Property purchase discussed at BOE
No levy. No new taxes. Just property acquired in the future, likely through a land swap, to be used — or not — as the school district and community sees fit.
The St. Marys School District Board of Education met Wednesday; Superintendent Bill Ruane repeated to the members the district’s plans for acquiring parcels of the Doseck land. The district is interested in the land located south of Shipman Road and east to the railroad tracks; that parcel would likely not be purchased, but rather traded for other property the district owns in the city.
Ruane said city officials are willing to be patient as the school district does its due diligence as far as the steps needed to trade parcels of property and/ or buildings no longer needed by the district.
Taking advantage of this opportunity is in the school district’s best interests, Ruane said, and makes the most sense.
“I don’t think it hurts us, especially if you can trade assets,” he said, adding again that no new money is needed for acquire the Doseck land. Apparently, com
ments on social media asked how the district would pay for the property, speculating about asking for additional tax dollars.
While the district’s elementary buildings are in good shape, and the soccer field is among the best in the WBL, Ruane said owning the land allows future school officials options if new buildings or new athletic facilities are needed; they could then be located closer to the high school/middle school campus.
The district is ridding itself of a building next month. The Denning Vocational building on McKinley Road will be offered at auction at 11 a.m. on April 10, Ruane reported. The open house was Wednesday;
he said a good number of people were on hand to tour the facility. He believes it would make a “great building for a new business,” as it has served its purpose for the school district.
Also on Wednesday, Ruane announced Nick Hager, current assistant principal at Memorial High School, had been chosen as the new principal at West Intermediate School.
Hager, originally from Wapakoneta, had started in the district as a math instructor and has spent the last three years at the high school. He will replace the retiring Lisa Elon.
Other personnel items approved during the brief meeting included:
• Retirement of cooks Catherine Buck and Teresa Katz;
• Resignations from Kelly Wildermuth, bus
driver, Tracey Wilkens, cook, Tami Rable, 8th grade girls basketball, and Mark Schamp, JV softball;
• Appointment of Jenna Lotz, Kenneth Osborn and Caitlyn Stoner as substitute teachers;
• Appointment of Stacy Amstutz, bus aide, and Justin Chisolm, Deb Frilling and Steve Link, substitute bus aides;
• Appointment of Allie Phlipot as high school musical director and set construction, and Marissa Lewis, musical assistant director and choreographer;
• Appointment of non-employees, including Kyle Frische, musical technical director; Louisa Hemmelgarn, musical vocal director; Stoner, JV softball; Schamp, JV softball; Rayonna Sherman, middle school track assistant;
and Luke Gossard, volunteer van driver.
Early graduation was approved for Damien Brown, Kage Cable, Dionna Easley, Carter Monbeck, Colton Moon, Corey Rhodes and Kameron Stein.
The board learned the Franklin B. Walter Banquet has been scheduled for April 7; however, because organizers want to keep it a small group, board members will not be invited to attend. High School principal Jon Burke said Katie Lucas will represent Memorial High School at the event.
Following an executive session called to discuss the investigation of charges/complaints against a public employee, and to consider the purchase of property, where no action was taken, the board came back to open session to adjourn the meeting.