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SALEM -- The board of education approved the purchase of a new plot of land in its meeting Monday.
The purchase of parcel number 50-05871.000, which comprises 23.474 acres of land on Merle Road, for $164,318 and any associated costs of closing or transferring the deed, not to exceed $15,000, was unanimously approved by the board. Superintendent Sean Kirkland said that the parcel extended to Merle Road's intersection with Cunningham Road, and that the district already owns the property leading up to it.
Kirkland explained the district had chosen to purchase the parcel to give it the option to potentially add an entrance to the upcoming K-8 school building off Cunningham Road in the future should funding ever become available.
During his report, Kirkland thanked Bob Sebo for his recent donation of a batting cage, and Steve Bailey for donating his time and labor to install the cage with his own equipment. Kirkland also thanked the Salem First Methodist Women for their donation of $500 to help pay negative lunch balances.
"I just want to thank Bob [Sebo] number one for donating the cage, and Steve Bailey for bringing his equipment up and actually installing it, and he bought all the gravel that was put down there, so that's in, and I want to thank both of them; and also, Salem First Methodist Women once again donated $500 for negative lunch balances for folks unable to pay those off, so thanks to them," said Kirkland.
Kirkland also took time to thank Administrative Assistant Terri Roberts, who has been pulling double duty in recent weeks to cover the vacant high school secretary position in addition to her typical duties.
"She's been running herself ragged doing that job and then coming down and helping out at my office and staying later hours than she's being paid for, so I just wanted to thank her publicly for that," said Kirkland.
Kirkland also announced that the high school's air conditioning upgrades had been completed and that all the building's classrooms were now air conditioned.
Kirland's report was not all positive, however, as he took time to share the district's condolences for the recent passing of Lori Thayer on March 31, who spent her entire education career with the district, serving as an elementary teacher, principal and curriculum director.
"She was a dearly loved member of our Quaker family and I wanted to let her husband Curt, her son Ben, daughter Whitney, and her four grandchildren know that we're thinking about them and they're in our prayers. She was an incredible educator, and we'll miss her very much," said Kirkland.
Board President Carol Hrvatin also took time to share her condolences for the Thayer family.
"She was my principal at the junior high for several years, and she was one of the kindest, most caring people, she cared about every one of her students in so many ways, and I wish her family the best as they go through this," said Hrvatin.
The board also received an update on the Salem High School's "pathways" academic support program which focuses on providing students who are struggling academically with a comfortable, small group focused alternative learning environment; providing students with guidance and support to work at their own pace; helping students gain necessary core credits before they fall behind; and offering incentives for attendance and completing courses by High School Principle Todd McLaughlin. McLuaghlin said that the program currently included 57 students, nine freshmen, 14 sophomores, 23 juniors, and 11 seniors. McLaughlin said that all of the students in the program save two seniors were on track to graduate, and that of those students six juniors would be graduating early, and five seniors had already completed all the requirements for graduation.
The board also approved several personnel and administrative items.
Administrative items approved included: acceptance of a donation of a batting cage by Robert Sebo, and the time and labor for its installation by Steve Bailey; acceptance of a donation of $500 from the Salem First Methodist Women to help repay negative lunch balances; an agreement between LLA Therapy and the Salem City School District effective July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025; the transfer of $161,890.74 to the Termination Benefits Fund; the selection of Mills-Holloway Insurance Agency for the Student Academic Insurance Program for the 2024-2025 school year; and an agreement between the Behavioral and Educational Expert Services LLC and the Salem City School District effective April 11.
Personnel items approved included: continuing teaching contracts for Kayleigh Post, Victoria Paolucci, and Kaitlin Vogt for the 2024-2025 school year; limited contracts for active teaching staff for the 2024-2025 school year; award of an Ohio Association of Public School Employees bid to High School Secretary Elizabeth Cole; the resignation of High School Secretary Lisa Devereaux-Bucholtz effective April 5; FMLA Leave for Kelly Waters effective March 19; the hire of John McKee for Summer Maintenance Help at a rate of $14.47 per hour; non-renewal of Buckeye Elementary Art Teacher Mindy Hiltbrand; return from sabbatical leave for the 2024-2025 school year for Sarah Hamilton-Phillips; creation of a four hour Classified Duty Aide position for a Bus Attendant; the hire of Grade 7-12 English Language Art Teacher Madison Demetra for the 2024-2025 school year; the hire of Rebecca Schubert as an instructor for the Hannah E. Mullins School of Practical Nursing; the hire of Carolyn Ceccena, and Jill Maenz, for Summer custodial help at a rate of $14.47 per hour; staff for the Junior Highs Family Engagement night to be held on Thursday, April 25, 2024, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; athletic supplemental for 9th grade head football coach Rich Joy, 9th grade volleyball coach Kyle Skinner, head girls varsity soccer coach Greg Davis, and head varsity cheerleading advisor Jordan Archer; the award of an Ohio Association of Public School Employees bid to Custodian Tonyna Willis; non-athletic supplementals for the Junior and Senior High School for the 2024-2025 school year.
The meeting concluded with an executive session for the discussion of employee matters with no action to follow.
The board of education will meet next at 7 p.m. May 20.