High school math instructor Kyle Kozer demonstrating the online capabilities of the new math textbook series.

One month after purchasing a new reading textbook series for elementary grades kindergarten through fourth and one year after purchasing a new math textbooks series for the middle school, the District 7 school board unanimously approved the purchase a new math textbook series for high school grades nine through twelve.

With board members Bill Carter, Don Dobrino and Jenni Alepra absent from the meeting held on Monday, June 22, board members Mark Hayes, Dave Griffel, Weye Schmidt and Peyton Bernot listened to a 10-minute presentation about the new textbook series from high school math instructor Kyle Kozer.

The series, which correlates with the middle school math series purchased last year, includes student editions, teacher editions and an interactive edition for classroom Promethean boards or at-home learning and homework via an internet connection. The $35,000 series includes algebra 1, algebra 2, geometry and pre-calculus.

“It’s just great what you can do with it,” Kozer told the board members after saying he used the series for two lessons during the 2014-2015 school year. “It’s what we need. It meets with what middle school math teachers are already doing.”

[pullquote]It’s what we need. It meets with what middle school math teachers are already doing.[/pullquote]Kozer explained students will be assigned an online identification and password to login into the online edition, which includes an e-book, online assignments, tutorials and example problems. He highlighted that the Gencoe math series is on-point with every aspect and the high school math teachers have all favored the proposed series.

High school principal Lori Emmons added that the series is great considering everything it includes. “It’s just great what you can do with it and what the students can do at home with it,” Emmons added. “Kyle and I went over his presentation and I think it is great.”

After approving the series, the board said they will have to review funding to add Promethean boards to the remaining two math classrooms in the high school. Kozer admitted that he is only high school math teacher with the interactive learning board and the series cannot be used to its full potential without the boards.

Board raises employee’s health insurance deductible

The school board made the difficult decision to change health insurance plans to a plan that raises the employee health insurance deductible from $500 to $1,000 after an 11-minute discussion with Superintendent Tieman about the health insurance bids for the 2015-2016 school year.

Tieman presented the board members bids from Etna, United Health Care and the district’s current provider, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). BCBS was the only provider that was able to guarantee the premiums for the 106 enrolled employees, so the board didn’t consider the proposals from United Healthcare or Etna.

The employees’ current plan with a deductible of $500 raised the health insurance for the district by $40,000, but a plan that raised the deductible to $1,000 raised the health insurance for the district by $9,000. “I don’t consider it a savings either way because we are paying more both ways,” Superintendent Tieman explained. “But, one direction we have to pay $9,000 more and the other we pay $40,000 more. There’s a $31,000 savings in one direction and I’ve tried to put every opportunity in place to save money across the board and be efficient for the district.”

Board member Dave Griffel agreed, saying he doesn’t like to be left with tough decisions like this that raise costs for the employees, but he said a $31,000 savings covers majority of the math textbook series the board approved earlier in Monday night’s meeting. Peyton Bernot agreed with Griffel’s statement and added that the district has to be conscience with every dollar considering the state’s current financial position.

“We should be aware of saving every dime we can,” Bernot closed. “Hopefully next year the premiums come down. We have had to make tough choices on the board and we have had to do this in Benld too.”

Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent Tieman updated the board on the athletic field improvements by saying work on the football field has already started. The building and grounds committee announced their plan for the athletic facilities during the May meeting and Superintendent Tieman explained the district wants to get the ball rolling on the many projects on-hand.

Most of the work on the football field will be finished when the football season is over late this fall, but the irrigation system will be installed before the season is underway. Maintenance supervisor Rob Graham reported the trenching is complete for the irrigation system and work will continue when the weather clears. Graham said the electricity for the pump house has been completed with the concrete pad for the pump house scheduled to be complete in the upcoming weeks.

Tieman continued by saying board member Dave Griffel and himself have talked with private parties regarding the baseball field tiling, but a decision hasn’t been made yet. He closed with the building and grounds committee’ top priority, the softball field. Tieman said work on the softball field would begin as soon as possible with concrete and masonry work being the top priority.

The backstop for the field has to be extended as well to protect the solar panels on the new elementary school, but Tieman said utilizing the construction trades class for various concrete paths, dugout roofs and dugout benches will save thousands of dollars alone.

Superintendent Tieman closed his report by saying board member Jenni Alepra and branch manager of the United Community Bank in Gillespie reported an anonymous donor donated $500 to help with the softball field improvements and $600 toward the football field improvements.

Personnel

The school board unanimously approved maternity leave for second grade instructor Nikki Barrett starting August 14, 2015 and ending March 14, 2016. The board went on to accept Tara Allen’s resignation from seventh grade volleyball coach and later posted the position as vacant.

The board unanimously reappointed the following spring coaches for the 2015-2016 school year: high school track, Mike Bertagnolli, Jack Burns, Jeff Nehls, Jerry Rosentreter, Austin Semplowski; softball, Michelle Smith, Joe Kelly, Alina Fields, Jim Matesa, Kelcie Matesa; baseball, Jeremy Smith, Casey Sholtis, Dan Smith, Adam Tallman, Tim Wargo; soccer, Robin Niemeyer, Tara Allen; and middle school track: Christina Blevins and Casey Niehaus.

Lastly, the school board reemployed the following paraprofessionals: Amy Baker, Cathy Barylske, Trinity Bray-Jett Theresa Carter, Sharon Heyen, Shelia Katich, Misty Parker, Amy Reiniesch, Ella May Roemer, Brandi Schoen, Tim Wargo, Kathy Wheeler and Nicole Zenner.

Advertisement

Public Recognition

Mark Stewart, representing the Coal Country Sports Complex, requested the school board consider donating any unwanted equipment from the former elementary school site in Benld to the sports complex. Stewart explained the complex is nearing completion for the reclamation project and is hoping to add basketball courts and ball fields to the site, but would willing accept any equipment donations to ease the financial burden.

Stewart also informed the board that the complex would be a perfect location to host home cross-country events in the upcoming school years once the site is ready. He explained he has already been in discussion with cross-country coach Casey Niehaus.

The school board accepted his request, but notified him that a decision has not been made in regard to the vacant school property in Benld or the unused equipment. Superintendent Tieman said the district won’t consider departing with any softball field equipment until the new softball field is completed on the new elementary school site in Gillespie.

June Bills

The payment of the June bills was unanimously approved:

Transportation Fund: $6,441.10
Education Fund: $84,313.73
Site & Construction Fund: $12,150.03
Building Fund: $53,954.50

Grand Total: $156,859.36

– – – – – – – – – – – – – –

There are plenty of ways to keep up on BenGil news:

Sign up for our weekly email newsletter

Follow us on Twitter for the fastest breaking news updates and score updates

Like us on Facebook for a slightly different take

Comments

comments