Poland school board delays action on contracts, discusses pay to play

By Ashley Luthern

aluthern@vindy.com

POLAND

The Board of Education did not take any action at its 1 p.m. special meeting today before commencement at Poland Seminary High School.

The board had been expected to vote on changing the effective date of the Poland Education Association and Ohio Association of Public School Employees contracts from Sept. 1 to June 29.

Instead, Dr. Larry Dinopoulos, board vice president, made a motion to table the matter until the board consulted with legal counsel. Board members unanimously approved his motion.

The board will meet with its legal counsel during executive session of a special meeting June 20. Its next regular meeting is 6 p.m. June 27 at the PSHS library.

The board also discussed a pay-to-participate policy for extracurricular activities, and many board members said they received feedback from residents after receiving proposals from the athletic director and band director last month.

Athletic director Brian Banfield has offered three proposals: cutting the swimming program and make it a club sport, saying it will save the district $23,00 annually; combining transportation between sports to save the district about $4,500; and imposing an activity fee for all athletes, with high school students paying $150 per year and middle school students $75 per year. Under the third proposal, students would only have to pay the fee once each year no matter how many sports they play.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.