Improvements planned at Ferry schools
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MARTINS FERRY -- The Martins Ferry City School District Board of Education has some projects in mind for the coming Christmas break.
Board members also raised issues surrounding electronic payments for lunches during their meeting Tuesday.
Board member Jon Nagel said some parents have taken issue with lunch payments.
"There's a new convenience fee and stuff that's on the app, that we're not seeing, relayed to them. I just want to look at options and make sure we're doing what's best or what we think is the best option for the kids," he said.
Nagel added that students still have a cash payment option with no extra fees.
"I just didn't know if there was other vendors or third parties out there," he said.
Board member Chuck Probst also said parents have approached him on the matter. He said he was told there is a fee for transactions and a monthly fee. Nagel said there was also some concern that a student might graduate and be unable to transfer money out of the account.
"Any way we can help out the parents in a situation like this, we should do it," Probst said. "It's hard enough these days."
Nagel said the goal is not to make money.
"It's to get a healthy meal at a reasonable cost," he said.
Superintendent Jim Fogle will look into the provider - MySchoolBucks — examining its options and whether the district has a contract with the company.
"We can explore other options, and I can talk to other districts," he said.
Fogle also reported more than 20 doors will be installed in the school buildings during the Christmas break. He noted that doors must be replaced following a recent project to redress heaving floors under the buildings.
"It's the last piece of the puzzle," he said after the meeting, noting he did not have the price of the doors on hand.
In addition, 23 metal bollards will be placed in front of the school buildings to safeguard the structures in the event someone attempts to drive a vehicle into the front of a building.
Fogle said the estimate for that work is $13,500. He said a safety grant of $300,000 provided last year will not cover the bollards.
"This will have to come out of the general fund," he said. "There's some funds left for schools, and we're going to be able to use that on our lighting that we're still waiting on, an estimate at the front gate, and an estimate for lights and a camera down by the track. We'll be able to use it, we just couldn't use it on the pillars. It didn't fit the grant."
Board member David Bruney also recognized board member Nick Stankovich for his time serving the district.
"Nick has done a lot of great things for our district. I had him as a student, then he went to Capital University and came back as a teacher, as a principal, as our superintendent, and coached multiple sports during that time," he said, adding that Stankovich and others also worked hard toward improving the campus facilities. "He grumbles a lot, but the man's heart has always been in Martins Ferry."
Stankovich's term will end at the conclusion of 2023, when new board member Allen H. Marangoni takes office.
Stankovich, who was absent from the meeting Tuesday, was one of five candidates seeking two seats on the board during the Nov. 7 general election. Probst prevailed with 1,100 votes as Marangoni received 733 while Stankovich captured 699, Jeremy Shrodes received 539 and Bill Suto garnered 663.
"I'm sure Mr. Maragoni's going to do a great job," Bruney added.