UNION CITY, OHIO — In a May 8 Mississinawa Valley Schools Board of Education Meeting, the Board approved 62 High School graduates – one of the biggest classes in years, according to Junior/Senior High School Principal Jeffrey A. Winchester.

The Board and the administration reserved the right to revoke the recommendation of any senior not completing the course of study mandated by the State of Ohio and or Mississinawa Valley Board of Education. In addition, the Board approved the hiring of the following Certified employees: Chene’ Bridges, Inter Specialist, $46,903; Dawn Collins, Science, $44,818; Zack Evers, Junior High Math, $52,115; Kim Hershey, Science, $66,012; Justin Herth, Spanish, $40,649; Max Kindell, Reading Recovery, $37,870; Maria Kinninger, Inter Specialist, $60,800; Kaitlin Quellhorst, Junior High Math, $41,692; Keith Rhoades, Math, $59,758; Amber Schellhase, Fourth Grade, $59,063; Jessica Schlater, Fifth Grade, $45,166; Jan Smith, Inter Specialist, $63,580 and Jamie Wisner, Nurse, $36,133.

The Board also approved the hiring of the following Classified employees: Kathy Armstrong, ParaPro, $15.27 /hour; Lisa Devanney, Bus Driver, $17.57/hour; Sheldon Griffin, ParaPro, $14.97/hour; Amanda Grow, ParaPro, $14.97/hour; John Hannan, Bus Driver, $16.67/hour; Nikki Hiestand, Attendant, $13.67/hour; Emily Manning, Cook, $14.82 /hour; Jonnie Meyer, ParaPro, $15.27/hour and Nick Philiposian, Bus Driver, $16.87 /hour.

In addition, the Board approved the hiring of the following Extended Time contracts: Gwen Bergman, Future Farmers of America (FFA) Advisor (part-time), $9,629.85; Audrey Hathaway, Taiko Director, $1,408.61; Andrea Howard, H.S. Guidance, $3,540.41; Sara Lewis, Band Director, $4,267.40; Sara Lewis, Taiko Director, $853.48; Amanda Masters, Power of the Pen Advisor, $753.39 and Tricia Seubert, Power of the Pen Advisor, $1,056.46. Also, the Board approved the following Co-Curricular Contracts: Jacob Barga, Junior Varsity Coach- Boys Basketball, $3,214; Miranda Longfellow, Junior High Basketball Cheer Adv., $809, Junior High Football Cheer Adv., $809, including Junior High Dance Advisor if needed, pending a background check. The Board also approved donations from the Union City Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks #1534, $1,000, to help with field trips and Capital Square Foundation, $400, through a grant from Honda Motor Company.

Principal Winchester recognized Gwen Bergman on being named a Darke County Teacher of the Year. He also announced that at the beginning of the 2017-18 school year, Mississinawa Valley Junior/Senior High School will have the last three Darke County Teachers of the Year on staff: Jodi Humphries, 2016; Tricia Seubert, 2015 and Bergman. An additional congratulations went out to Bergman on being nominated for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

An Elementary School report stated that all K- 3 students were invited to enroll in “Kids Read Now!” in an effort to help students maintain their reading gains throughout the summer. Fifty-three percent of the students have enrolled. These students will receive the first three books of their choice, before going home for the summer. If they report minutes read throughout the summer, more books of their choice will be mailed to them. Also, some limited open-time lab will be available for older elementary students to work on i-Ready reading and math. In addition, there is still room for four-year-olds in the Preschool program, that meet grant requirements.

The Board also approved a Special Education Related Services Contract/Agreement where the Darke County Educational Service Center provides special education related services for handicapped students and students with special needs in the Mississinawa Valley Local School District. In addition, the Board approved the purchase of one 72-passenger Bluebird School Bus for approximately $76,420., through the Southwestern Ohio Educational Purchasing Council School Bus Cooperative Purchasing Program.

Pricing was approved for the 2017/18 sporting event tickets. One new allowance is for senior citizens that are residents of Mississinawa Valley School District, free admission to all home fall and winter sports events.

“We thought this would be an extension of good public relations for us to allow them to get into events free as senior citizens,” Superintendent Doug Dunham said.

The board went into an Executive Session with no action taken.