By CECILIA FOX
TCN News Service
Courtesy of the Weekly Record Herald; Printed August 19, 2011
WEST MILTON – Raymond Landis, a citizen who regularly attends Milton-Union Board of Education meetings, started a long discussion at the August 15th meeting when he asked if the board would consider allowing the public to comment on each agenda item as it was discussed. Right now, there is one hearing of the public at the end of each meeting.
“I come to a meeting and you have a motion and you have a second and then there’s discussion and after discussion are comments a questions by the board members. And the public does not have the right to enter discussion of an item,” said Landis.
Board president Jodi Minneman explained that that process is normal for board meetings.
“This is common practice for school boards. You’re allowed to send in an item for the agenda and you can talk to board members after the meeting or during the hearing of the public,” said Minneman. Vice-president Sam Huffman added that inclusion of public discussion could
prolong the meeting sessions.
The Board did not make any changes that evening, leaning towards leaving the public hearing the way it is. However, Superintendent Ginny Rammel did say they would explore the option for future meetings.
After bus routes and classified personnel employement was approved, the Board invited the school principals to discuss readiness for the upcoming school year.
“We are very excited to get this year started,” Elementary School Principal Jarrod Brumbaugh said.
Brumbaugh discussed some of the new changes that will be taking place this year at the elementary school. According to Brumbaugh, there will changes in staff this year, with some teachers moving from the middle school to the elementary school and vice versa. Math and language arts classes will be looped, which means that students will have the same teachers in those subjects for two years. The first and second grades will also be looped.
“That way they can start their second year off knowing the expectations, so we’ll have less loss of instructional time. The teachers and students are
excited and we’re really looking forward to see how this goes,” said Brumbaugh.
High School Principal Dr. Brian Powderly announced at the meeting that the junior and senior classes will be attending, in their entirety, a college fair at Edison Community College. Over 60 colleges and universities will be there to talk to the students.
“We got really nice feedback from seniors who went last year and we’re hoping that expanding that opportunity to the juniors will serve them well,” said Powderly.
High school students will also have the opportunity to attend a career fair on September 30 as a follow up to the college fair. Dr. Powderly invited board members to get involved with the career fair.
“You’ll probably be getting a phone call inviting you to speak about your particular area of expertise. If you could look ahead to the 30th of September, maybe that’s a day we could steal some of your time. The high schoolers would love to have it,” Powderly said.
Raise Rescinded
It’s not often that employees refuse to accept a raise. However, that’s what Elementary Principal Jarrod Brumbaugh did at Monday’s Board of Education meeting.
On July 18, the Board approved a $5,000 increase to his salary. On August 15, it was rescinded by Brumbaugh’s own written request.
“I told them I appreciated the offer, but the well-being of the district needs to be first,” said Brumbaugh, “It’s important to pass the levy and be
fiscally responsible. Right now is not the most appropriate time for [the salary increase].”
Superintendent Ginny Rammel pointed to his action as an example of the team spirit among Milton-Union faculty.
“It’s just working together,” she said, “That’s the only way we’re going to move forward.”
Brumbaugh is going on his fourth year as principal at Milton-Union. Previous to that, he taught third grade at Springreek Primary in Piqua.
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