Board, staff gearing up for start of school
by Angie Asam-Staff Writer
The Onaway Area Community Schools Board of Education met Tuesday evening and the meeting centered around getting things done before the school year starts.
The first item of business on the agenda was the hiring of a new high school physical education teacher. Eric Tyson was hired to fill the position vacated by Earl Flynn.
Tyson was present at the meeting and was congratulated and welcomed by board members. He has been talking to secondary principal/athletic director Marty Mix about looking for a place to live in Onaway. Both Mix and elementary principal Mindy Horn discussed getting ready for the school year to start with staff working in their classrooms and getting ready for students.
Spanish and French will be offered as foreign languages at the high school level this year and Mix is excited that more than a few sections will be offered. The incoming juniors are the first class that will be required to have a foreign language credit; they will get the first seats in those classes. Mix also touched on fall sports, beginning with football starting on Monday and volleyball and cross county starting up Wednesday. Mix said the number of athletes out for football is low and he doesn’t expect Onaway will be able to offer a junior varsity program in football this season. Mix said other schools in the Ski Valley Conference are facing the same issue; not enough for a junior varsity squad.
A new school bus will join the fleet this year as the board approved the purchase of a three-year-old bus from Marsha
A grant application has been filed with the Community Foundation of Northeast Michigan for $3,000 to help with the front door security. Fullerton has put that project on hold until he hears if they receive the grant at the beginning of September. The plan is to keep the door locked during the school day with an intercom system and video linked to the elementary, central and high school office, where someone will be able to unlock the door to allow entrance to visitors.
Onaway will no longer be sharing a band director with Pellston Schools. Jen Smercina, Onaway band teacher, was teaching in both districts last year but has decided that she no longer wished to continue in Pellston. The change does not affect Onaway at all as she is its band teacher on a part-time basis.