The regular meeting for the Continental School Board was held at 6:00 p.m. on March 19th, 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 School: Kylee Davis, Lindin Basinger
Junior High/High School: Gracie Fuller
Kylee Davis is a third grade student at Continental Elementary and the daughter of Paul and Desiree Davis.
Lindin Basinger is a sixth grade student at Continental Elementary and the son of Calvin and Lindsay Basinger.
Gracie Fuller is a senior at Continental High School and the daughter of Brad and Bobbie Fuller.
Congratulations to the following students who were selected as January “Artists of the Month”:
Elementary School: Henry Johnston
Junior High/High School: Breece Prowant
Henry Johnston is a first grader at Continental Elementary and the son of Andy and Lisa Johnston. His artwork titled “Finn and the Lucky Rainbow” will be displayed in the administrative office.
Breece Prowant is a junior at Continental High School and the daughter of Cory and Denae Prowant. Her artwork titled “Flourishing Through Growth” will be displayed in the administrative office.
Principal Reports:
Mrs. Tracy Potts, Elementary Principal, reported:
•3rd Quarter Reward Outing: 3/21 3-6 will go skating and K-2 will do activities at the school.
•State testing starts on Wednesday, April 2.
•Book Fair: April 14-18. We are using a new company this year called Literati.
•Parents of Pirates: The elementary staff would like to thank the POP for providing the Diversity Circus assembly for Right to Read Week.
•Art Show
•Upcoming dates:
•Mar. 28 – 12:30 pm – 3rd Grade RealEyes
•Apr. 1 & 4 – Dental Outreach
•Apr. 1-4 – 2nd grade swim
•Apr. 2 & 3 – 6th ELA
•Apr. 7 & 8 – 3rd ELA
•Apr. 9 & 10 – 4th ELA
•Apr. 9 – Farm Safety
•Apr. 11 – Kindergarten Screening
– 4th Quarter Midterm
Mr. Tim Eding, JH/HS Principal, reported:
•Congratulations to all of our talented musicians and artists that participated in the Putnam County Art Show a couple of weeks ago. Thank you to Mr. Hoehne and Mr. Palte for their extra efforts to make that weekend a success!
•Over 140 students earned the privilege to attend the 3rd quarter reward outing at the Putnam County YMCA tomorrow.
•The 8th graders will be taking a field trip to NWSCC to participate in their STEM day on Friday.
•Good luck the cast and crew of the Continental Drama Department as they present Godspeed this weekend. Showtimes are 7:00 pm on Friday & Saturday and 2:30 pm on Sunday.
•The Band & Choir will be taking a field trip to the LaComedia dinner theater next Thursday.
•The Junior Class Job Shadow day is scheduled for April 2nd. All Juniors are required to job shadow in a career they are interested in to help them decide future goals and careers.
•Mr. Schmidt will be taking 7 students to the National Robotics Challenge in Marion from April 3-5.
•The Robotics team had a great showing at BGSU on February 22nd. They came back with multiple awards:
•1st place in combat robot division
•1st place in the sumo bot division
•1st place in the ant-weight robot division
•the ingenuity award for their rescue bot
•the MacGyver award for their work in repairing robots on the fly and returning them to competition
•The students in our Government classes will be attending the Real Money/Real World Simulation at OGHS sponsored by the Ag-Extension Office and Superior Credit union on April 9th.
•State-mandated End of Course testing will take place from April 14-25.
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 transfers
•$20,000 from the 001 General Fund to the 006 Cafeteria Fund
•$15,788.96 from the 001 General Fund to 019 Severance Fund
•approved the following appropriation/budget changes:
•Increase appropriations of Fund 572 by $30,222.30
•Increase appropriations of Fund 019 by $7,788.96
•approved Certificate of Estimated Resources fiscal year 2025 changes:
•Increase Fund 572 by $30,222.30.
•approved the following donations:
•$125 from Blue and Gold Club to the Athletic Department
•$1,800 from Continental Baseball and Softball Club to the Athletic Department
•$12,845.76 from Irene Casteel Trust
•$330.12 Staff donations in lieu of receiving service award pins
Policy:
The Board:
•heard the first 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
•rescinded Resolution 27-25 that was adopted at the February 19, 2025 Board of Education meeting. It was replaced with updated Resolution to Adopt Special Education Model Policies and Procedures.
Superintendent’s Report:
The board:
•heard the transportation report.
