Board hears student solutions
Anti-bullying essays read during meeting
Photo by ALLISON WOOD Paul Abbott (right), a second-grader, reads his winning letter to Baldwin about how to help a new boy at school.
YORK TOWNSHIP – While waiting for the polls to close on election day Nov. 8, the Buckeye School Board heard from students on bullying solutions and approved an assessment of district buildings.
Buckeye Primary Principal Dawn Hartwell and counselor Vicki Ludwig told the board about “Baldwin,” which is part of the school’s anti-bullying program. Baldwin, a puppet who was a “new” student to the school last year, sometimes has problems with his friends and asks students what he should do.
Each month, a new Baldwin video is presented to students with a new conflict, with the students writing letters in response. Recently, Baldwin noticed a new student had nobody to sit with at lunch or play with at recess. He was asking how he could help.
“I’m amazed at how many good suggestions we get from the kids,” Ludwig said. “Kids are great problem-solvers.”
Several of the student winners got to read their winning letters.
Second-grader Paul Abbott said “you need to find him and you need to sit by him and introduce yourself.” He also suggested Baldwin share one of his candy corn treats with the boy and go play with him on the playground.
Julie Dakdouk, a third-grader, also suggested Baldwin tell his friends to also be his friend and go play with him.
“Always remember to do what you think and not what other people think,” she said.
Ron Blue, a mental health counselor with Alternative Paths, briefly spoke and said he works in the district helping students as part of a three-year grant with the United Way. The grants expires next year and he hopes it is renewed. In addition, Cloverleaf Schools also has a counselor three days a week.
Blue said he has served more students each year and is starting to get students coming to him themselves without being referred.
After the presentations, the board approved a resolution to receive a free building assessment of the junior high building by the Ohio School Facilities Commission. Superintendent Kent Morgan said the assessment would look at long-term needs and see whether an addition or new building should be constructed in the future.
Board President Ken Barco said there is no assumption of a building project currently, but the assessment will give the district a baseline to work from.
The board also approved purchasing cameras to install in 16 school buses at a cost of $38,000.
The district’s renewal levy on the ballot passed easily later that evening with 58 percent voting in favor of it, according to unofficial results from the Medina County Board of Elections.
The board will next meet Tuesday, Nov. 29 to discuss the district’s strategic plan and hear an update on the athletic department from the athletic director.
Students of the month for October were introduced and included Samantha Ponomarenko and Corey Thiergartner at the high school, Casey Cash at the junior high, Phoenix Johnson at the intermediate school and Cael Miller at the primary school.
Buckeye Primary Principal Dawn Hartwell and counselor Vicki Ludwig told the board about “Baldwin,” which is part of the school’s anti-bullying program. Baldwin, a puppet who was a “new” student to the school last year, sometimes has problems with his friends and asks students what he should do.
Each month, a new Baldwin video is presented to students with a new conflict, with the students writing letters in response. Recently, Baldwin noticed a new student had nobody to sit with at lunch or play with at recess. He was asking how he could help.
“I’m amazed at how many good suggestions we get from the kids,” Ludwig said. “Kids are great problem-solvers.”
Several of the student winners got to read their winning letters.
Second-grader Paul Abbott said “you need to find him and you need to sit by him and introduce yourself.” He also suggested Baldwin share one of his candy corn treats with the boy and go play with him on the playground.
Julie Dakdouk, a third-grader, also suggested Baldwin tell his friends to also be his friend and go play with him.
“Always remember to do what you think and not what other people think,” she said.
Ron Blue, a mental health counselor with Alternative Paths, briefly spoke and said he works in the district helping students as part of a three-year grant with the United Way. The grants expires next year and he hopes it is renewed. In addition, Cloverleaf Schools also has a counselor three days a week.
Blue said he has served more students each year and is starting to get students coming to him themselves without being referred.
After the presentations, the board approved a resolution to receive a free building assessment of the junior high building by the Ohio School Facilities Commission. Superintendent Kent Morgan said the assessment would look at long-term needs and see whether an addition or new building should be constructed in the future.
Board President Ken Barco said there is no assumption of a building project currently, but the assessment will give the district a baseline to work from.
The board also approved purchasing cameras to install in 16 school buses at a cost of $38,000.
The district’s renewal levy on the ballot passed easily later that evening with 58 percent voting in favor of it, according to unofficial results from the Medina County Board of Elections.
The board will next meet Tuesday, Nov. 29 to discuss the district’s strategic plan and hear an update on the athletic department from the athletic director.
Students of the month for October were introduced and included Samantha Ponomarenko and Corey Thiergartner at the high school, Casey Cash at the junior high, Phoenix Johnson at the intermediate school and Cael Miller at the primary school.