The regular meeting for the Continental School Board was held at 6:00pm on April 19, in the administrative office. Themeeting was called to order by Board President Dean Bidlack, who opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Hearing of the Public:
The following Students of the Month were in attendance with their families and recognized:
Brystol Thomsen, Grady Dirr – Elementary
Alyssa Burgei – Junior High/High School
Brystol Thomsen is a third grader at Continental Elementary and the daughter of Sara and Bill Thomsen.
Grady Dirr is a fifth grader at Continental Elementary School and the son of Stacie Cordes and Charlie Dirr.
Alyssa Burgei is a senior at Continental High School and the daughter of Angie and Craig Burgei.
Mrs. Tracy Potts, Elementary Principal, reported:
•Kindergarten screening is complete. 43 children were screened. 13 students have signed up for Kinderstart
(Currently there are 14 students in Kinderstart). Our projected kindergarten enrollment is 57. This is one of
our recent larger classes.
•The ELA state tests will be finished tomorrow.
•Elementary Artist of the Month is Paytin Varner. Paytin is a first grade student and the daughter of Ashley
and Austin Varner. Her watercolor painting entitled “Hoppy the Frog” is currently on display in the
administration office.
•Third grade students learned about farm safety last week when they took a field trip to a farm in Ottawa.
Students learned about poisons, sun exposure, ATV safety, grain entrapment, and other safety
precautions relating to water, electrical, and chemical. The teachers and students would like to thank the
Putnam County Extension Office along with Ruth Gerding for coordinating the event.
•Dyslexia Training Update: Mrs. Terri Schlegel is finishing up her practicum to become a dyslexia specialist.
ELA teachers in grades K-6 will be trained in Orton Gillingham this summer.
•Upcoming events:
Apr. 24 3rd Grade Math Test
Apr. 25 2nd grade to Imagination Station, 4th Grade Math Test
12:45 pm – Elementary Science with High School
Apr. 26 3rd Grade Math Test & 5th Grade Science Test
Apr. 27 4th Grade Math Test & 5th Grade Science Test
May 1 6th Grade Math Test
May 2 5th Grade Math Test
May 3 6th Grade Math Test & 1:30 pm – Safety City (Kdg.)
May 4 5th Grade Math Test
May 5 8:30 am – Career Day
4:00 pm Art Show
May 8 1:30 pm and 7:00 pm – Spring K-2 Program
May 8-12 Right to Read Week
May 16 4th Grade Field Trip, 1st grade Zoo Field Trip
Mr. Tim Eding, JH/HS Principal, reported:
•Updates from Last Month:
a. Tarzan went extremely well! I am always impressed by the talented performers and what they do on
stage and this year was no exception! Congratulations to the cast, crew, musicians, and directors
for a job well done!
b. The Continental Career Day event also went incredibly well! The students really gained a lot from
the event and it was great to see so many successful alumni back in the building talking to our
current students about their careers. Thank you to the staff for all their hard work in pulling off the
event, the students for being so professional and responsible during the event, and the alumni that
gave up their time to share with our students.
•State testing is going well. We should be finished later this week.
•Sophomore Gracie Fuller was named Artist of the Month. Gracie is the daughter of Bobbie and Brad Fuller.
Gracie has a self portrait currently on display in the administration office.
•The Wassenberg Art Center High School Invitational will be ending next week. The following students had
artwork accepted and on display: Reese Knowles, Jonas Galyk, Mya Bishop, Kadence Nolen, Britten Smith,
Madison Rayle, Mallorie Banhart, Gracie Fuller, and Kaitlyn Bidlack.
•The seniors will be going through their First Aid, CPR, and AED training tomorrow morning with Mr. Damon
Schmidt (this is a requirement for all seniors before they graduate).
•The Continental Fire Department is sponsoring a Mock Crash for our 9-12 students this Friday (weather
permitting–rain date is next Friday). We thank the fire department for this important reminder about the
dangers of distracted and impaired driving as we head into prom and graduation season.
•The robotics team and Mr. Nathan Schmidt had a great showing at the National Robotics Challenge in
Marion again this year. The team competed last week in three different categories: Search & Rescue, Sumo,
and Combat.
