Dalton BOE meeting celebrates 5-star rating

The Dalton Board of Education held its monthly meeting on Monday, Sept. 25 in the Dalton Middle and Elementary School Commons.

The board received a series of donations from community businesses and individuals for improvements within the district. The donations included around $3,500 earmarked by donors for the school playground, part of the district’s playground initiative. These donations follow a series of financial contributions the community has made for the playground as noted in the Aug. 28 meeting minutes. Interim Superintendent Scott Beatty said the district will examine how it supports this initiative.

Beatty said the district earned a 5-star rating on its latest report card from the State of Ohio. Only 12% of Ohio schools achieve this rating.

Additionally, Beatty recommended — and the board approved — a resolution to join the Ohio Facilities Commission Expedited Local Partnership Program. This program allows school districts to pass a resolution requesting to enter ELPP. The commission performs an assessment of the district’s facilities and enters into an agreement with the district on a facility master plan that covers the entire needs of the district. The district then chooses a distinct portion of its master plan to fund through local efforts.

When the district’s turn later arises in the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program, the money spent by the district on the distinct portion is credited against the local share of the entire master plan projects. Districts wishing to participate in ELPP must submit both the program application and the resolution to participate.

The meeting also included passage of a resolution for a drainage easement agreement and a series of personnel-related votes including salary adjustments and hiring.

The next meeting will be Monday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. in the Dalton Middle and Elementary School Commons.