By HOLLY GASKILL
Construction is in full swing at Bluffton-Harrison schools, with nearly every district site experiencing some repairs or renovation this summer.
One of the larger projects is repairs to Bluffton High School, which includes roof and window replacement to resolve issues with moisture and leaks. During the district’s board meeting on Monday, Superintendent Brad Yates said the project was moving along well but would continue through the bulk of the first semester of school.
The building’s entrance is also being re-vamped with its logo and red paint, although part of the building is currently a bright blueish color from sealant.
Meanwhile, the high school’s track is slated for replacement next week. Maintenance crews are also working to replace a water line in the stadium after it broke twice in six weeks, Yates said. The work has a target completion date of Aug. 2, restoring water access to the stadium. The football field turf was also replaced earlier this summer.
Alongside this, work has begun on Bluffton-Harrison Elementary School’s “safety village,” a miniature community to learn safety skills. Crews have begun the foundation work for the small structures and sidewalks of the village, and Yates hopes to have students engage with the site this fall.
At Bluffton-Harrison Middle School, the floors and equipment in the science rooms have been removed, and installation of new materials has begun. The school is also tackling some unexpected repairs after the pool flooded the basement and mechanical area during a campuswide power outage in June. Yates said the flooding fail-safe for the pool had calcified and was not triggered.
The district is working with insurance for the damages, but Yates said securing replacement equipment will take quite some time. He anticipated a completion time of late September or early October, and physical education classes will adjust plans accordingly.
Additionally, due to a planned power outage for electrical work at the high school on Wednesday, July 24, the district’s offices will be closed. Summer camps, summer school and childcare are also canceled, but the lunch program will continue at Roush Park.
Outside of construction updates, Assistant Superintendent Julie Meitzler celebrated over $1.1 million in grant funding secured by the district this last year. This funding allowed the construction of the safety village, as well as new equipment and educational opportunities for students and teachers.
“That’s what makes Bluffton great,” board member Julie Thompson said.
BHS Principal Steve Baker also shared spring Advanced Placement scores for chemistry and world history. AP classes are eligible for college credit if students pass a national exam on the curriculum. Baker said 100% of BHS students passed the chemistry exam, and 77% passed the world history exam, surpassing the state average by over 15% in either subject.
Also during the meeting, the board:
• Learned that a “Hidden in Plain Sight” trailer will be at the district’s registration day, offering a way for parents to learn how drug use may be “hidden in plain sight” in their students’ lives. The opportunity is possible through a partnership with the Wells County Drug Task Force. Online registration has also opened for the upcoming school year.
• Recognized resignations from former BHMS intense intervention teacher April Roberts, BHMS special education teacher Kami Salway, speech language pathologists Kami Salway and Danielle Macias, and special education bus aide Ariana Turner.
• Approved employment recommendations of Alaina Denny as a fourth grade teacher; Allyson Schwartz as the BHMS business and digital citizenship teacher; Breanna Miller as special education bus aide; Kole Meyer for summer camp and school, testing coordinator and student information specialist; Peggy Brooks as a summer school teacher; Alyssa Moser, Clarissa Tijerina and Tara Cocanower as high ability coordinators; Zella Walborn as dyslexia specialist; Felicia McElveen as preschool parent liaison; Schlaura Linderwell and Eric Mounsey as CPI trainers; Kemper Amstutz, Kim Mayer, Tyson Brooks, Liz Claghorn, Justin Uptgraft, Steve Abbett and Jeff Blair as team leaders; Laura Xayyachack as BHMS academic team head coach with Claghorn, Amy Gerber and Carla Alspaugh as assistant coaches; Baker to mentor Stacy Herrold; Stacy Morrison to mentor Chad Grieser; Gerber to mentor Alex Thomas, Blair to mentor Ashlee Xayyachack; Tijerina to mentor Madison Siders; Amstutz as BHMS student council representative, Ashlie Campbell as BHMS yearbook adviser; Brooks as BHMS technology liaison; and Tiffany Tonner as BHMS STEM/robotics sponsor with April Dunwiddie as assistant sponsor; and Katlynn Snider and Colin Sackett as substitute teachers.
• Approved coaching recommendations for Adam King as baseball head coach, Ben Burman as boys’ basketball assistant coach, Caylee Pyle as volleyball beach coach with Erin Kreigh as a volunteer assistant coach, and Jenny Tudor and Andrea Herrold as BHMS volleyball coaches.
• Approved an 8% raise for Food Service Director Robin McCorkle to remain competitive with neighboring schools.
• Approved employee transfers for Branda McFarren to move from the special-purpose white bus to a full-time city bus driver and Angie Ifer from BHES library instructional aide to BHES adjunct teacher in library services.
• Announced their intent to employ a middle school adjunct teacher, special education clerical secretary and instructional assistant for general and special education.
• Approved a contracted rate for former payroll specialist Julee Frauhiger for consultation services at an hourly rate equivalent to the most experienced wage for consultation services.
• Approved enrollment capacities of 800 students for the elementary school, 640 for the middle school and 640 for the high school, the same as previous years.
• Approved an updated student handbook and policy updates regarding technology use, membership, legal settlement, homeless students, and data breach and protection as part of a standard review.
holly@news-banner.com
