The regular meeting for the Continental School Board was held at 6:00 p.m. on April 16, in the administrative office. The meeting 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 are being recognized as February “Students of the Month”:
Elementary: Aurora Vogel, Claire Homier
Junior High/High School: Britten Smith
Aurora Vogel is a second grade student at Continental Elementary and the daughter of Scott and Chelsi Vogel.
Claire Homier is a sixth grade student at Continental Elementary and the daughter of Ben and Casey Homier.
Britten Smith is a senior at Continental High School and the daughter of Joe and Lynn Smith.
Congratulations to the following students who were selected as January “Artists of the Month”:
Elementary: Ella Sigler
Junior High/High School: Maeci Dockery
Ella Sigler is a third grader at Continental Elementary and the daughter of Todd and Ashley Sigler. Her artwork titled “Continental Fire Station” will be displayed in the administrative office.
Maeci Dockery is a freshman and the daughter of Isaac and Brittany Dockery. Her artwork titled
“Literally Gold Fish” will be displayed in the administration office.
Principal Reports:
Mrs. Tracy Potts, Elementary Principal, reported:
•Kindergarten screening was a success. Projected kindergarten enrollment including Kinderstart is 49.
•ELA state assessments are finished. Math assessments will be administered after Easter break.
•The third-grade teachers and students would like to thank the Putnam County Extension Office along with Ruth Gerding for making Farm Safety available to students.
•The Book Fair ends tomorrow. We used a new company this year called Literati.
•Upcoming dates:
•Apr. 18 Easter break
•Apr. 23 3rd math and 5th Science Assessment
Kindergarten Field Trip to Imagination Station
•Apr. 24 3rd math and 5th Science Assessment
•Apr. 28 End of year Dibels
5th Grade Math Assessment
•Apr. 29 4th Grade Math and 5th Grade Math Assessments
•Apr. 30 6th Grade Math Assessment
•May 1 4th Grade Math and 6th Grade Math Assessment
2nd Grade to Imagination Station
•May 2 9:00 am – Career Day grades 3-6
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Art Show
•May 5-9 Teacher Appreciation Week
6th grade Project Respect
•May 5 1:30 pm & 7:00 pm – K-2 Spring Show & 5th/6th Grade Band Performance
•May 6 Safety City – Kindergarten
4th Grade to Grand Rapids
•May 7 1st Grade Field Trip to the Fort Wayne Zoo
•May 13 3rd Grade to Sauders
Mr. Tim Eding, JH/HS Principal, reported:
•State Testing is underway. ELA and Social Studies testing will be finished tomorrow; Math and Science will be done next week.
•On Friday, April 25th, we will be having our 4th quarter house time. The focus for this quarter will be on careers and resume building.
•Our newly formed Garden Club will be in the community on the afternoon of Friday, April 25th doing a little Community Cleanup in celebration of Earth Day.
•The JH/HS Spring Band & Choir Concert will be on Monday, April 28 at 7:00 pm in the Auditorium.
•Prom is right around the corner! The annual Jr/Sr Prom will be on Saturday, May 3rd. The event will begin at 5:30 pm with valet parking at the Legion, then the Grand March, Dinner, and Dancing will follow until 10:00 pm. The Junior Class parents are sponsoring Post Prom, which will be at the school from 11:00 pm to 2:30 am.
•The 6th graders will be coming over the JH/HS building on May 6th for a tour and a Q&A session with current JH students.
•We have tentatively scheduled our 4th quarter reward day for May 7th. More info TBD.
•The Seniors will be going to Cedar Point on May 8th.
•The Academic Awards Assembly will be on Friday, May 9th at 1:30 pm in the Auditorium.
•Senior Exams are May 13th and 14th. May 14th is the last day the Seniors will be in the building and the deadline for all coursework, fines, fees, etc that must be taken care of before graduation.
•Graduation is Sunday, May 18th at 2:30 pm in the HS Gym.
Treasurer’s Report:
The Board was updated on the District’s financial report, which included investments, cash reconciliation, and the Board spending plan.
The Board:
•approved the following donations:
$100 from Mike and Pam Jones to Band/Music fund.
