Board Honors Football Team, Coach, Spelling Bee Winners

12/21/2024 @ 4:46 pm Government, School, Top Stories

(Bruce Yarnall photo)

Almost all members of the 2024 OVAC championship football team were present for honors during the December 17 school board meeting to receive honors. A majority of those unable to attend were participating in winter sports contests at that time.

(Bruce Yarnall photo)

BHS Principal Ron Clark, Superintendent Micah Fuchs, center, look on as Coach Blake Allen calls out the 60 members of the 2024 football squad presenting each with a certificate.

The team went 10-0 in regular season play and won the OVAC 3A Title. This year’s seniors played in three 10-0 seasons. Prior to this, BHS won only four undefeated seasons in the past 103 years!

Allen was also named 2024 Co-East Ohio District Football Coach of the year.

(Bruce Yarnall photo)

The winners of the Barnesville Middle School Spelling Bee last month were honored by the Barnesville School Board this week. Lena Bernhard, left, a 5^th grader was runner-up, and Harlow Warner, a 7^th grader, was the champion speller. Warner is moving on to county competition on February 13. The winner of that contest will go to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC.

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At the beginning of December 17 Barnesville School Board Meeting, members honored the OVAC Championship Football team, Coach Blake Allen and Middle School Spelling Bee Winners.

At the meeting, members voted to approve and accept Barnesville Education Foundation grants for school projects. Seventeen grants totaling $80,089.32 were approved. A breakdown follows:

Early Literacy Event, $500.00
M.S. Literacy (Annual), $1,000.00
Flexible Seating, $2,000.00
Life Skills Program Material, $1,000.00 (Hanon Fund)
Repair Present Musical Instruments, $16,900.00
Purchase New Musical Instruments, $15,832.25
Classroom materials, $1,048.18
General Science Lab Equip., $990.35
ADOS-2 Equip. & Training, $8,945.90
“Help Belts” Special Education, $760.00
Incentives- Special Education, $182.13 (Hanlon Fund)
Foot Swings-Special Education, $4,000.00 (Hanlon Fund)
Annual Subsidy High School Musical, $10,000.00
ERO-SCAN Special Education, $5,100.00
New Classroom Atlases, $853.71
Tables-Outdoor lunch/classes, $10,000.00
Middle School and Special Needs scooters, $987.00

Three of the grants totaling $5,182.13 were specifically chosen for funding out of the Hanlon Fund honoring the memory of Thomas Tappen “Tap” Hanlon (1964-2014), a 1984 BHS grad.

Donations totaling $3,295 were accepted and approved from: McDonalds (Robotics); Boys Basketball Parents, Volleyball Parents, Wrestling Parents (Athletics Coolers); Little Rocks Football Boosters and Minutemen.

The Board agreed with the superintendent’s recommendation and approved establishing Barnesville Jr. High Softball Club. Volunteer coaches will be vetted and approved by the board. A similar club was established for junior high baseball players in 2022, Superintendent Micah Fuchs noted.

Following a presentation by Heidi Velas, pre-school instructor who is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree, the board approved establishing a 7^th-8^th grade level initiative called Empower ED, an effort focused on helping students with mental health issues, communications and coping skills. To prepare for the role, Velas has shadowed the Tom Porter, guidance counselor, during the fall term.

The following Purchase Orders and Agreements were approved:

PO payment of $69,000 to Nutrition Group for November cafeteria supplies and services
Agreement with the East Ohio Education Service Center for Tax Valuation Services Agreement costing $4,000
PO payment for 2025 Ohio Schools council Bonefish subscription of $3,835.00
PO payment of 44,152.92 for Zonar for GPS subscription
PO payment to the Ohio School Boards Association for annual membership $6,038.00

Personnel

Approved the 2025-2027 Administrative Salary Schedule
Approved supplemental contract with Brian Grear as boys’ assistant track coach
Non-renewed 15l fall sports supplemental contacts “effective at the completion of duties”.
Hired Lisa Snodgrass and Kaylee Graham as substitutes for multiple support staff positions
Approved the retirement of second grade teacher Kim Lewis effective May 27, 2025

Travel

Approved the following overnight trips:
Senior Class trip to Camelback Resort in Tannersville, Pa on March 5-7, 2025. This measure was approved on a 4-1 vote with board member Ed Eberhart opposed
FFA members to participate in t he “FFA Lock In” at Caldwell February 22-23, 2025
FFA members to attend the Ohio Convention in Columbus April 30 – May 2, 2025

Near the end of the meeting, members elected Ed Eberhart to the position of President Pro-Tem to preside over the organizational meeting in January. Eberhart abstained from the vote.

The Board’s Administrative 2025 Organizational Meeting will take place Thursday, January 9 at 5:15 in the Middle School Cafetorium. The election of officers for the year will take place during this meeting. The regular January Board meeting will follow.