Clinton-Massie Treasurer Carrie Bir (right) and Superintendent David Moss (standing) present an in-depth overview of district finances during the Clinton-Massie Board meeting.
At the Clinton-Massie Local Schools Board of Education meeting on Monday night, held at the middle school, the Clinton County Foundation presented a check for $44,551 to the Clinton-Massie Athletic Boosters. The presentation was not a donation but rather the transfer of funds that had been managed by the Foundation on behalf of the school district’s sports fundraising efforts.
Foundation Executive Director Alison Belfrage and Foundation Board President Lynn Deatherage led the presentation. Deatherage explained the role of the Clinton County Foundation, stating, “The Clinton County Foundation is a community foundation based in Wilmington that provides charitable investing and local grants that enable people and nonprofits to make lasting and positive impacts in their community.”
The history behind the check dates back about a decade when the Clinton-Massie Sports Complex Committee moved its fundraising efforts to the Clinton County Foundation. Superintendent David Moss explained, “The CM Sports Complex Committee moved its funding to the Clinton County Foundation 10-ish years ago. Fundraising for athletics has run through the Foundation and its compliance since then.”
Recently, the newly formed Clinton-Massie Athletic Boosters group requested that the remaining fund balance, which totaled over $43,000, be transferred to them to continue their fundraising efforts. The Foundation complied with this request, resulting in the transfer and subsequent presentation of the check.
Athletic Boosters Vice President Rus Frommling and Secretary Emily Webb accepted the transfer on behalf of the Boosters. The funds will now be under the management of the Boosters, who will use them to support athletic programs at Clinton-Massie.
Moss and treasurer Carrie Bir provided an in-depth presentation on district finances during the meeting. The presentation aimed to help the community better understand the district’s financial status, challenges, and options for future funding. They covered a current financial overview, the impact of existing funding challenges, and potential solutions. The presentation also included information on how to access detailed financial data on the newly-revamped district website, specifically under the “Levy” section. Moss encouraged the community to visit the website to explore these details further and submit any questions through the provided platform.
Look for a detailed article on Clinton-Massie’s financial situation later this week on the News Journal website and in the print edition.
Moss also highlighted his recent presentation at the Ohio School Safety Summit in Columbus, where he, along with school safety specialists Tim Carr and Ryan Dewey, detailed Clinton-Massie’s comprehensive approach to school security. He emphasized the uniqueness of their model, which is particularly effective for smaller schools.
“We believe we have a model here that is really good for smaller schools,” Moss said. The presentation, attended by around 300 people, showcased the district’s internal safety and security staff’s role in maintaining a safe environment for students.
“Having people internally staffed for safety and security makes us different,” Moss added, noting that this internal capability allows for better assistance in investigations from an administrative perspective. He also praised the dedication and achievements of Carr and Dewey over the past year, stating that their efforts have been tremendous. The presentation was well-received, according to Moss, with attendees recognizing the effectiveness of their approach and its potential as a model for other small districts.
Additionally, the board discussed streamlining the availability of audio from board meetings on the website and a focused review of the athletic handbook policies for the upcoming year.
The next board workshop in September will concentrate on these policy reviews, setting the stage for further improvements within the district.
