JERRY CITY – The Elmwood Board of Education took action on a number of contract extensions and
retire/rehire requests at its meeting Monday.Robin Reynolds and Katelin Smith, both at the middle
school, were given continuing contracts.Three-year contracts were given to Kile Eichenauer, Kristine
Lotycz and James Slagle, at the high school; Justin Brinkman, at the middle school and high school;
David Malolepszy and Betsy McGory, at the middle school; and Jennifer Eckert and Elaine Podach, at the
elementary.Their contracts go through June 30, 2016.Two-year contracts were given to Morgan Heiss at the
high school; Natalie Genson and Betsy Shiff at the middle school; and Brittany Baightel, Ryan Baightel
and Dianna Hoffman, all at the elementary.Their contracts run through June 30, 2015.The board also
accepted the retiring/rehiring for LuAnn Vanek, district treasurer, and extended her contract through
July 31, 2016; and from Tracey Cole, Diane Reynolds-Miller, Dave Wellman, Brenda Meyer and Michelle St.
Jean, and gave each a one-year teaching contract for 2013-14.The board also:• accepted the resignation
of high school teacher Beth Kuntz.• accepted donations of $5,010 for a timing system at the track and
$1,081 for tent and supplies for girls track, both from the Athletic Boosters; $6,123 for the baseball
team’s spring trip to Myrtle Beach from Royal Summer Baseball; and $6,000 for the softball team trip to
Myrtle Beach from the Lady Royals Dugout Club• agreed to a dual enrollment agreement with Owens
Community College to offer a computer hardware class next year.• heard an appeal from a sixth-grade
student who was given a five-day suspension. After hearing arguments from both Principal Dean Bell, the
student and his family, the board held a 20-minute executive session and decided to uphold the
suspension.The student apparently pushed another student against a wall, causing him to lay injured on
the floor, before walking away. There for four students involved in the altercation, and another also
was disciplined, but Bell would not comment on the action taken. The accused student said he was pushed
from behind, thus pushing the student into the wall."We do need to address some of these discipline
issues before they escalate," King stated. The student "shows a pattern of behavior."King
recommended the student meet with the guidance counselor to discuss issues he’s having in school.