OTSEGO LOCAL SCHOOLS
Superintendent's Weekly Update - April 29, 2022
The Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting this week. Below are the highlights.
Information Items
A. Recognition of Otsego Junior High and High School Students of the Month for April:
6th Grade – Amaurice Rodriguez, Ethan Bechstein; 7th Grade – Addison Bickley, Alex Stennett;
8th Grade – Izzy Diaz, Aiden Matthews; Freshman – Eliana Tobar;
Sophomore – Owen Atkinson; Junior – Emma Gerhardt; Senior – Luke Brewster
B. Food Service Report – Emily Bires
Treasurer’s Financial Reports / Recommendations
A. Approved the Financial Report
B. Approved the appropriation changes
C. Approved the Student Protection Agency to provide Voluntary Student Accident Insurance with Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company for the 2022-2023 school year at no cost to the district
D. Approved all donations to Otsego Local School District
Superintendent Recommendations
A. Approve the list of graduates for the Class of 2022
B. Final reading of the following 2022-2023 Handbooks – Otsego Extended Care, Preschool,
Elementary, Junior High, High School, Athletic Coach’s, and Athletic Code of Conduct
C. First reading of Board Policy revisions
D. Approved the following changes in personnel:
Approve the substitute teacher list as submitted by the Wood County ESC
Resignations:
Debra Carpenter, teacher
Olivia Henderson, teacher
Deb Null, custodian
Michelle Wulff, teacher
Contract revision for Eva Vasher
Athletic Director contract for Justin Slauterbeck
Certified Employees’ Contracts for 2021-2022 School Year:
Megan Rutherford Teacher
2021-2022 Substitute Teacher Contract:
Nicholas Krabill
2021-2022 School Year Volunteers:
Hana Jennings
2022 Summer Technology Interns:
Jason Jones, Logan Zulch
Certified Employees’ Contracts for 2022-2023 School Year:
Continuing:
Gail Warton, Kathryn Word
2-Year Limited:
Rachel Brooker, Rachel Eckel, Elizabeth Gerken, Jenelle Kelley, Kristen Laudick, Cody Lehman,
Chase Welker, Natasha Zsigray
1-Year Limited:
Alix Brahaney, Katie Burris, Olivia Cox, Kelly Frailly, Melody Freeland, Kaitlyn Girona, Kendra Henck, Hannah Kieffer, Natalie Lambert, Adam Lewis, Brittany Lindrup, Haley Macielewicz, Kortni Martin, Anne Miesle, Lauren Miller, Megan Miller, Kayla Phillips, Brittani Reinbolt, Matthew Rohn, Kevin Schaublin, Morgan Smoyer-Battin, Heather Szymanski, Justine Tolles, Andrew Willford, Hank Zeller
Certified Employees’ One-Year Limited Contract for 2022-2023 School Year:
Ashlynn Digby, Intervention Specialist
Delaney Esper, Intervention Specialist
Erica Lehr-Morgan, 5th-grade Teacher
Josh Lindke, Health/PE Teacher
Katlynn Pristas, Intervention Specialist
Richard Roach, Industrial Technology
Rebecca Shields, Band Director
Jenna Teet, 3rd-grade Teacher
Supplemental Contracts for 2022-2023 School Year:
Lisa Austin, EMIS
Josh Lindke, Head Varsity Football Coach
Adam
Otsego Receives another Purple Star Designation
“Purple Star schools are another example of Ohio’s proud tradition of honoring our service men and women,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “As a community, these schools are embracing our military-connected students and their families, providing them with support and resources to meet those families’ unique needs.”
"Congratulations to all of the schools joining the growing list of those across the state who are leaning forward in taking care of Ohio's military youth," said Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr., Ohio adjutant general and commander of the Ohio National Guard. “Supporting our children in the classroom is one of the most important things a school can do to give back to their local military members who have sworn an oath to protect and defend the nation's families."
To meet the requirements for the Purple Star Award, schools must designate a liaison between military-connected students and their families and the school. The liaison works with teachers to support the military-connected students in school and helps to ensure military families and students have access to necessary considerations and resources in the community. The Class of 2022 Purple Star honorees includes schools that host monthly military kids club meetings, professional learning for all educators on the unique considerations for serving military-connected students and schoolwide celebrations honoring military students and families.
