Thursday, October 20th, 2022
Members OK policy updates for HB 99
By Erin Gardner
NEW BREMEN - School board members at Wednesday night's regular meeting approved policy updates to comply with recent changes in law and district practices.
Several weapons policy updates "are to comply with House Bill 99," superintendent Jason Schrader said. "This would allow the district to arm staff if the school board would choose to do so in the future. There would be some other additional steps in place such as background checks, you have to provide written authorization, you have to let the public know, and those you would choose to arm would also have to go through a curriculum and training program. This is just allowing that option in the future."
Schrader said board members haven't discussed the bill to arm teachers and currently has no plans to do so.
House Bill 99, signed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on June 13, requires up to 24 hours of training before an employee can be armed, and up to eight hours of annual training. The training programs must be approved by the Ohio School Safety Center, and DeWine announced he's ordering the center to require the maximum 24 hours of initial training and the maximum eight hours of annual training.
Schools can provide additional training if they wish, DeWine said.
"It is important to emphasize that the bill does not mandate the arming of school staff members but leaves the decision entirely to local school boards, which have the best understanding of the needs of their individual districts," reads a news release from DeWine's office.
The governor said his preference remains that school districts hire armed school resource officers, but said the law is another tool for districts that want to protect children. He emphasized that it's optional, not a requirement.
Board members also learned the district will move some equipment and buses into the new garage.
The next step to complete the project is to have Moeller Door & Window install 10 insulated bus garage doors. The entire process, including installation, will cost $48,000 and the district will pay for it through the general fund.
Board members in May awarded a $430,739 contract to Luginbill Construction, Rockford, to build a bus maintenance facility. The 54-foot-by-190-foot building will be paid for with dollars left over from the K-6 building project and an audit, according to school officials.
The district's buses currently are parked outside, and the new building will protect them from the weather.
The district has 10 buses in its fleet and six regular bus route drivers with additional substitutes on the payroll. The facility will include eleven bus spaces.
In other business, board members learned the chiller's motor in the tech room, which houses the servers, has broken. The district will have to install a backup unit to maintain the room's temperature.
Members accepted the resignation of music department's accompanist Sharon Chaney and approved hiring Amanda Krieg as a substitute custodian. Members also approved adjusting custodial stipends, ticket taker stipends and custodial charges for facility rental fees.
The next school board meeting is 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Komminsk Center.
