KCS exchange students share experiences

Four exchange students who have spent the 2011-2012 school year at Kenton City Schools thanked the students and staff for welcoming them to the district.
Yuilya Chernysheva of Ukraine, Sonja Sarajlic of Serbia, Diana Gatelind of Norway and Chi Yin “Vickie” Cheng of Taiwan addressed the school board at its meeting Monday night.
“This year was a special year in my life,” said Chernysheva, who said she got involved in activities she never imagined before coming to Kenton. Among these are marching band, pianist for the Top 20 show choir and attending the National FFA Convention.
Cheng expressed similar thoughts and how her time here has “changed me a lot.” She noted in Taiwan, school is just “study, study, study.” But at Kenton she got to play sports such as tennis and softball, and attend homecoming and prom.
Gatelind said she has appreciated “the great opportunity to come to America.” She has been involved in soccer, track and chorale.
Sarajlic said of her experiences in Kenton, “I think I’ve grown as a person. I think I’ve grown a lot.” She has been on the cross country and track teams, flag corps with the band and in FFA.
The board also heard from four Northwood students who are part of the afterschool “Tech Team.” Cheyenne Newland and KayLee Ritter, both fourth graders and Carter Kauble and Keller Stout, fifth graders, told of learning how to track stocks using a spreadsheet.
Also at the meeting, the board:
– Conducted a 45-minute closed session during the middle of the meeting to discuss personnel, then returned to a second closed session at the conclusion of the meeting to discuss personnel and negotiations.
– Approved continuing contracts for Rebecca Wolfe, Julie McCullough, Katie Ketcham and Melissa Good.
– Approved limited two-year contracts for Angela Neal Kimmell, Alicia Fetter, Lori Vandeborne, Patty Cribley, Brenda Jennings, Meghan Smith, Bo Hoppe, Kathy Abbott and Katie Park.
– Approved limited one-year contracts for Carol McKinley, Cherie Smith, Andrea Schneider, Tyler Turner, Alyssa Lauck and Colleen Potts.
– Hired two sixth grade teachers for the middle school for the 2012-2013 school year. Jared Thomas, who has been a student teacher at KMS, was approved to teach language arts. Scott Laman, who has been a student teacher at Wapakoneta, will teach science.
– Approved a supplemental one year contract for Shawn Dobbins as one-half high school assistant track coach.
– Approved a change in hours for Kevin McPherson, educational aide at KMS, from 6 to 6 1/2 hours per day, retroactive to Sept. 7, 2011.
– Approved a list of 61 substitutes for the 2012-2013 school year.
– Voted to non-renew all non-employee supplemental contacts, which is done annually. The board will start filling supplemental positions at its May meeting.
– Approved Rosa Williams as administrative assistant substitute for the 2011-2012 school year.
– Accepted the resignation of high school science teacher Allison Haver effective June 1.
– Approved an interdistrict contract from the Auglaize County Educational Service Center for 2012-2013 for Julie Hammer as occupational therapist.
– Approved 5-C roofing to make repairs on the middle school roof at a cost of $12,612.
– Agreed to purchase 24 replacement tables for the high school from Tom Sexton and Associates for $20,752. They are a combination table and chairs, with the chairs folding up with the tables. Money is from the cafeteria fund.
The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m. May 21.

By TIM THOMAS
Times editor

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Posted by Kenton Times on April 24, 2012. Filed under Local News,Recent Headlines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry