Barnesville Board of Education looks into energy efficiency improvements
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BARNESVILLE -- The Barnesville Board of Education discussed ways to make the school buildings more energy efficient during its November meeting.
Energy Optimizers, an engineering consultant in Dayton, Ohio, gave a presentation at the meeting Thursday, offering ways to improve the energy efficiency of the district.
The company surveyed the school buildings before the presentation. Its representatives suggested replacing the school's current lighting with LED fixtures and replacing the chillers and controls in the elementary and high schools.
Energy Optimizers recommends taking out a lease for the project. Representatives noted that the project will save money on energy costs in the long run.
"Based on the information presented, we are going to further analyze our priority areas and determine feasibility," Superintendent Micah Fuchs said.
In other news, Fuchs said the owner of the Heritage Early Learning Center, aka the Christian Child Care Center, spoke at the meeting. The Heritage Early Learning Center is expected to open after Jan. 1. The facility will be able to serve children from 6 weeks up to 12 years old and will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The owner of the facility plans to coordinate bus schedules with the Barnesville Exempted Village School District.
The facility is located on East Main Street beside McDonald's and directly behind Hissom's Gas Station.
The board also approved a new indoor track program for this school year. At Fuchs' recommendation, the board approved Dylan Rogers and Ryan Grear as the volunteer indoor track coaches for the 2023-24 school year. Paperwork for both is still pending.
Meanwhile, Fuchs said he needed board approval to finalize plans for the 2024 high school prom. All members of the board voted for prom to be held April 27 at the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center in Cambridge, Ohio.
During the meeting, Treasurer Adam Quirk said Ohio's minimum wage is scheduled to increase on Jan. 1 from $10.10 to $10.45.
He said hourly rates for substitute aides, substitute cooks, substitute custodians, substitute interpreters, substitute secretaries and substitute groundskeepers or floaters will need to be adjusted accordingly.
All members of the board voted in favor of the motion.
The board also unanimously voted to accept the retirement of sixth grade science teacher Sandra Jean Daniels. Her last day will be May 24.
The board approved $65,029.80 to be paid to Valley Behavioral Health for annual behavioral services.
The board unanimously approved Julie Star Thomas to serve another seven-year term as a trustee for the Barnesville Hutton Memorial Library Board of Trustees. Her term is now set to expire on Dec. 31, 2030.
Board members also all voted to approve Jacob Leach to replace Rick Clift as a trustee for the Barnesville Hutton Memorial Library Board of Trustees. Clift resigned in September. Leach will complete Clift's term, which expires on Dec. 31, 2026.
The next board meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. Dec. 19 in the middle school cafetorium. Students will be recognized for their achievements in fall sports during the meeting.
For more information, call the district's central office at 740-425-3615 or visit the office at 210 W. Church St., Barnesville. More information can also be found on the district's website at bevsd.org.