“The Purple Star Award recognizes schools that honor and support the unique needs of military-connected youth and their families,” said Siddens. “I applaud these schools and their extraordinary commitment to ensuring students’ success through academic and wraparound supports.”
The announcement of Purple Star Class of 2022 is part of Ohio’s participation in the national celebration of the Month of the Military Child. April was first designated as the Month of the Military Child by the United States Department of Defense in 1986 to increase public knowledge and understanding of the issues surrounding children who have a parent in the military.
Last month, Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Randy Gardner announced the creation of the Collegiate Purple Star Award, which will recognize public and independent colleges and universities in Ohio that are supportive and inclusive of military-connected students.
The Purple Star Advisory Board helps determine school eligibility requirements. A Purple Star School receives the designation for three years, after which the school can apply for renewal of the designation.
Support Drew Vollmar's Eagle Scout Project!
Otsego Athletic Booster Information
Senior Class of 2023 - Click here to purchase a SENIOR AD
Business Ads - CLICK HERE TO ADVERTISE IN THE PROGRAM
Knights Have Your Back Armory Project
Dear Valued Community Member,
When our Otsego children leave school for the weekend, the last thing they should have to worry about is how they are going to get their next meal. Knights Have Your Back was created to provide the Otsego children in need with non-perishable food to take home over the weekends. The food is placed discreetly in each child's backpack every Friday in order to ensure that no Knight ever goes hungry. This program has grown drastically since its development in 2017 and is currently providing food to over 25 Otsego families each week.
For the past five years, Knights Have Your Back has proven to be successful at providing food for our Otsego Knights over the weekends and has supplied more than 4000 bags of food to our Knights in need. But, we now believe we can do even more! There is a need in our community that extends beyond just providing food over the weekends. We are thrilled to introduce the Knights Have Your Back Armory program. The Armory will be a stand alone building located outside of the high school that will provide access to non-perishable foods, hygiene products and other necessities to help make our Knights more successful. This will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure that at any time our Knights need it, they will have access to items that fulfill their basic needs.
In addition, the Armory will continuously be taking private requests from students for items that they may need; for example: a winter coat, gloves, socks, or even a prom ticket. The mission of the Knights Have Your Back Armory is to provide food and resources that each of our Knights deserve. By eliminating hunger and improving the overall well-being, we believe that we can better our community, one Knight at a time.
We have big goals, but we cannot do it alone! Funding of this project will be completed by sponsors like you, along with the labor being completely funded by Penta Career Center students. We couldn’t take care of our Knights without your gracious donations. For more information or to donate, please contact Jessica Vollmar at jvollmar@otsegoknights.org or CLICK HERE TO DONATE and learn more about the project.
Sincerely,
Jessica Vollmar MS, RD, LD
Knights Have Your Back Advisor
Ashton Copeland Memorial Scholarship Fund
Otsego and Weston Food Pantry Information
The Otsego Food Pantry is always willing to help those in need. This service is by appointment only. Please call, text, or email to schedule.
Otsego Food Pantry
c/o Lisa Hatfield
PO Box 261
17700 Beaver Street
Grand Rapids, OH 43522
Phone: 419-830-1051
Email: otsegofoodpantryoh@gmail.com
Housed in the Grand Rapids First Presbyterian Church – Supported by our Community!
Athletics
Basketball/Football Camp
Volleyball Camp
Girls Basketball Camp
https://forms.gle/rYqSiMYuDepKodoC9
This camp is for players entering grades 3rd - 8th grade.
Junior High and High School Athletic Events
Friday, April 29
4:30 - Jh TR @ Elmwood Inv.
4:30 - HS TR (H) Tim Downey Inv.
4:45 - V BB/SB @ Elmwood
4:45 - JV BB (H) Elmwood
4:45 - JV SB @ Maumee
Saturday, April 30
11:00 - V SB @ Wauseon
1:00 - JV SB @ Wauseon
Monday, May 2
4:30 - JH TR (H) Genoa
4:45 - JV BB @ Lake
4:45 - V SB @ Lake
4:45 - JV SB (H) Lake
4:45 - V BB (H) Lake
Tuesday, May 3
4:45 - V BB (H) Rossford
4:45 - JV BB @ Rossford
5:15 - HS TR @ Fostoria
Wednesday, May 4
4:30 - JH TR @ Eastwood
4:45 - JV BB/SB @ Eastwood
4:45 - V BB/SB (H) Eastwood
Thursday, May 5
5:00 - V SB (H) Defiance
5:00 - JV SB @ Oak Harbor
Friday, May 6
4:30 - HS TR @ Findlay Inv.
