By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green Board of Education named a couple school principals Tuesday evening, and began discussions about offering benefits that many districts provide for administrators.
The board approved moving Alyssa Karaffa to the position of Conneaut Elementary principal. Taking her place as Crim Elementary principal will be Zeb Kellough, formerly the district’s elementary curriculum coordinator.
Superintendent Francis Scruci reported that the district is no longer losing high numbers of teachers due to the district’s pay scale. The new competitive salaries offered by the district have helped, Scruci said.
Last year, 20 teachers leaving the district referred to the low salaries as the reason for their resignations. This year, just one of the teachers leaving gave that reason for departure.
“It’s indicative our new salary schedule has made a difference,” Scruci said.
But now, he said, the district needs to examine its packages for administrators.
During the recent application process, the district had 51 applicants for the open principal position and 32 for the executive director position. However, several of those candidates pulled out from the race due to the district’s benefit package, Scruci said.
Some years back, when making cuts, the district decided to no longer pay the employees’ share of retirement for administrators.
“We’re lagging behind in the salary ranges,” Scruci added, with Bowling Green having a starting salary of $60,000 for an elementary principal, compared to $92,000 for districts like Maumee and Springfield.
But the retirement issue seems to be a primary factor in many of the applicants losing interest.
“That part of the package is the piece that we are missing,” Scruci said.
A few administrators have been grandfathered in, but three-quarters (15) of the district’s administrators have to pay their own portion of retirement.
Scruci asked the board to consider reversing that decision.
“It will put us on an even playing field,” to get quality administrative candidates, he said. “That’s a definite deal breaker for a lot of people, and a non-starter for some.”
Board members asked School District Treasurer Cathy Schuller how much that change might cost the district. Schuller gave a rough estimate of $150,000.
“Why wouldn’t we do that for our key administrators,” board President Ginny Stewart asked.
Board member Bill Clifford noted the successful efforts to level the playing field for staff. “We spent a lot of time trying to improve retention of teaching staff,” he said.
“My feeling is we should treat them all the same,” board member Norm Geer said. “We’ve got big plans for this school system” and it’s important to attract and retain good teachers and administrators, he said.
Also on Tuesday, the board hired one other administrator – Angela Schaal as executive director of teaching and learning for the district.
Scruci said one priority for Schaal will be working with Kenwood Elementary to get it out of the “Ed Choice” designation. Emphasis will be put on early literacy and elementary education.
“Angie fills all those boxes and then some,” Scruci said. “We’re looking forward to having her on our team.”
Also at the meeting, the board accepted revised student handbooks. One of the changes covers vaping, and applies the same rules as for tobacco use.
High School Assistant Principal Dan Black said a large number of vaping devices have been confiscated from students. The first violation for possessing or using the devices is met with five days of suspension, the second offense comes with up to 10 days suspension, and the third carries possible expulsion.
Scruci noted that companies add flavors to make vaping more appealing to youth.
“It’s a concern,” he said.
In other business at Tuesday’s meeting, several high school athletes were recognized for their championship efforts.
In track and field, Eric Rine was recognized for multiple state rankings in the seated 100 meter, seated 400 meter, seated 800 meter and seated shot put. Stephanie Rine, his mom, took the opportunity to thank the school staff, administration and board for placing importance on seated athletes.
“Thank you for supporting Eric, and embracing something new,” she said to the board. “You believed in Eric.”
That support from Bowling Green’s school district opened doors for nine other seated athletes in Northwest Ohio to compete in track and field, she said.
Bowling Green showed that seated athletes “are equally as important as our footed athletes,” Stephanie Rine said.
