Murphy gives updates on school renovation
Mark Murphy, Tuscarawas Valley director of operations, who is winding down his position, gave an update on the renovation of the elementary school at Monday’s board of education meeting.
The school once housed middle school students and has been transformed into prekindergarten to sixth grade for the 2024-25 school year. He said the air-conditioning has been installed, sidewalks have been completed, and new exterior doors, floors, kitchen appliances, the gym floor, and the sound and security system are being installed, along with little chairs and desks. He said the renovation should be completed by July 30.
“Items from the primary school at Mineral City should be on line by July 11. I will announce when the building will be razed,” he said.
The board approved a subgrant agreement with Appalachian Children Coalition for $1,850,000, an award from the state, to allow Aultman Hospital to establish a medical facility in the former high school. The board also approved Design and Engineering Services Sole Source Justification memo to continue contracting with Cordogan Clark Lesko as the architect for design and engineering services for the school-based health center under the Appalachian Community Grant program.
In other business
The board heard Dick Gooding, board president, announced Bill Eckert, pastor of the Bolivar United Methodist Church, was presented the Trojan Pride Award at a recent TV Ministerial meeting. Eckert has been assigned to another church and will leave the area. Pastor Aaron Ray will be their new leader.
The board passed a resolution establishing educational requirements for substitute teachers in the district for the 2024-25 school year and each school year following. Some requirements are high school graduate of good character, completed a criminal background check, satisfies all other applicable requirements and the superintendent may extend the resolution for other school years without further board action.
The board accepted donations: $48,000, TV Parent Teacher Organization, elementary basketball court/playground; $2,000, Dover Exchange Club, Project Lead the Way; $500, TV Ruritan Club, story walk; $440, TV Heritage Valley Inc., Zoar Elementary field trips; and $400, Zoar United Church of Christ, food service angel account.
The board approved an OMERSA member services agreement at a cost of $38,599.
The board rescinded the employment of Shawn Miller, supplemental contract, as head boys soccer coach, approved at the May meeting. Gooding said Miller has been the boys soccer coach since 2001 and has the best winning record of 203 matches, 61 losses and 31 ties.
The board granted one-year supplemental contracts to John Fletcher, assistant boys golf, volunteer; Brenton Franks, assistant boys basketball; Erika Smith, junior varsity volleyball; and Matt Ward, sixth-grade class adviser with camp.
The board issued 11 supplemental contracts to contracted employees.
The board accepted the resignation of Ryan Osman, middle/high school intervention specialist, effective June 7.
The board employed certificated individuals Hali Host, third grade, effective Aug. 26, and Danielle Terry, elementary paraprofessional, 7.5 hours, effective Aug. 28.
The board approved meal prices as follows: breakfast and lunch for kindergarten to 12th grade at no cost through Community Eligibility Provision, a grant pilot program, and adult breakfast at $2.25 and lunch at $3.75.
The board approved the district parent-teacher handbook, subject to modification.
Other information
The Back-to-School Bash will be held Aug. 23 from 4-6 p.m. in front of the district administrative building. Meet the teams will follow at 6:30 p.m. in the stadium.
The grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new elementary school for kindergarten to sixth grade will be held Aug. 29 at 6:30 p.m.
The board thanked the staff and volunteers for helping with two moving days.
The board will hold a fiscal year end meeting on June 28 at 8 a.m. in the superintendent’s office. The next regular board meeting will be held Aug. 12 at 6 p.m. in the Trojan Center. The July 8 meeting has been canceled.