4:45 - V BB/SB @ Fostoria
4:45 - JV BB/SB (H) Fostoria
Saturday, May 7
11:00 - JV SB (H) Clay
11:00 - JV BB (H) Swanton
1:30 - JV BB (H) Woodmore
2:30 - JV SB @ Woodmore
Monday, May 9
4:15 - JH TR (H) Fostoria/North Baltimore
4:30 - JV TR @ Eastwood
4:45 - JV BB @ Genoa
4:45 - V SB (H) Elmwood
4:45 - V BB (H)) Genoa
Tuesday, May 10
5:00 - V BB/SB @ Van Buren
Wednesday, May 11
4:45 - V BB @ Woodmore
4:45 - JV BB (H) Woodmore
Friday, May 13
4:30 - JH TR @ NBC Championships (Fostoria)
5:00 - JV SB @ Clyde
Saturday, May 14
10:00 - HS TR @ NBC Championships (Fostoria)
11:00 - JV SB @ Whitmer (DH)
Monday, May 15
4:45 - V BB @ Lake
5:00 - JV BB (H) Lake
Safe School Helpline
Dear Parents, Students and Friends,
Recent polls show that parents’ first concern about schools today is their child’s safety. That is my concern as well. Fortunately, the Otsego is very safe. However, no community is immune from the threats of violence and drugs that endanger public schools nationwide.
We are introducing a Safe School Helpline® to help prevent such actions. It is designed to assist you in reporting any wrongdoing that impacts our schools, our students, or our staff – anonymously, so as to protect your privacy. For example, you may wish to report acts of violence, theft, drug or alcohol use, weapons, or sexual harassment.
Just call from a touch-tone phone to 1-800-4-1-VOICE, ext. 359 (418-6423) to leave your information. Or TEXT: 614-426-0240 Then type: TIPS Your message will not be traced, and you will not be identified. The Safe School Helpline® team will transcribe and fax your message to school officials, so appropriate action can be taken.
Thank you for your continued support to provide a better education for all Otsego students.
800-418-6423 (800-4-1-VOICE ext. 359)
TEXT: 614-426-0240
Then type: TIPS
COMMUNITY EVENTS SECTION
Questions, Concerns, Comments, or Rumors
SPONSORS
Otsego Board of Education
President: Brad Anderson banderson.otsego@gmail.com
Vice President: James Harter jameslharter@gmail.com
Board Member: Mark Tolles mdt814@cs.com
Board Member: Jessica Mehl jmehl.jd@gmail.com
Board Member: Gordon Digby gdigby44@gmail.com
Adam Koch, Superintendent
Email: akoch@otsegoknights.org
Website: www.otsegoknights.org
Location: 18505 Tontogany Creek Road, Bowling Green, OH, United States
Phone: 419-823-4381
Twitter: @AdamKoch_Otsego
Lisa Austin, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent/EMIS Coordinator
Email: laustin@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Lauri Dunham, Special Education Director
Email: ldunham@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Stephen Bihary, School Psychologist
Email: sbihary@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Luke Swartz, Technology Director
Email: lswartz@otsegoknights.org
Website: www.otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Katrina Baughman, Elementary Principal
Email: kbaughman@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Twitter: @KBaughman723
Becky Buchman, Assistant Elementary Principal
Email: bbuchman@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Twitter: @buchman_becky
Kevin O'Shea, High School Principal
Email: koshea@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Twitter: @KosheaOHS
Jon Rife, Junior High Principal
Email: jrife@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Twitter: @OJHS_Principal
Tom Ferdig, High School Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Grades 6-12
Email: tferdig@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Eva Vasher, Director of Transportation, Custodial, and Maintenance
Email: evasher@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Emily Bires - Director of Food Service
Email: ebires@otsegoknights.org
Phone: 419-823-4381
Twitter: @Otsego_Cafe