Meet the Teacher is on August 21 from 5:00-6:00 p.m.

By Betsi Werling

The July 29 meeting of the Bluffton Exempted Village Schools Board of Education began with the usual call to order, approval of agenda and minutes. This was a short meeting with many administrators on break. 

Treasurer Paula Parish reported that a few appropriations were made to close out the 2023-24 academic year. A Service Fund has been created to pay expenses incurred by members of the board when performing duties outside of the school district The Board approved Bluffton School District 2024-2025 appropriations totalling $25,450,115.09. 

Although Ralph Hooker resigned as Head Custodian, he is moving into a second shift position. Andrew Schmidt is now the Head Custodian. 

The following Supplemental Contracts were approved: 

• Assistant Band Director - Robyn Bible 
• 8th Grade Volleyball - Grace Smith 
• 7th Grade Volleyball - Zarina Dillon 
• Volunteer Asst Girls Soccer - Brendon Matthews 
• Volunteer Asst Boys Soccer - Steve Weihrauch 
• The following hourly rate were approved for Classified Substitutes: 
• Substitute Custodian Contract - $15.50 per hour worked 
• Substitute Bus Driver - $20 per hour worked 
• Substitute Cafeteria Contract - $13.50 per hour worked 
• Substitute Secretary Contract - $15.50 per hour worked 
• Substitute Educational Aides Contract - $14.00 per hour worked 
• Substitute Teachers - $105 per day worked 

Additionally Samantha Scoles and Skyler Scoles were approved for both substitute secretary and substitute educational aides. Samantha Scoles also is approved to be a substitute teacher. 

The November board meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday, November 13.

Superintendent Denecker reported that for IDEA and TITLE 1 funds the district only receives 20% funding for its special education teachers. There are nine  teachers who work with Bluffton students on IEPs. And the same funding percentage applies to Title 1 teachers and the district employs two teachers in this role. The remaining funding comes from the district. 

Reporting on Apollo Career Center, board member Jeremy Scoles provided a handout on high school enrollment growth. In the 2015-2016 academic year, Apollo high school enrollment was 614, while in 2023-2024 there were 928 students enrolled. Additionally, students receiving credentials has increased. All CDL training is now done on site at Apollo. 

Superintendent Denecker  announced that August 20, 21, 22 are staff-only days. Meet the Teacher will take place on August 21 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. for  K-12. He shared that Governor DeWine has mandated that all schools have AED equipment at all sporting events. However, Bluffton has had this equipment in place for several years. A food digester has now been installed at the schools.

The next school board meeting is at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, August 19.