The Benjamin Logan School Board met in regular session on Tuesday evening.

The board approved a resolution to put a 4.5 mill renewal levy on the November ballot.

The levy will not increase property owners' taxes in the district, but will secure funds from the state that are part of House Bill 66. Those funds originally went straight to the district, but due to the change with the bill, they now go to the state first and then are reimbursed back to the district. For the district to be reimbursed, the levy needs to pass. If the levy is not passed, the district will lose 2.5 million dollars in the next ten years. (Audio interview included.)

The levy that was passed back in November of 1987 for the high school will be finished by the end of this year. The last bond payment for the high school will be in December.

Listen to Kuehnle talk about the levy

After looking over the district's financial report, board member Dr. Jason Robson commended Kuehnle and Superintendent Stan Mounts for their work handling the district's finances. 

Robson said that he is very pleased that everything the district has done in the past few years has been under budget.

In other news, the board accepted three staff resignations.

Travis Swank, High School Intervention Specialist, effective June 19th

Dave Levingston, Boys Assistant Soccer Coach, effective June 12th

Januah Anspach, Substitute teacher Caller, effective July 3rd

The board approved the hiring of five new staff members, including:

Lauren Thrush, Middle School Intervention Specialist

Alex Witzky, High School Intervention Specialist

Diedra Harman, Middle School Science

Todd Shadley, Correction

Jerry Allford, One-On-One High School Autism

The board also approved the employment of several coaches, department co-chairs, and for additional hours and pay for braillist services.

Mounts said they are still in need of a custodian at the high school.

The third annual Chinese Bridge Delegation took place June 23rd-July 1st. Three Benjamin Logan administrators participated in the event. Sally Stolly, Shari Rice (Elementary Principal), and Brian Hunt (Assistant Elementary Principal) traveled to China.

The goal of the trip, which began in Beijing, was to build a tie and network with a sister school to build a Chinese language program in the U.S. schools. 

After their trip to Beijing, the delegation fanned out to visit elementary and secondary schools in 13 provinces.

Ultimately the program aspires to foster better understanding of Chinese culture and fluency in the language among U.S. students.

The next board meeting is August 18th at 7 p.m.