Nolley Elementary has the best student geography team in the nation.
Superintendent Sam Reynolds said the fourth grade team took a written test and scored the highest nationally.
“This is an award we've never received before,” said Reynolds.
The geography team members were Olivia Carder, Kelsie Clawson, Jessica Cobb, Kimmy Daniels, Dylan Erks, Mitchell Krock, Jesse McCormack, Curtis Perry, Cecilia Speck, Delaney Wesig and Gabe Zechman.
During the July 13 meeting, the Manchester Board of Education accepted the retirement of Karen Ford, a middle school teacher with 39 years service. In addition to teaching, she also served as advisor to the drama club and was instrumental in the school's stage productions in the spring and fall.
The board accepted the resignation of Lori Sewell, a middle school mathematics teacher who is moving out of state. Reynolds said Sewell was a “master of what she did” because regardless of which grade level Sewell taught, students passed Ohio's standardized tests. Sewell also served as advisor to Power of the Pen and as the district's public information officer.
The board approved the hiring of Lee Harget as a special education tutor. Joseph Pukansi will be the new high school guidance counselor. Danielle Schnyders will teach fifth grade mathematics. Mark Yokum, a Manchester graduate, will teach eighth grade science. Renee Herrick, also a Manchester graduate, has been teaching at Coventry as an intervention specialist. She will begin teaching at Manchester Middle School this fall as a language arts teacher. She is the niece of board member Richard Sponseller, who abstained from voting.
Board member Richard Kaderly abstained from a vote too. He was approved by his fellow board members to become the freshman football assistant coach. He has worked with the youth football program for many years.
“I think I have more fun than they do,” Kaderly said of coaching.
For supplemental appointments, the board hired Pamela Brown as the middle school cheerleading advisor and Katie Owens as the band's flag line advisor. Volunteer coaches Jim Jordan, Sam Kolaris, Amber Theiss and Rachel Walter were approved as a soccer assistant, band assistant, majorette advisor and band assistant, respectively.
Reynolds said as the board approved staffing for the 2010-2011 school year, the district will save approximately $121,000 on the new personnel. He added the district was not hiring a teacher to replace Lori Bakota at Nolley Elementary because the large fourth grade class is moving to the middle school.
In financial matters, the board accepted the permanent appropriations for fiscal year 2010. Manchester's general fund totals $13,104,738.50. Of that, more than $140,000 were two special education federal dollars that the school district may not receive unless the federal government renews the monies.
“We're very cautious with those federal title programs,” said Reynolds. “We've funded the Nolley reading program and purchased materials and supplies.”
“It's very important it’s renewed,” said Treasurer David Osborne.
The next regular meeting of the Manchester Board of Education is Aug. 17, 5:30 p.m. in the board office. A special meeting will be held July 27, 6:30 p.m. to review textbooks.
