Barnesville Superintendent Angela Hannahs presents football coach Blake Allen with a certificate of recognition during Thursday’s board of education meeting.

BARNESVILLE — The Barnesville Exempted Village School District Board of Education recognized an elementary teacher and football coach for their work this past school year during Thursday’s meeting.

Superintendent Angela Hannahs presented elementary school teacher Clarissa Kernen and football coach Blake Allen each with a certificate of recognition. Both were recipients of awards during the school year.

Hannahs first introduced Kernen who received the Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools’ 2022 Outstanding Elementary Teacher Star Polisher Award.

“That organization helps to support schools in southeast Ohio. Part of what they like to do is recognize educators, and they asked us for a nomination for their Elementary Teacher Star Polisher Award. When we received that request it wasn’t too hard to select Chris Kernen for that award,” she said.

Hannahs then read a statement on behalf of the elementary school principal, Clinton Abbott, who was unable to make it to the meeting. The statement remarked that Kernen is dedicated, passionate and has a desire to make a difference in the lives of students.

Brad Hannahs then introduced Allen who was the recipient of the VI Easter District Coach of the Year and Wheeling Intelligencer Coach of the Year.

“Not only is he a good coach, he’s a good educator. … In his first season he went 3-7 and has not had a losing season since,” he said, adding that this year the team went 10-2.

“… He puts in a lot of time and we all know how big football is in Barnesville. We as a district are very fortunate to have Coach Allen as the leader of our football program hopefully for many years to come.”

In other matters, Micah Fuchs, director of student services, gave a presentation regarding graduation options and requirements. He said there are three basic requirements which include credits, show competency and showing readiness. He went on to explain each requirement in more depth.

Showing competency is test taking, Fuchs said. He said the state has updated the requirement and will be different since before COVID.

“Students graduating in 2023 will have to pass a competency score in Algebra 1 and English 2. The competency score is 684, so the proficient score is a 700, so they want you to try and get that 700,” he said, adding that if students are unable to reach a score of 684 there are alternative options including a pre-apprenticeship program, of which the school offers five.

“What we need to do is get community businesses to support us in that. … to help us give these kids so many hours in that opportunity to earn that pre-apprenticeship.”

The third option, showing readiness, is the most difficult, Fuchs said. Students must complete at least one state seal which includes a job seal, college ready seal, literacy seal, citizenship seal or science seal, among others.

Fuchs said the graduation requirements are difficult for students. He said kids will really need the support of their parents as things have changed and continue to do so.

High school Principal Ron Clark added that in the five years he has worked for the district, the graduation requirements have changed three times.

Toward the end of the meeting, Hannahs said there is currently one active COVID-19 case in the district, though she did not specify if it was a student or staff member. She said the district has been “very good as of lately” with its cases which have been in the low numbers.