By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Wynford Superintendent Steve Mohr announced his retirement via press release on Sept. 11, and the Wynford school board made it official Monday evening.
Board members unanimously approved Mohr’s retirement which will be effective Dec. 31. While board member Rhonda Rowland called it “a very sad day,” Mohr explained he may be departing Wynford, but he will still be involved in the education community in Crawford County.
“I hope to be able to stay involved somehow with education,” Mohr said. “I have been very active with Crawford: 20/20 Vision and Crawford Education Economic Development Partnership; I would like to keep working there. Crawford County has been special for me. I taught at Buckeye Central and Colonel Crawford, and then the opportunity to finish my career at Wynford it has just been unbelievable.
“I have always felt that faith, family, and friends are important and I’ve kind of talked the talk, now I want to walk the walk with that and pay some people back for the tremendous support that I have had here and also pay forward hopefully.”
“I don’t plan on going away and moving to parts unknown,” Mohr continued. “I plan on being around here and staying active in the community if the community wants me to do that.”
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The Wynford school board approved all personnel items on the agenda Monday night including the hiring of Amber Groves as head coach for boys’ track and Julie Crall as girls’ head track coach.
With the rise in student testing board members also approved establishing the position of testing coordinator.
“Previously it has been the guidance counselor that would coordinate the tests, but to expect a guidance counselor position and testing counselor position is asking a lot out of one person,” Mohr said.
Regional manager for the Central Region of the OSBA Kim Miller-Smith attended the Monday night’s meeting to recognize board member Debbi Gifford for 10 years of service to the Wynford Board of Education. Smith presented Gifford with the Distinguished Board Member Award.
In Treasurer Leesa Smith’s report, she noted that the auditor for the school arrived on Sept.1.
“There haven’t been any issues found so far, and I am not anticipating any surprises,” Smith said.
Smith reported that the district received a payment of casino revenue for $29,000, and that it should receive one more payment for a cumulative total of $58,000 on the year. Wynford will be receiving an increase in state in November, according to Smith.
Other items approved included a one-year agreement with Edemntum for the Plato online curriculum for $8,650 and a Fuel Up to Play grant for the Wynford Elementary by American Dairy Association for $2,515.
In High School Principal Jeff Holbrook’s report he explained that the Blue, Grey, and White student rewards program has changed and now have random numbers drawn for students to receive rewards for good school work. Holbrook also noted that Buffalo Wild Wings is now accepting the Blue, Grey, and White cards with 20 percent of the sales with the Blue, Grey, and White cards going back to the school.
In Assistant Principal Chris Solis’ report he said that during eighth period the junior high classes create weekly academic game plans which chart the students’ progress.
“Like all new things we have some things to work through,” Silas said. “I am going to meet with teachers Wednesday with plans to discuss how we will implement intervention. “
The Map testing which took Wynford K-3 students five to six weeks to complete last school year took Wynford K-6 students six days to complete this school year according to Wynford Elementary Principal Nelle Nutter’s report.
Nutter explained that she would like to have the Fuel Up to Play 60 grant monies to go towards an after-school fitness club after Christmas break, as well as a blender in order to make smoothies for students’ breakfast.