By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The Bowling Green Board of Education meeting began with talk about community donations, the need for substitute teachers, school facility discussions, and the Dear Santa program.
It ended with questions about the food service fund, about masks being useless in protecting children, about sex education being taught in the district, and accusations by a former teacher fired in July.
A typical school board meeting in America in 2021.
Superintendent Francis Scruci talked about the need for substitutes in the district, and the cancellation of some bus routes due to ill drivers.
“We’re in dire need,” Scruci said. “Any help would be appreciated.”
A job fair for substitute teachers, full-time paraprofessionals, substitute food service and custodians, and bus drivers is being held Wednesday, Oct. 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m., in the Central Administrative Offices, 137 Clough St., Bowling Green.
People interested are urged to drop in for interviews.
At the last board meeting, school board member Ginny Stewart talked about the immense needs among students for food, toiletries and clothing. Her pleas spurred many in the community to help out – including anonymous donors writing checks for $1,500 and $300.
“I’m overwhelmed by the response from the community,” Scruci said. “It’s just another way Bowling Green rallies to help those less fortunate.”
Scruci read through a longer than normal list of donations made to the schools in the past month. The gifts and donations totaled $14,163, and included items such as an air purifier, a drawing tablet, art supplies, books, snacks, children’s clothing, and a box van.
“We can’t thank those people enough for their generosity,” he said.
Board member Tracy Hovest mentioned another need – this one for band students going to Disney in the spring. The customary fundraising time has been cut short by COVID, Hovest explained. She asked people to help the Band Boosters so all the band members can go on the trip.
Also at the meeting, Kisha Nichols, a second grade teacher at Kenwood Elementary, talked about the annual Dear Santa program for BG families. The program was started by Jim and Dee Szalejko more than 12 years ago.
The Szalejkos are moving, but the program must go on, Nichols said. The Dear Santa effort gives presents, hygiene products and food to families in need.
“It’s an amazing thing,” she said. “We are anticipating high need this year.”
Nichols asked that donors consider monetary gifts to the program, by sending checks to P.O. Box 513, Bowling Green, OH 43402.
Board member Ryan Myers reported on meetings being held by the school facilities committee. The group voted overwhelmingly to not attempt a bond issue in May 2022.
“The group felt like we wanted to make sure we were very methodical,” and not rushing the process, Myers said.
The group also decided to explore OFCC options, which could help fund 17-18% of costs for buildings, he said.
Members have toured the high school and Conneaut Elementary, and will tour Kenwood and Crim elementaries next week.
Information from the meetings can be found on the district’s website, under the “facilities planning” link.
Myers also reported that specs are being created for air conditioning in the high school plus Conneaut and Kenwood elementaries, with the target date for installation being next spring.
Board President Norm Geer made a final board meeting pitch for the 0.5% income tax on the Nov. 2 ballot. While the issue is being changed to a continuing tax, it is renewing the same tax amount.
“So I repeat – no increase in taxes, no new taxes,” Geer said.
By changing the income tax to a continuing tax, rather than one that has to be approved by voters every five years, it will free up $3-$4 million in cash reserves to be used for educational services, Geer explained.
When the meeting was opened for public comments, Peggy Thompson, who is a candidate for school board, asked the treasurer for explanations about some budget information that Thompson had requested from the district.
Treasurer Cathy Schuller explained that the fund in question is a new student wellness and success fund, with the Wood County Educational Service Center. She also answered questions about the food service fund that started the year with no carryover.
Schuller said a recent state audit of the food service fund found that the fund had too much carryover. So the district purchased cafeteria items like a new condiment station, replaced old coolers, and bought a table that can be used by students in wheelchairs.
Schuller told Thompson that federal reimbursements will be coming to pay for those expenses.
Parent Paul Tyson returned to again present the board with information he said proves that masks and vaccinations are not effective at preventing the spread of COVID among children. He was critical of the CDC for changing language to fit their priorities.
Tyson asked the board if any of them had gone beyond the CDC and the health department for other preventative tools against COVID. He suggested that they consult physicians for advice on how to prevent the spread. He also noted that the school menu has no items with Vitamin D, which can help protect students.
Scruci replied that mandating masks is the best chance the district has at keeping students in school.
“No one really likes the masks idea,” Scruci said. “It’s not a matter of us saying masks are going to keep everyone safe. This is our way of keeping kids in session, in front of the teachers. We’re just following the guidelines so we can keep kids in school.”
Tyson also asked to see the district’s sex education curriculum. He expressed concerns about how it is being taught in some areas. Scruci said in order to receive federal funds, the district has to teach abstinence. Tyson expressed relief.
The last person to speak was Dallas Black, a former Spanish teacher at the high school, who had been terminated by the board in July. He accused the board of violating the law in the way his termination and insurance cancellation were handled.
“Either you’re ignorant of the law or you’re part of the group violating the law,” Black said to the board.
“I’m not sure this is the right time or place to make your case,” Geer said to Black. “But you will have your day in court.”
Black continued to accuse the board of wrongdoing.
“You have a formal hearing on Monday. That’s when it starts,” Scruci said. “This board has not done anything illegal.”
