By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green schools should be able to cool classrooms when hot weather returns.
The air conditioning project for Bowling Green City Schools is moving ahead as planned, with expectations that the mini-split systems will be installed sometime next spring.
“We feel that we’re on track,” Dan Obrynba, a school facilities expert with Fanning Howey Associates, reported at Tuesday’s board of education meeting. The designs are to be completed by the end of the month and the project should go out for bids by mid-December.
The school board voted unanimously in August to move ahead on the $4 million air conditioning systems that will cool and clean the air in classrooms.
The mini split systems will provide air conditioning to cool the air and ionization to kill viruses. The buildings which need the cooling systems – the high school plus Crim and Kenwood elementaries – do not have duct systems, so the district opted to go with the mini-split systems.
The board decided against the more expensive ducted systems, in case voters in the not too distant future would approve building new elementaries.
Another consideration was the fact that the ducted system would take longer to install. The mini-splits could be phased in and be completed by spring, Obrynba said. But the ducted system would not be able to be installed until next summer.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the board recognized the retirements of a few long-time employees.
Middle School Principal Eric Radabaugh said Rob Morgan, sixth grade social studies teacher, will retire in July 2022. Morgan, who has worked in nearly every Bowling Green School District building, is well liked by staff and students, Radabaugh said.
Also retiring from the middle school are custodians Keith Spangler and Phillip Klink. “They are extremely hard workers and even better individuals,” Radabaugh said.
Transportation Director Toby Snow said bus driver Dennis Bower will retire at the beginning of 2022. Snow said he would like to have a fleet of drivers like Bower.
Superintendent Francis Scruci announced the resignation of food service director Abby Forschner. “She’s going to be sorely missed,” Scruci said.
Also at the meeting, the board passed a resolution to expand the substitute teacher pool, as allowed in Senate Bill 1, signed by Gov. Mike DeWine last month. The resolution permits the employment of substitute teachers who do not hold a post-secondary degree – provided that all other requirements are met.
Scruci said the change may give school districts some relief as they try to fill sub positions.
“We’re all looking for subs,” he said.
In other business, Scruci reported that three soccer tournament games and two football tournament games were played on the district’s new turf field.
“Our facility has allowed us to be considered,” he said, noting that tournament games raise funds for athletics.
Scruci also:
- Announced teachers Bill Ferguson, Beth Vaughn and Tomas Roman had been selected by Bowling Green Kiwanis Club as educators of the year.
- Thanked the League of Women Voters members present for their role in getting out accurate information about the school income tax and candidates before the general election.
- Reported that Bowling Green has 102 students attending Penta Career Center this year.
- Announced a new middle school Engineering Club extra-curricular activity to fuel student interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
