By HOLLY GASKILL
In the last 18 months, Bluffton-Harrison schools have received over $1.1 million in grant funding.
Assistant Superintendant Julie Meitzler said of this amount, $727,497 came from competitive grants, and $398,005 came from non-competitive grants. These grants have supported school resources and opportunities, like STEM integration.
Most recently, the district received a $200,000 grant from the Don Wood Foundation. This grant will help develop a career and college course for seventh and eighth grade students. Partnering with Exhibit Concepts of Dayton, Ohio, the class will be held in a unique interactive classroom design. Meitzler noted this course would include a virtual welder, which had been recently acquired.
Additionally, Meitzler stated the district was nominated for a Department of Excellence Learning and Leading Award and completed the application process. Meitzler said she didn’t expect to hear anything about the award until September.
Following the first full school year with the new role, Communications Specialist Jessica Bricker also presented a summary of her projects to the school board.
Since Bricker began, the district’s websites were redesigned to become more user-friendly. Through this, the district has been able to direct visitors to appropriate resources, share news releases, and cross-connect with other online platforms. Bricker shared 21 different news releases through the website since January alone.
Bricker has also shared a short monthly podcast — in both video and audio forms — covering recent school news, explaining regular functions and introducing district staff. The 10 episodes have accrued 2,068 views on YouTube.
All the while, Bricker maintained a regular presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with day-to-day updates and events. Consequently, each of these areas saw growth and engagement with their following.
In the last year, the district’s Facebook reached 129,000 people with 48,000 page visits and 229 new page likes. Likewise, the district’s Instagram has received 5,100 visits, up 493 percent from the previous year, and received 232 new followers. The BHMSD Twitter also accumulated roughly 337,000 post views.
Bricker noted the district’s growth on Instagram has been particularly promising since much of that engagement comes from students who use the platform. Each platform retains a slightly different audience, and Bricker attributed the student following to a greater sense of connection with the schools.
Throughout the year, Bricker has also coordinated administration to create marketing materials for specific projects, assisted Tara Cocanower with her Indiana Teacher of the Year appearances and created informational materials for various departments.
“It’s tremendous what you’ve accomplished,” board member Julie Thompson said.
Other items were:
• Yates updated the board on multiple projects — the district is currently receiving quotes for storage options in the high school, work on the experiential preschool will begin as early as next week, and improvements to the elementary courtyard and playground will begin in late June. The district will also open bids for the safety village in June; construction is scheduled for the fall.
• The school board unanimously approved the termination of Cassia Goodwin, BHMS special education instructional assistant.
• The resignations of the following personnel were accepted: middle school custodian Diana Arzola, childcare supervisor Madisyn Fenstemaker, BHS alternative education teacher Rachel Gray, BHES art teacher Allison Krinn, speech language pathologist Kathryn McIver, BHS intense intervention instructional assistant Amaris Moser and EL instructional assistant Griselda Martinez. PCC teacher/varsity boys basketball coach Adam Gray and BHS assistant volleyball coach also resigned.
• The board approved the following staff employment recommendations: Adrienne Fullenkamp as speech language pathologist, Robert Vanderkolk as assistant athletic director, Alyssa Moser as BHES high ability coordinator, Alyshah Kehl as BHS intense intervention instructional assistant, Natalya Nuttle as EL instructional assistant, Kaleigh Massman as BHES intense intervention instructional assistant and childcare supervisor, Emilee Smith as preschool special education instructional assistant, Tiffany Corey as BHES intense intervention instructional assistant and Tyson Brooks as BHMS as teacher technology specialist. Also, Mary Fogwell and Ashley Stewart were approved as substitute teachers, Lisa Leising as a long-term substitute teacher, and Caroline Buskirk as a substitute custodian.
• The board approved the following summer/fall coaching employment recommendations: Brent Kunkel as varsity football and summer head coach with Todd Morgan, Bryan Bowman, Bryce Bonewit, Adam King, Tim Millspaugh and Alex Schantz as assistant coaches; Javon Johnson, Jeramy Fendel, Damon Dudley, Ty Kinsey, Trae Jojola and Scott Ribich as BHMS football coaches; Robert Vanderkolk as BHS boys tennis head coach with Hunter Cunningham and Spencer Schwartz as assistant coaches and Jared Grandlienard as a volunteer assistant coach; Tara Cocanower as BHS girls golf head coach with Jody Ault as assistant coach; Stacy Morrison as BHS volleyball and summer head coach with Caylee Pyle as assistant coach; Nicole Bustos and Jenny Tudor as BHMS volleyball coaches; Erica Bluhm as BHS cheerleading head coach with Sara Runyon as assistant coach, and Hunter Cunningham and Abbi Fillers as volunteer assistant coaches; Cheyanne Penrod as BHMS cheerleading coach; Michael Vanderkolk as BHS cross country head coach with Bob Dahl and Markis Crosbie as volunteer coaches; Stephanie White, Stephanie Baumgartner and Danielle Kunkel as BHMS cross country volunteer coach; and Doug Curtis as BHS girls basketball summer head coach. The district gave its intent to employ a volleyball assistant coach, cross country assistant coach, varsity basketball coach and varsity basketball assistant coaches in the high schools.
• Several transfers were approved — Chad Grieser will transfer from BHS language arts to BHMS student support specialist, Rita Ebbinghouse will transfer from district SOS aide to BHS intense intervention instructional assistant and Renee Fredrickson will transfer from BHMS intense intervention instructional assistant to district SOS aide.
• For summer staff, the board approved Jim Bueter as BHS instrumental music summer school teacher, Jill Bollenbacher as BHS E2020 Credit Recovery summer school teacher, and Mary Nolan as city route bus driver and summer childcare transportation.
• Several staff leadership appointments were approved for the upcoming school year. The board approved Laura Xayachack as BHMS as academic team coach with Amy Gerber, Liz Claghorn and Carla Alspaugh as assistant coaches, Kemper Amstutz and Heather Kyriss as BHMS student council representatives, and Ashlie Campbell as BHMS yearbook adviser. Team leaders were also approved in the respective areas: Amstutz for 5th grade, Kim Mayer for 6th grade, Tyson Brooks for 7th grade, Liz Claghorn for 8th grade, Steve Abbett for interventions, Justin Uptgraft for BHMS related arts and Jeff Blair for BHMS special education. Kyan Harris, John Price, Jill Buskirk, Jackie Chaney, Liz Claghorn, Steve Abbett, Amy Gerber Mentor, Jeff Blair and Erica Bluhm will serve as mentors to specific students.
The board accepted donations of $200 from First Presbyterian Church for BHES unpaid lunch accounts, and $800 from A. Harvey Farms LLC and $1,000 from BHES to Preschool Farm Classroom.
holly@news-banner.com
