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Special Education Services Highlighted at BOE Meeting
The Cambridge City School District Board of Education meeting focused on the outstanding student services offered by the district and in particular, the special education services. 

Student Services Director Carmen Feldner informed board members of the recently released Special Education Annual Ratings from the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). Once again, Cambridge earned the highest achievable score based on the seven compliance indicators. 

ODE uses final data that districts submit through the Education Management Information System (EMIS). These data result in one of four ratings — Meets Requirements, Needs Assistance, Needs Intervention or Needs Substantial Intervention. 

“We have earned the ‘Meets Requirements’ designation for the past nine years and most years we received the highest score possible for all the indicators,” Feldner said. “The high ratings are a tribute to our teachers and staff members who work with our special needs children on a daily basis.

“We are blessed to have so many talented and caring teachers and staff that are proud to work with children and to help them achieve their goals. Many go beyond what is required of them and become mentors and advocates for the children and their families.” 

One of those teachers who goes above and beyond is Shelby Stillion. Shelby is a teacher at the Middle School and was recently nominated for the Franklin B. Walter Outstanding Educator Award. While she didn’t receive that award, she did receive an Outstanding Educator Award for enhancing the learning experience of students with disabilities through mentoring, friendship, guidance and understanding from the State Support Team Region 12. 

Cambridge Middle School student Kaden Snyder was recognized with an Outstanding Student Award from the State Support Team Region 12. Snyder was a candidate for the R.A. Horn Outstanding Achievement Award for Students. She received an Outstanding Student Award for daily determination and perseverance to achieve personal success in school and community. The award is sponsored by the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities.

Middle School principal Heath Hayes, a nominator for both Shelby and Kaden, was at the board meeting to acknowledge the recipients. 
Cambridge Schools also received the Golden Bell Award from the Guernsey/Muskingum County Board of Developmental Disabilities for demonstrating outstanding achievements in connecting and engaging with students in the classroom. 

The nominations were accepted online, and Cambridge Schools received eight different nominations from the community including two for Jan Tedrick, an aide at the Intermediate School, and four for CIS Principal Laurie Goggin and CIS. 

One nomination praised the school and Goggin for transitioning a student into a new building. The nominator said, “This school district was more than accommodating and went out of their way to make sure (the student) was safe, comfortable, and cared for. The instructors and aides went above and beyond every day to ensure each day provided enriching opportunities and fun activities for the students. The education was top notch.” 

Another nominator praised Goggin as well saying, “There are lots of wonderful schools and people at Cambridge City Schools, but on numerous occasions Mrs. Goggin shines in the district. She puts her time and energy into doing her best for students.”

Tedrick’s accolades focused on her one-on-one work with a student. The nominator said, “Jan Tedrick does an amazing job with (student name) at school. She makes sure he participates in the activities that the other kids do and makes his learning fun for him. He is medically fragile, and she goes above and beyond to make sure each day is the best day he can have. When I visit the classroom, it is obvious this is more than just a job for her.”

In other business, the board approved the annual overnight trip of the students participating in the Ohio Model United Nationals simulation from Dec. 4-6 in Columbus. 

The board passed a resolution to appoint Dave Peoples as the Cambridge City Schools Representative to the Mid-East Career and Technology Centers Board of Education for a three-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2023. 

Personnel matters, the board approved Kitrina Dubose (secretary only) and Cathy Gadd as substitute clerical aides, Brooke Stafford, Norma Kirkman and Kayla Richards as cooks, Ken Collins as a substitute cook, Amanda (Kenisell) Clayton and Claire Hacker as a district wide attendant aides. 

The board approved the hiring of Molly Milner as Fiscal Assistant III (Human Resources, EMIS and Federal Programs Fiscal Support). 
The board approved Rachel Kanski, Kendra Hines, Paul Hill II, Kimberly Hill, Stephanie Fahner, Timothy Johnson Jr, Jessica Dean, Tishia Steed, Jill Roe, Audra Alexander, Tabitha Epler, Ryan McClain, Kaitlyn Hardesty, and Tamekia Baldwin as volunteers; Kelly Ayres, Taylor Ayres, Nicole Baker, Tiffany Chrisman, Caitlyn Craft, Jason Cramblett, Jessica Dean, Shannon Eubanks, Sara Foster, Jean Garner, Heather King, Brad Lauer, Jenelle Lilly, Todd Mathers, Rusty Parsons, Lee Stoner, Mike Stoner, Kohl Ward and Richard Snyder as volunteers for the 8th grade trip to Washington D.C. 

The board approved Angela Bell, Sarah Lanning, Stacey Matthews, Megan Bonnell, Kylee Tolarchyk and Abby Winland as CATS Club Afterschool aides; approved Breanna Bailey, Abby Knott, Nicole Earley, Jodi McGuire, Angie Hayhurst, Amelia Orr, Jennifer Howell, Emily Rogers, Michelle Johnston, Susan Sneddon, Sheri Jones, Julie Starr, Jensen Lanning, Karin Stinson, Alisha Colon, Katie Lanzer, Julie Endly, Amanda Miller, Angie Ferrell, Pippa Mikes and Jennifer Howell as CATS Club Afterschool teachers. 

The board approved Laura Carpenetti as the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Support Service position; Leslie Leppla and Rod Gray as 21st Century Community Learning Center Site Coordinators; Zachary Boyd, Aurora Miller, Rod Gray, Jodi Neff, Matt Green, Lisa Taylor, Leslie Leppla, Kasey Wharton, Jennifer Luallen, Bob Willis, and Cindy Pollock as 21st Century Community Learning Center teachers. 

The board approved Dana Todd to a one year limited teacher contract; approved Jayden Carpenter, Lauren Farley, Jeff Jenkins, Rachel Kanski, and Ashley Frattali as substitute teachers; approved Grace Gebhart as home school instructor/tutor; approved Hailee Engle, Marlo Barker, Marcy Law, and April Castello as MTSS Coordinators at Cambridge Primary School; approved Angie Ferrell as Ohio English Language Proficiency Screening (OELPS) District Screener; Karin Stinson and Jodi Neff as Book Bandit teachers; 
The board approved the extended service of Rodney Gray; the unpaid leave for Darianne Snyder; maternity leave for Jessica Pyle, and the resignation of Kristina Ward. 

In athletics, the board approved the hiring of Reyse Wallbrown, Paul Rose, Logan Ball, Bo Hill, Paul Arick and David Holdren as athletic volunteers; approved Tamara Gibson as assistant girls basketball coach, Jorden Ball as Middle School wrestling coach, Jacob Tharp, as freshman boys basketball coach; Sean Byerly as 8th grade boys basketball coach; Bob Baier as 7th grade boys basketball coach, and Logan McCort as assistant boys basketball coach. 

The next board meeting will be on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 5 p.m. at the Garfield Administrative Center.