•approved the following FY25 Appropriation changes:
Fund 070 Projects – Increase by $600,000
Fund 200 Student Activities – Increase by $4703.19
Fund 300 Athletic – Increase by $13,000
•approved the following FY25 Certificate of Estimated Resources changes:
Fund 070 Projects – Increase by $600,000
Fund 200 Student Activities – Increase by $4703.19
Fund 300 Athletic – Increase by $13,000
Policy:
The Board:
•heard the second reading on the following NEOLA policies:
0131.1 Technical Corrections
0171 Review of Policy
1422.01 Drug-Free Workplace
2260.02 Single Gender Classes and Activities
2265 Protections of Individual Beliefs, Affiliations, Ideals, or Principles of Political Movements and Ideology
2271 College Credit Plus Program
2340 Field and Other District-Sponsored Trips
2430.02 Participation of Community/Stem School Students in Extra-Curricular Activities
2431 Interscholastic Athletics
2460 Special Education
5113 Inter-District Open Enrollment
5131 Student Transfers
5136.01 Electronic Equipment
5223 Released Time for Religious Instruction
5330 Use of Medications
5350 Student Health, Well-Being, and Suicide Prevention
5460 Graduation Requirements
5610 Removal, Suspension, Expulsion, and Permanent Exclusion of Students
5751 Parental Status of Students
5780.01 Parents’ Bill of Rights
6151 Bad Checks
6460 Vendor Relations
7421 Restrooms, Locker Rooms, Shower Rooms, and Changing Rooms
7440.01 Video Surveillance and Electronic Monitoring
8142 Criminal History Record Check for Contracted School Services
8452 Automated External Defibrillators (AED)
8500 Food Services
Superintendent’s Report:
The board:
•heard the transportation report.
•congratulated Mrs. Sharon Siebeneck, 3rd grade teacher at Continental Elementary who applied for an Association of American Educators Foundation (AAEF) classroom grant to fund the purchase of an egg incubator. Mrs. Siebeneck was selected as a recipient of a Spring 2025 AAEF Grant!
VANTAGE REPORT
•Robin Etter gave the Vantage Career Center report.
SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMENDATIONS
The Board:
•approved the tentative list of seniors (38) that will graduate May 18, 2025 pending passage of all state and local requirements. See attachment.
•approved the out of state 1st Grade field trip to the Ft. Wayne Zoo on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Personnel and Other Recommendations:
The Board:
•approved the following certified teaching contracts:
One Year Renewal: Allison Gilliland, Spencer Ordway, Brianna Osterhage, Jacob Palte
Two Year: Ruth Wenzinger
Two Year Renewal: Summer Douglass, Gage Hoehne, Katie Meyer, Tessa Noirot
Three Year Renewal: Chelsea Manon, Allison Schmidt
Continuing: Katelyn Dendinger
Approved the following classified contracts:
Two-Year Limited (1): Jami Sullivan, Tammy Makara, Loretta Quiqley, Sarah Llewellyn
Two-Year Limited (2): Christina Bartley
Two-Year Limited (3): Jessica Vennekotter
Continuing: Kelly Tegenkamp
Appoved the following supplementals for the 2025-2026 school year, pending proper certification and satisfactory background checks if applicable. These contracts will be voided if the sport is unable to take place.
School Play Director Justin Etter
School Play Assistant Director Gage Hoehne
Competition Summer Band Gage Hoehne
Varsity Volleyball Allison Schmidt
Reserve Volleyball Erin Schmidt
7th Grade Volleyball Macie Codes
Assistant Girls Soccer Leva Aguirre
Varsity Boys Soccer Dalton Bradford
Co-High School Cheerleader Advisor Kelly Tegenkamp
Co-High School Cheerleader Advisor Jami Sullivan
JH Cheerleader Advisor Tiffany Dawson
Varsity Boys Basketball Scott Keck
Reserve Boys Basketball Tim Vogt
Assistant Varsity Boys Basketball Nathan Schmidt
8th Grade Boys Basketball Ryan Keck
7th Grade Boys Basketball Nick Keck
Varsity Girls Basketball Damon Schmidt
Reserve Girls Basketball Johnathan Spitnale
Assistant Varsity Girls Basketball Jessica Vennekotter
7th Grade Girls Basketball Lindsey Miller
8th Grade Girls Basketball Sarah Donaldson
Pep Band Gage Hoehne
Reading Specialist Terri Schlegel
Summer Weight Room Coordinator Toby Bidlack
Varsity Girls Soccer Toby Bidlack
•approved the following volunteer assistant coaches, pending proper certification and background checks:
Tessa Noirot, Girls Soccer
Tia Vogt, High School Volleyball
Rob Zimmerman, High School Boys Basketball
•approved the resignation of High School Integrated Math Teacher, Brian Badenhop.
•employed Dalton Bradford as a High School Integrated Math Teacher and issue him a one-year limited contract, pending proper certification and satisfactory background checks, effective August 14, 2025 at BA Step 7, pending verification, for the 2025-2026 school year.
•heard the resolution for Elementary Principal, Mrs. Tracy Potts to begin the retire/rehire process.
•went into executive session per ORC 121.22, to discuss personnel.
Time In: 7:09 Time Out: 8:16
The next regular Board meeting will be May 21 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.
