Benjamin Logan School Board Elects Officers

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The Benjamin Logan School Board held its yearly organizational meeting Monday night and voted to keep familiar leadership in place. Board member Mark Himmeger was elected President and Deb Johnson was elected Vice President for the remainder of the calendar year. Both members retain their positions from 2024.

Board members also received their committee assignments and several coordinators were designated:

  • Title I (Targeted Assistance), Title II-A (Teacher Quality), and Title V (Innovative Programs): Director of Administrative Services (Sally Stolly)

  • Special Education and 504 Plans, PART B-IDEA: Special Education Director (Colleen Bodin)

  • Title IX: High School Principal (Annette Ramga-Alatorre)

  • Civil Rights Coordinator: Director of Administrative Services (Sally Stolly), EMIS Coordinator (Stacie Newman), and Superintendent (John Scheu)

  • e-Tech Ohio and Erate: Director of Information Technology Services (Nic George)

The Board retained several law firms Scott Scriven LLP of Columbus, John Podgurski, Ennis Britton Co., L.P.A., Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP, and designated WPKO as the official radio station and the Bellefontaine Examiner as the official newspaper.

Once the Organizational meeting concluded, the Board moved into its regular meeting. Among the action items tackled by the board, the Special Education Model Policies and Procedures released by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce in December 2024 were unanimously adopted. These policies will enhance the district’s uniformity and quality of special education services.

BLMS Principal Todd Shadley reported the to board that students who showed growth in at least one area (math or ELA) on the winter iReady diagnostic were rewarded with a booster bar for their hard work. BLES Principal Holly Barr noted that recently the elementary school used a three-tier reward system for the winter iReady diagnostic:
1. Students meeting both goals had hot chocolate and decorated a cookie.
2. Students meeting one goal decorated a cookie.
3. Students who worked hard but didn’t meet their goals enjoyed a game room.

Also, the board passed a resolution that ensured third-grade assessments in English language arts, English language arts Alternative Assessment for Students with most Significant Cognitive Disabilities, and Mathematics Alternative Assessment for Students with most Significant Cognitive Disabilities would be collected in a paper format for the 2025-2026 school year.

District Treasurer/CFO Leah Baker presented the December financial report and it was approved by the board.

The board approved one resignation. Head Cook Bev Houchin announced her retirement effective February 28, 2025, after many years of service to the district. In other personnel actions, Lance Predmore was approved for advancement on the salary schedule for attaining additional academic hours and Kelly Gibson was approved to lead the Ski Club for this school year.

The board accepted several grants and donations:

  • Accepted a $500 Logan County Electric Co-op Energizing Education grant for elementary initiatives (STEM rewards for i-Ready).
  • Accepted a $500 Logan County Electric Co-op grant for the “Seats in Motion” project at Benjamin Logan Middle School for flexible seating.
  • Accepted a $1,000 “Growing Tomorrow” grant from Farm Credit Mid-America.
  • Accepted a $932 grant from The Ohio Arts Council’s Big Yellow School Bus program.
  • A $1,000 donation from an anonymous donor was accepted for district-wide school lunches and fees.
  • A $1,000 donation from RWE Clean Energy, LLC was allocated for middle school student needs.
  • A $200 gift card from Harbor Freight was received for FFA classroom enhancements.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for February 24, 2025, at the Benjamin Logan Central Office.

 

Sally Stolly contributed to this story.