By Beth Fenton

On June 29, the Ada School Board met at 6:00 p.m. for its regular monthy meeting. The meeting was Superintendent Robin VanBuskirk’s final meeting. VanBuskirk, who is retiring, thanked the staff, students, community and School Board for their support, and for the honor of serving the Ada Schools for the past 16 years.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, farmer Garrett Hays spoke about the geese that are at the school’s retention pond. Mr. Hays said that the geese are crossing Route 81 and eating his crops. He obtained a permit from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to shoot the geese that are on his property. However, Mr. Hays added that the permit states that he’s not allowed to shoot any geese when they have goslings, which is when the crops come in, so he ultimately loses money from the destruction of his crops by the geese.

In the discussion that followed, maintenance supervisor Lance Dearth said he’d spoken with a company that can assist in addressing the problem. Mr. Dearth proposed purchasing a rotating floating laser, which would help to deter the geese. It is used at nighttime, and has a 200 yard radius. The cost of the floating laser is approximately $1,000. Mr. Dearth also proposed a handheld laser device, which costs approximately $200. The lasers are low to the ground, he said, and should not interfere with traffic. The Board agreed that they would like to move forward with this potential project.

In Old Business, participation in the Blanchard Valley Conference was disucssed with no action taken.

During the meeting, the Board approved:

The financial report by Fiscal Officer Kim Light

Hiring bus driver Jackie Okief for the 2023-2024 school year

Salary adjustment for Julie Thaxton, who completed her Master’s Degree

Payment of stipends to teachers who attended morphology professional development training: Deone Rieman, Brittany Daniels, Julie Stavenger, and Sherri Burnett

(Retroactively) Valerie Hall as summer educational aide

Volunteer drivers for the 2023-2024 school year: Kylie Acheson, Sarah Staley, Ashley Sumner and Kyleigh Woodruff

Certified substitutes for the 2023-2024 school year: Kylie Acheson, Tracie Amburgey, Cindy Boehm, Casey Clum, Amanda Daft, Jack Daniels, Terry Huffman, Abigail Smith, Randall Wilson and Megan Zoladz

Classified substitutes: Jean Conley Jennifer Fuqua, April Castle, and Keith Shaw

Supplemental contracts to numerous individuals who have valid sports medicine and CPR certification

Recognized sports for the 2023-2024 school year: baseball, cheerleading, girls golf, softball, boys track, boys basketball, football, boys soccer, boys swimming, girls track, girls basketball, boys golf, girls soccer, girls swimming and volleyball

Transporation of Hardin Northern students to Apollo during the 2023-2024 school year

Stipend to Britton Devier as as Transportation Coodinator for the 2023-2024 school year

Renewal of administrative contracts to Elementary Principal Jeremy Clark and K-12 Assistant Principal Britton Devier for the 2024-2025 school year

Stipends to classified staff for Co-Substitute Coordinator: Miranda Shepherd and Alane Collins.

Resignation of Bethany Kauffman, 7th grade ELA

Fiscal year 2024 program services agreement between the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center and Exempted Village School District
 

The meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m. The next regular Board meeting will be July 27 at 6:00 p.m.