•Our ASL students will be traveling to Columbus for an ASL immersion day at the Ohio School for the Deaf on
April 27th.
•The annual Jr/Sr Prom is on Saturday, May 6th. The dinner and dance will be held at the Continental
American Legion again this year. Junior parents have planned post prom activities at the Defiance YMCA.
•Mr. Toby Bidlack and Mrs. Erin Schmidt are making plans for a 6th grade “bump-up day” to be held on
May 10th. This is an opportunity for the sixth graders to come over and begin to see what life is like in the
JH/HS building and ask questions/hear testimonials from our current 7th graders.
•The JH/HS Academic Awards Assembly will be on Thursday, May 11th at 1:30pm in the auditorium.
Invitations for the event will be going out soon.
•The seniors are going to Cedar Point on Friday, May 12th.
•The spring band & choir concert is scheduled for Monday, May 15th at 7:00pm in the auditorium.
•Graduation is Sunday, May 21st at 2:30pm in the high school gym.
Treasurer’s Report:
The Board:
•Approved the following donations:
$25.00 from Brad and Bobbie Fuller to the Athletic Department.
•Approved a three-year agreement, effective July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2026, with Julian & Grube for preparation of conforming the District’s financial statements to cash-basis accounting in a format consistent with GASB No. 34.
Superintendent’s Report:
•Robin Etter gave the Vantage Career Center report.
•The transportation report was shared with the Board.
The Board:
•Approved second readings on the following NEOLA policies:
0131.1 Technical Corrections – Revised
1615 Use of Tobacco by Administrators
2114 Meeting State Performance Indicators
2271 College Credit Plus Program
2412 Homebound Instruction Program
3120.09 Volunteers – Rescind
3215 Use of Tobacco by Professional Staff
4120.09 Volunteers – Rescind
4215 Use of Tobacco by Classified Staff
5310 Health Services
5460 Graduation Requirements
5512 Use of Tobacco
5610 Removal, Suspension, Expulsion, and Permanent Exclusion of Students
6325 Procurement – Federal Grants/Funds
7434 Use of Tobacco on School Premises
7540 Technology
7540.01 Technology Privacy
7540.02 Web Accessibility, Content, Apps, and Services
7540.03 Student Network and Internet Acceptable Use and Safety
7540.04 Staff Network and Internet Acceptable Use and Safety
8300 Continuity of Organizational Operations Plan
8305 Information Security
8315 Information Management
8120 Volunteers – Revised/Replacement
8390 Animals on District Property
8400 School Safety
8420 Emergency Situations at Schools
8462 Student Abuse and Neglect
9160 Public Attendance at School Events
9700.01 Advertising and Commercial Activities
•Approved the following incoming kindergarten students as open enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year:
Makena Mox Kindergarten from Ayersville
Adalynn Freeman Kindergarten from Crestview
Brynlee Stallkamp Kindergarten from Defiance
Larkin Vennekotter Kindergarten from Miller City
•Approved the list of seniors (33) that will graduate May 21, 2023, pending passage of all state and local requirements.
•Approved the Exchange of Service Agreement between Ohio State University Lima and Continental Local School.
This agreement is a two-year agreement and for school years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025.
•Accepted the teaching resignation of Kelly Van Ham, kinderstart teacher, effective at the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year.
•Approved the following certified teaching contracts:
One-Year Renewal: Vanessa Da Corte, Sydney Eickholt
Two Year: Summer Douglass, Gage Hoehne, Katie Meyer, Jacob Palte, Tessa Wall, Katie Winkle
Three year: Jenna Warnimont
•Accepted the following classified contracts:
Two-Year: Christina Bartley, Raydean Stark-Pickens
Two-Year Renewal: Sarah Goedde, Jessica Vennekotter, Kelly Tegenkamp
•Approved the April 2023 Putnam County Substitute Teacher List, provided by the Putnam County ESC.
•Approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Continental Board of Education and the Continental
Education Association regarding severance pay.
•The next regular Board meeting will be May 17 at 6:00 pm. The meeting adjourned at 6:51 pm.
