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Northwestern school board extends contracts of three administrators

Linda Hall
·3 min read

Northwestern Local Schools Board of Education

April 25 meeting

KEY ACTION Extended the contracts for three administrators one year ahead of time.

DISCUSSION Douglas Hopkins was approved as Northwestern Elementary School principal with a three-year contract; Corey Richardson as assistant principal at Northwestern Middle School with a two-year contract; and Christine Sykes as special education director with a four-year contract. All contracts begin Aug. 1, 2023.

"We always renew (contracts) a year ahead," said Superintendent Jeffrey Layton. "They are excellent administrators and do a great job."

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The contracts will align with step increases, Layton said, noting "otherwise, the terms are the same."

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OTHER ACTION

  • American Rescue Plan purchases were approved for textbooks and materials up to $52,874 — third- through eighth-grade science for three years at a cost of $33,599; and kindergarten to sixth-grade math for two years at a cost of $19,275. ARP funding can be used in a variety of ways, Layton said, including the areas of curriculum, technology, and adding and updating textbooks and materials. The district was also able to use the funds for online licensing to access tutoring lessons and books online with the book company purchases.

  • Approved a bid of $158,525 from McBee Asphalting for asphalt and repair work at Northwestern High School. The district is catching up on projects from the last five years when the expense wasn't feasible. Layton said the district will start with work at the high school this summer, then move on to the remainder of the district and get back on a regular schedule for asphalt projects.

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FOR YOUR INFO

  • Layton summarized district savings in the transportation department. When a mechanic resigned in October, administrator Julie McCumber, associate superintendent of curriculum and personnel and transportation supervisor, was one of the people instrumental in working out a creative solution, he said, encompassing contracting some work out to a local garage and using in-house personnel.

  • A savings of $200,000 will accrue using a grant for four buses on a two-for-the-price-of-one basis, he said. Two will be purchased this summer, and two next summer.

  • The TransFinder program purchased by the district has saved $65,000 this year by eliminating a bus route and absorbing it. The savings take into account expenses including fuel, maintenance, driver salary, driver insurance and related costs, after subtracting the $5,000 for the annual cost of the routing software, Layton said.

  • In a collaborative effort with Mapleton School District, Northwestern is awaiting news of an Ohio Department of Education grant to be shared by the two districts, $10,000 for each district. The funds will be used for transportation software, professional development and training of transportation personnel in each district, Layton said.

UP NEXT Meets at 6:30 p.m. May 16 in Northwestern High School, 7473 Elyria Road. The meeting will be livestreamed via a link on the district's website.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Northwestern school board extends contracts of three administrators