addendum which follows the current interpretation of protections that applies with gender identity.

“Am I the only one that is uncomfortable with this?” Hendricks questioned. “This has nothing to do with health.”

Treasurer Leesa Smith added that she would not have brought it in for vote to the board unless it was required by federal or state laws.

“We never had discussions about this, and were not made aware of this,” Hendricks continued.

Fox interjected, noting that their hands were tied due to the funding that is tied with the addendum.

“Sometimes laws make sense in some places, but not others, but funds are tied with this addendum,” Fox said.

Wynford Board of Education President Debbi Gifford spoke her opinion on the matter to the board.

“If people have reached a point where they are considering surgery, they have reached a point in which they identify their orientation,” Gifford said. “I don’t envy families that are thrust into this issue.”

“I think if we single out what is fair we would have five different opinions,” Gifford continued.

Gifford asked if the amendments to the Medical, Prescription, and Dental plan item should be singled out for vote, or if it should be part of the consent agenda voting on the operational items. The board agreed not to single out the item, and voted to pass all operational items unanimously.

Also within the approved operational items was a resolution requesting the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) to establish the new scope, future projections, cost to renovate, and local share in the classroom facilities assistance program.  The OSFC should have their report to Wynford by July.

During the public participation portion of the meeting, the 2017-2018 school calendar was to be discussed with the public. During the discussion, Fox reported that the start date for Wynford would be August 23, 2017 with the last day being May 24, 2018.

The Wynford board approved all items in the personnel portion of the agenda, however, one person did need to be removed from the agenda due to prior commitments.

Jennifer Scott was removed from the agenda as assistant varsity volleyball coach. The reasoning behind Scott’s removal was due to her involvement as Procter for the ACT. Once Scott is finished with those duties she can be voted back into the coaching position.

Elementary teacher Donna Auck’s retirement, effective May 31, 2017, was approved in personnel items. Also approved was the retire-rehire of Mark Murray as full-time bus driver.

Gifford noted that while she is against the practice of retire-rehire, she would vote in approval in this instance due to the dire need of bus drivers within the school district.

A public meeting will be held at the Wynford Elementary at 6 p.m. on March 28 on the junior high modular.