Brimfield fills out school board with Coyle

By JOHN A. BALLENTINE
For The Weekly Post

BRIMFIELD – The Brimfield Board of Education approved its newest member to complete a seven-person board. Brimfield’s Lauren Coyle took the oath of office June 16 and joins President Steve Updyke, Mark Bell, Brent Graham, Patrick Meyer, Todd Johnson and Jason Snyder on the board.

The board then ran through a series of agenda items by first approving a contract with Heinz Transportation to provide buses for the school district for the 2021-22 school year. According to school superintendent Tony Shinall, this represents “a six percent increase on the base” cost.

Second, registration fees for the 2021-22 school year were approved. Grade School fees are: K-4 $55; 5-6 $65; 7 is $75 and 8 is $85. A tech fee for 5-8 is $50. High School fees: 9-12 book/locker $95; family consumer science $20; art $20; agriculture $25; dual credit $25; science lab fees $20; and a tech fee is $50.

Class dues are $10 for freshmen and sophomores; $20 for juniors and seniors; driver’s education (behind the wheel) $75 and summer $250. Extracurricular fees: First activity/sport $40 and the maximum is $75. ICC fees are subject to ICC.

Other approvals were: Non-certified salaries; $45,909 for Health/Life Safety work at the Grade School; $14,975 for the High School building’s roof repair; and the high school girls’ basketball team’s overnight trip to Wisconsin on July 11-14.

In personnel, the board approved: the resignation of Lyndsey Forney as a grade school cafeteria employee; the hiring of Lyndsey Forney, Joanna Fox and Ryan Gilles as grade school paraprofessionals; the hiring of Josh McKown as 8th grade boys’ basketball coach; and hiring Jaden Shoff for Junior High Cheerleading.

In his report President Steve Updyke thanked the administration “for a great year, last year” during the Covid pandemic and the effort that they put forth to keep the school functional and have in-person attendance by students.

Shinall praised the Class of 2021 for completing its senior year in a “dignified manner.” He thanked the custodians and summer maintenance workers for the work completed thus far in preparing the schools for the upcoming school year.

Contractors have removed the grade school bleachers in May and will install new bleachers in July. Walgreen’s held a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for community members ages 12 and up with the second dose scheduled for July 7.