Bethel Board of Education approved contractors for the next phase of the building addition project.  Shook Touchstone, Project Manager for the school recommended the following contractors: Peterson Construction (general trades/masonry work), Chapel Electric (electrical work), Starco Inc. mechanical/plumbing), Bruns Roofing (roofing work) and Louis K Polster (kitchen equipment).  

The fire protection RFP will be rebid as no bid met the qualifications.  The base bids and accepted alternates total $12,429,049.  

Elementary Principal Jodi Petty reported students in K-3 who are not on track to make the 3rd Grade Reading Guarantee have been identified and placed in the Fundations Reading Intervention Program.  Students in K-5 struggling with math and reading have been placed in Scootpad, a reading and math intervention program. Flexible groups have been incorporated at all grade levels to meet the needs of each student in developing their math and reading skills.

The first round of Ohio Department of Education (ODE) State Reading tests are scheduled to begin in early December for 3rd graders and will continue in early April and May.

The elementary school currently has 45 students identified as English as a Second Language (ESL) students.  Eight students are being mainstreamed into the regular classroom.  Twelve students have completed one year of the ESL program.  Twenty-two have completed two years and three students are just beginning the program.  The native languages for the students include Turkish, Chinese, Spanish, German, French, Punjabi, Arabic and Mandarin.

The elementary PTO sponsored a Tip a Teacher Fundraiser at Texas Roadhouse; raising over $300 for the playground fund.

Maintenance Supervisor Mark Durst is insuring the facility runs smoothly.  The steam, hot water and domestic boilers were inspected by the state on September 21, 2015 with all passing and ready for operation.  A sewer line in D-hall had plugged up and had to be reopened.  This line has had problems in the past and maintenance is exploring the possibility of rebuilding the line and relocating when construction occurs in this area.  Durst also performed a visual inspection of the brick tuck points on the 1917 building.   Sections need to be reworked in order for the brick to remain intact.

Athletic Director John Augustine reported that homecoming activities are scheduled throughout the week of Oct 12.  The Homecoming Parade is schedule for Oct 14 at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Powder Puff Football game at 6:30 p.m.  The Homecoming Game is scheduled for Oct 16, at 7:30 with the Homecoming Dance from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday Oct 17.

Network Administrator Dave Oleszczuk reported that 30 new laptops have been received and will be available soon for teachers to checkout for their classroom use.  In addition, 90 additional Chromebooks have been ordered.  Sixty of the Chromebooks will be used in the Middle School.  The remaining 30 will replace the desktop computers in the elementary library.  

For the Treasurer, the Board approved appropriations of $6000 for the Special Education Idea Funds and $67,500.00 a New York City Trip.

In regular business, the board approved a contract for Marilyn Burchett as a certified Home Instruction Tutor, effective Oct 5, 2015.  Laura Lyall and Frances McIntosh were approved as Classified Substitutes for 2015-2016.

Also approved were contracts for the following individuals for winter 2015-2016 coaching positions and volunteers, Carolyn Wright, Volunteer Assistant Coed Swimming Coach; Brian Firstenberger, 8th Grade Boys Basketball Coach; Dennis Lawson, 8th Grade Girls Basketball Coach; Chad Grey, 7th Grade Girls Basketball Coach; Tony Phillips-Volunteer Assistant Varsity Boys Basketball; Geoff Springer, Volunteer Assistant Varsity Boys Basketball; and Darren Hemsworth, 7th Grade Boys Basketball Coach.

Also approved were individuals for spring 2016 coaching positions and volunteers, Jeremy Reittinger, Varsity Softball Head Coach; and Troy Anthony, Volunteer Assistant Softball Coach

The Choral Clinic Trip to Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky from Monday, Nov 9, 2015 through Tuesday, Nov 10, 2015 also received approval.

A pay rate increase for $80.00 to $90.00 was approved for substitute teachers.

The next meeting of the Bethel BOE is scheduled for Nov 16, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in the school auditorium.

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