LISBON - The school board followed through with plans to hire a private company to provide maintenance services, but they have yet find another school district to go in on it with them.
The board voted at this week's meeting to contract with Facility Maintenance Systems of Irwin, Pa., to provide maintenance services for the upcoming school year. The contract is for $70,120.
School Superintendent Don Thompson reported at the May board meeting they had decided to go with a maintenance company to replace maintenance man Jeff Tice, who retired. The idea was to get another district to split the cost and services, but Thompson could not find any takers, at this point.
"To be honest, we are going to be a guinea pig, and people will look at us to see how it works out," he said, adding another district may eventually choose to join them.
Tice's total compensation package came to $64,000, so Thompson said the new arrangement will cost them more money. But some savings could result because for the same price the company provides additional maintenance services the district might otherwise have to contract out for.
The company will have an employee assigned to the school district.
In other action, the board:
- Hired Amanda Adkins as fifth-grade language arts teacher to fill a position that became vacant due to retirement. Adkins had been a federally funded tutor in the district for the past several years. She will be paid $35,549.
- Approved an enhanced severance package for retiring kindergarten teacher Jane Ramsey, who was entitled to an additional 40 days severance pay, which came to $13,800.
- Hired Great Lakes Bio-Medical of Perrysburg to provide drug testing services under the district's new drug-testing policy that takes effect this upcoming school year. The cost is expected to be about $8,000 a year.
-Accepted the resignation of elementary school teacher Jeremy McElroy, who took a teaching job in the Beaver Local School District, where he was recently hired as varsity football project.
- Awarded the following fall coaching contracts: Ron Sines and Charles Bell, assistant football coaches; Dave Crismon, eighth grade football coach; Stacie Cross and Lauren Hardenbrook, assistant volley ball coaches; and Dana Blackburn, seventh grade volleyball coach.
- Renewed Don Feren's contract as athletic director for $27,925, which represents the same 1.5 percent pay increase other employees received. Ron Witman was named assistant athletic director.
The next board meeting is 5 p.m. Aug. 14.