•heard third grade student, Kate VanHam’s artwork was selected as one of the top 9 in the 3rd-5th grade category in this year’s Ohio Youth Art Show. Her piece was the only artwork from Northwest Ohio chosen for this honor. Out of the 127 artworks displayed in the Youth Art Month (YAM) Show at Riverside Methodist Hospital, only 30 were selected by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) to be exhibited at their offices until April 1st—and Kate’s was one of them!
•heard that eight Continental Elementary students’ art work will be showcased at the Northwest Ohio Youth Art Month Show at the Heart Gallery and Studios in Toledo. Congratulations to the following students: Hadley Morgan, Briggs Noffsinger, Layne Schmidt, Bexley Baughman, Mason Ordway, Evie Llewellyn, Crystal Antonie, and Olivia Diamond.
VANTAGE REPORT
•Robin Etter gave the Vantage Career Center report.
POINTS OF INFORMATION
The Board:
•heard the following upcoming dates and information:
•The 47th Annual Vantage Alumni Hall of Fame Induction and All Boards Dinner will be on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 6:00 in the Vantage Commons.
•Kindergarten Screening will be held on Friday, April 11, 2025.
•Thursday, April 17, 2025 will be used as a make-up day.
•Monday, April 21, 2025 will be used as a make-up day.
•Graduation will be held on Sunday, May 18, 2025.
SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMENDATIONS
The Board:
•approved an overnight trip for Mr. Nathan Schmidt and the robotics team to Marion, Ohio on Thursday, April 3 through Saturday, April 5, 2025 for the National Robotics Challenge.
•approved the proposal from Engineered Systems to re-roof the 1929 building and the auditorium in the amount of $200,695.35 using Ohio School Council pricing.
Personnel and Other Recommendations:
The Board:
•non-renewed the following 2024-2025 supplemental contracts:
Toby Bidlack Summer Weight Room Coordinator
Justin Etter School Play Director
Gage Hoehne School Play Asst Director
Brian Badenhop Fall Concessions
Gage Hoehne Non-Competition Summer Band
Allison Schmidt Varsity Volleyball
Erin Schmidt Reserve Volleyball
Macie Cordes 7th Grade Volleyball
Toby Bidlack Varsity Girls Soccer
Leva Aguirre Asst Girls Soccer
Dalton Bradford JV Boys Soccer
Kelly Tegenkamp Co-HS Cheerleader Adv
Jami Sullivan Co-HS Cheerleader Adv
Tiffany Dawson JH Cheerleader Adv
Scott Keck Varsity Boys Basketball
Nathan Schmidt Var Asst Boys Basketball
Timothy Vogt Reserve Boys Basketball
Damon Schmidt Varsity Girls Basketball
Jessica Vennekotter Varsity Asst Girls Basketball
Johnathan Spitnale Reserve Girls Basketball
Ryan Keck 7th Grade Boys Basketball
Nick Keck 8th Grade Boys Basketball
Sarah Donaldson 8th Grade Girls Basketball
Lindsey Miller 7th Grade Girls Basketball
Gage Hoehne Pep Band
Brian Badenhop Winter Concessions Manager
•employed Laurel Alvarado as a K-12 Vocal Music Teacher and issue her a one-year limited contract, pending proper certification and satisfactory background checks, effective August 14, 2025 at BA+150 Step 5, pending verification, for the 2025-2026 school year.
•approved the March 2025 Putnam County substitute teacher list, provided by the Putnam County ESC.
•approved the following Pupil Activity Contract for the 2024-2025 school year, pending proper certification and background checks: See attachment
•KC Knowles, Varsity Assistant Baseball Coach
•approved the following volunteers for the 2025 spring season, pending proper certification and
background checks:
•Katie Keller, Volunteer Track Coach
•approved the following resignations and post the positions as vacant:
•Brian Stegbauer, Varsity Boys Soccer.
•Madelyn Potts, 8th Grade Volleyball.
•Matt Cordes, Assistant Baseball Coach.
•approved Tammy Rayle as a substitute bus driver and substitute cafeteria worker pending proper certification, license, and background checks.
•approved April 17, 2025 as a dock day for first grade teacher Pam Retcher.
•approved April 17, 2025 as a dock day for third grade teacher Amanda Gray.
•went into executive session per ORC 121.22, to discuss personnel contracts.
Time In: 6:59 Time Out: 9:16
The next regular Board meeting will be April 16th at 6:00 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 9:17 p.m.
