School, church may share exits

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LEES CREEK — There is a prospect that Sabina Elementary School will have an additional exit, which could help traffic congestion and relieve related safety concerns.

Representatives from the Sabina Church of Christ attended the East Clinton school board’s meeting Tuesday, two days after the congregation held a ground-breaking for a new church building on a site right behind the school in Sabina.

The potential new school exit would involve church property, and provide a means of access between the school and South College Street. The curb cut onto College Street would be across from Lewis Avenue, which would give school buses access straight over to State Route 729, said Church of Christ representative Barry Allen.

East Clinton Local Schools Superintendent Eric Magee said he can see benefits for both the community and East Clinton if it can be worked out.

The proposal would also help the church by providing it with a third access — in addition to two entrances on South College Street — via the school’s West Washington Street (routes 22 and 3) driveway.

A third party, who is a private property owner, will also be part of the discussions, said Magee.

Any agreement will need to spell out the various responsibilities like snow removal in writing, said East Clinton Local Schools Board of Education President Linda Compton. That way, as time passes and people come and go, it will clear whether it is the school or the church that’s responsible for something, she said.

Magee said if the proposal works out, a new South College Street access for Sabina Elementary would help the school’s dismissal process and relieve a concern about parking lot safety.

The new church facility is expected to be completed in 10 to 12 months, said Allen.

A piece of playground equipment at the Sabina Elementary campus also was a topic at Tuesday’s meeting. Magee said a wooden structure must be removed from the playground because the Office of Civil Rights has determined the equipment is out of compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations.

The wooden structure, said Magee, must be gone by the start of school in August.

This particular piece of playground equipment reportedly predates the construction of Sabina Elementary, and had been transplanted there from another school playground.

With the loss of this playground structure, school officials will look into the possibility of new equipment with which the elementary children can enjoy during recess. The estimated cost is $25,000 to $35,000, Magee said.

According to East Clinton Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer John B. Stanley, the district’s General Fund revenues surpassed its General Fund expenditures by about $2 million in fiscal year (FY) 2016, which ended June 30.

Total General Fund revenue for FY 2016 was just over $14.1 million, Stanley reported. Total General Fund expenditures for the fiscal year were just over $12.1 million, he said.

In other school board business:

Approved liability, fleet and property insurance policies from Southwestern Ohio Educational Purchasing Council at a cost of $43,879.

Approved school treasurer bonding through Smith-Feike-Minton.

Approved the use by the new Dairy Queen in Wilmington of East Clinton’s shooting-star symbol for general recognition of the East Clinton community.

Approved a new standards-based school counselor evaluation policy.

Approved Steven Sodini as the special education director. He previously was an East Clinton High School intervention specialist.

Increased Cheryl Roberts, who is parent involvement coordinator, from 25 hours per week to 35 hours per week.

Heard Wilmington Kiwanis Club President Vermon Dillon publicly recognize East Clinton student Thomas Wright, whom the club sponsored this summer to Buckeye Boys State.

“Thomas did a tremendous, tremendous job,” Dillon told the school board members.

Among the 1,200 boys who took part, Wright was one of two finalists for state auditor at the American Legion Buckeye Boys State.

Buckeye Boys State is an eight-day hands-on experience in the operation of the democratic form of government, the organization of political parties, and the relationship of one to the other in shaping Ohio government, according to the official website.

Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768 or on Twitter @GHuffenberger.

Wilmington Kiwanis Club President Vermon Dillon, right foreground standing, commends East Clinton student Thomas Wright, left foreground seated, whom the club sponsored this summer to Buckeye Boys State. Directly behind Dillon is Sabina Church of Christ minister Troy Villars.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/07/web1_boys_state_p_f.jpgWilmington Kiwanis Club President Vermon Dillon, right foreground standing, commends East Clinton student Thomas Wright, left foreground seated, whom the club sponsored this summer to Buckeye Boys State. Directly behind Dillon is Sabina Church of Christ minister Troy Villars.
Also, playground structure must be removed

By Gary Huffenberger

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