Mar 19, 2024

Minster Board of Education Overview- March 18, 2024

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The Minster Board of Education met for their monthly meeting Monday evening.

 

Donations

 

The Board accepted the following donations:

• $2,000 from an anonymous donor for the Varsity Softball program.

• $3,000 from an anonymous donor for the Varsity Baseball program.

• $5,292 from the Fred & Sherry Sommer Family Foundation, through the Shelby County Community Foundation, for 3 AED units.

 

Board Recognition of Students

 

The Minster Board of Education recognized the following Spelling Bee Winners: 1st Place- 4th grader Emily Wuebker - daughter of Brian & Julie Wuebker; 2nd place- 8th grader Kendall Heitkamp- daughter of Eric & Brandy Heitkamp and 3rd place- 5th grader Henry Bruns- son of Rich and Angie Bruns.

 

Superintendent’s Report

 

Superintendent Josh Meyer updated the Board on upcoming summer Permanent Improvement and Technology Projects. He informed the Board on new server migration, addressing the pipes that are original to the high school, the Memorial Field bleacher replacement project, network switch upgrade in the elementary school, replacing batteries in the battery backups for servers and network equipment, upgrading the district WiFi system and the drainage and playground projects at Melcher Street Park.

 

He also informed the Board about the rotation for parking lot resealing and repaving, the cycle for replacing the district bus fleet and the expected timeline to replace the track at Memorial Field.

 

Mr. Meyer’s full report can be found here: March 2024- Superintendent's Report

 

K-6 Principal’s Report

 

Elementary Principal Mrs. Mandy Albers provided a written report for the elementary school. She shared with the Board that 6th grade students Nora Homan, Eli Luthman and Lilia Longbrake have qualified for the National Civics Bee Regional contest in Dayton on April 24. Mrs. Albers also provided the Board with information on the Open House schedule for March 21 and the Kindergarten screening set for March 25 and 26. She also gave the Board an update on the State Testing schedule for grades 3 through 6. Mrs. Alber’s full report can be found here.

 

7-12 Principal’s Report

 

7-12 Principal Mr. Austin Kaylor shared the Jr/Sr High School update with the Board. He congratulated Senior Maggie Hemmelgarn for being the recipient of this year’s Franklin B. Walter All-Scholastic Award.

 

Mr. Kaylor congratulated the Cats of the Month: Veronica Liesemeyer, Aiden Dulaney, Ethan Stachler, Emma Dysert, Rylin Trego and Emma Linn.

 

Mr. Kaylor also congratulated the winter sports teams, athletes and coaches on an exciting winter season. He recognized Xavier Kitzmiller- bowling- and Elise Oldiges- swimming- as student-athletes that represented Minster at State competitions. Mr. Kaylor also shared the following All-MAC honors with the Board:

Girls Bowling- 2nd team- Julia Mullins. Honorable Mention- Tara Rindler

Boys Bowling- 1st team- Rylan Edwards & Xavier Kitzmiller. 2nd team- Keetan Sharp

Girls Basketball- 1st team- Addi Inskeep & Lydia Mescher. 2nd team- Annie Hemmelgarn & Anna Larger. Honorable mention- Sadie Niemeyer.

Boys Basketball- 1st team- Kole Richard & Brogan Stephey. 2nd team- Cole Albers. Honorable mention- Cole McClurg.

 

Mr. Kaylor also informed the Board that the Minster High School Symphonic Band earned a Superior Rating at the District event on Saturday and will participate in the state event on April 27.

 

Mr. Kaylor shared details of the state testing schedule for the 7-12 building.

 

Mr. Kaylor’s full report can be found here.

 

Curriculum and Instruction

 

High School Technology teacher Emily Funk told the Board about the following class offerings: JH typing, Yearbook, Programming, Web Design, Video Production and Animation.

 

Treasurer’s Report

 

Treasurer Gina Selby provided the Board with her monthly report. Mrs. Selby shared with the Board that Auglaize County real estate tax settlements have been received. She also shared with the Board the 5 year forecast for daily expenses and days cash on hand. Mrs Selby also provided the Board with an updated general fund monthly cash flow overview and modified appropriations. Mrs. Selby’s full report can be found here.

 

Superintendent’s Consent Agenda

 

During the Superintendent’s portion of the Consent Agenda the Minster Board approved the High School Band trip to Florida for November 16, 2025 through November 22, 2025. Superintendent Josh Meyer also commended the winter sports athletes and coaches on their outstanding seasons.

 

New Business

 

In New Business, the Minster Board of Education approved Baumer Construction as the Construction Manager at Risk for the Minster Memorial Field Bleacher Project. The Board also approved transferring $115,000 for technology upgrades and replacements from the General Fund to the Special Cost Centers within the Permanent Improvement Fund for a Term of 5 Years.

 

The Board approved a first reading of several updated Board policies.

 

Personnel Recommendations

 

The Board approved the following Personnel Recommendations:

• Limited 1 Year contract for the 2023/2024 school year:

  • Tim Jay- Groundskeeper and Field Prep- Melcher Street Park

  • Mike Wiss- Recreation Field Manager

• Limited 1 Year contract for the 2024/2025 school year:

  • Gail Otting- Head Cook

 

The Board approved the following supplemental volunteers:

• Max Prenger- Boys Track

 

The complete list of personnel recommendations can be found here.

 

The Minster Board of Education scheduled a work session for Wednesday, March 27 at 5:30 PM in the High School Conference Room and set their next monthly meeting for April 15 at 7 PM in the Large Group Meeting Room.

 

Executive Session

 

The Board of Education entered into Executive Session to discuss the employment and compensation of a public employee and the purchase or sale of property.

 

There was no action taken after the Executive Session.