Art teacher Foy receives countywide award
Treasurer Chambers’ contract approved
Photo by ALLISON WOOD Bobbie Foy, MHS art teacher, received the Homer B. Smith Teacher of Excellence Award at the April 17 board meeting.
MEDINA – Medina High School art teacher Bobbie Foy was recognized by the Educational Service Center of Medina County’s with the Homer B. Smith Teacher of Excellence Award during the April 17 Medina School Board meeting.
This award is given to one teacher a year in the county; ESC Superintendent Will Koran said this is the first time it has been given to Medina Schools since the honor was open up to all county districts a few years ago. Administrators of member districts are allowed to submit nominations to the ESC.
As part of her prize, Foy received a plaque, engraved silver mug and $1,500 gift certificate to be used towards a professional conference within the next year.
“We’re not necessarily great teachers, we have great students; I have awesome, awesome students,” she said.
Superintendent Aaron Sable said Foy is a great teacher who encourages and engages her students’ passion for art.
“Every time I walk pass her classroom, I find myself pulled into it,” he said.
Smith, who was in attendance, is a former superintendent of the ESC and is the 34th year the award has been granted.
Treasurer’s contract
The board approved a three-year contract for Treasurer Dave Chambers after previously informing him that they were interested in renewing his contract.
Chambers will be paid $110,385 a year starting Aug. 1; he will receive a 2 percent raise in his second year and a 1 percent raise in his third year.
The contract also states the district will pay for his portion of his contribution to the School Employees Retirement System and pay him a $2,000 annuity per year for residing in the school district.
Chambers’ new contract now includes 13 additional days which had previously been paid out separately.
Board President Doug Eastwood said he is happy to see Chambers continuing on with the district.
“We’re very pleased with Dave’s performance ... he is striving to find way to improve where there is glitches,” Eastwood said. “We’re very pleased he will be with us for another three years.”
Chambers was first appointed in 2014.
Garfield Elementary presentation
Several Garfield Elementary fourth-graders told the board about their field trip to John Carroll University, where they got the chance to eat in the cafeteria, tour a dorm and play games in the gymnasium that helped build teamwork.
“They told us you should have teamwork in class, too,” one student said.
Principal Karen McGinty, a John Carroll alum, said she thinks it is important to take younger students to a college campus to encourage them to think about college as an option.
“It’s such as uplifting field trip,” she said.
Tax abatement agreement
The board voted to approve a tax abatement agreement for a proposed development on the southwest side of the Interstate 71 and state Route 18 interchange in Montville Township. In the agreement, there will be a 50 percent abatement of the real estate taxes on the project for five years, 35 percent of the taxes for five more years, and 25 percent of the taxes for the final five years of the agreement.
The district would receive a $2,000 annual donation to the Medina City Schools Foundation along with a reduced rate of tax revenue.
The $7.7 million development proposed by Montville Investors LLC would include a GetGo gas station in one building and three other retail shops in a second building. Two of those shops are expected to house a Starbucks coffee shop and a Chipotle restaurant. The land is currently being cleared.
The agreement has already been approved by Montville Township Trustees and is also must be approved by Medina County Commissioners.
Service agreement
The board also approved a one-year service agreement with Licking Area Computer Association for IT support services; however, Sable said he is interested in possibly switching over to NEOnet, a local company serving most area districts.
In addition to serving several larger school districts, NEOnet leaders are reportedly considering opening an office in Medina, Sable said, but this is not a done deal.
This award is given to one teacher a year in the county; ESC Superintendent Will Koran said this is the first time it has been given to Medina Schools since the honor was open up to all county districts a few years ago. Administrators of member districts are allowed to submit nominations to the ESC.
As part of her prize, Foy received a plaque, engraved silver mug and $1,500 gift certificate to be used towards a professional conference within the next year.
“We’re not necessarily great teachers, we have great students; I have awesome, awesome students,” she said.
Superintendent Aaron Sable said Foy is a great teacher who encourages and engages her students’ passion for art.
“Every time I walk pass her classroom, I find myself pulled into it,” he said.
Smith, who was in attendance, is a former superintendent of the ESC and is the 34th year the award has been granted.
Treasurer’s contract
The board approved a three-year contract for Treasurer Dave Chambers after previously informing him that they were interested in renewing his contract.
Chambers will be paid $110,385 a year starting Aug. 1; he will receive a 2 percent raise in his second year and a 1 percent raise in his third year.
The contract also states the district will pay for his portion of his contribution to the School Employees Retirement System and pay him a $2,000 annuity per year for residing in the school district.
Chambers’ new contract now includes 13 additional days which had previously been paid out separately.
Board President Doug Eastwood said he is happy to see Chambers continuing on with the district.
“We’re very pleased with Dave’s performance ... he is striving to find way to improve where there is glitches,” Eastwood said. “We’re very pleased he will be with us for another three years.”
Chambers was first appointed in 2014.
Garfield Elementary presentation
Several Garfield Elementary fourth-graders told the board about their field trip to John Carroll University, where they got the chance to eat in the cafeteria, tour a dorm and play games in the gymnasium that helped build teamwork.
“They told us you should have teamwork in class, too,” one student said.
Principal Karen McGinty, a John Carroll alum, said she thinks it is important to take younger students to a college campus to encourage them to think about college as an option.
“It’s such as uplifting field trip,” she said.
Tax abatement agreement
The board voted to approve a tax abatement agreement for a proposed development on the southwest side of the Interstate 71 and state Route 18 interchange in Montville Township. In the agreement, there will be a 50 percent abatement of the real estate taxes on the project for five years, 35 percent of the taxes for five more years, and 25 percent of the taxes for the final five years of the agreement.
The district would receive a $2,000 annual donation to the Medina City Schools Foundation along with a reduced rate of tax revenue.
The $7.7 million development proposed by Montville Investors LLC would include a GetGo gas station in one building and three other retail shops in a second building. Two of those shops are expected to house a Starbucks coffee shop and a Chipotle restaurant. The land is currently being cleared.
The agreement has already been approved by Montville Township Trustees and is also must be approved by Medina County Commissioners.
Service agreement
The board also approved a one-year service agreement with Licking Area Computer Association for IT support services; however, Sable said he is interested in possibly switching over to NEOnet, a local company serving most area districts.
In addition to serving several larger school districts, NEOnet leaders are reportedly considering opening an office in Medina, Sable said, but this is not a done deal.