Southern Ohio Educational Service Center celebrates 100th year

By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press

Highland County Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeff Duncan held their first meeting of 2015 Wednesday, Jan. 7. The board presented a proclamation to Southern Ohio Educational Service Center Superintendent Tony Long in recognition of the SOESC's 100th anniversary.

The Southern Ohio Educational Service Center serves its member school districts – including all five Highland County public schools – in assisting student achievement. Professional development, special education, gifted education, technology and alternative education are some of the areas of expertise by the SOESC staff members. SOESC also partners with the Region 14/Hopewell Center in assisting school districts with their academic improvement efforts and special education services.

According to the commissioners' proclamation, the Ohio General Assembly's New School Code of 1914 provided for the establishment of a county board of education in each county. In 1997, area school districts "sought to meet their needs more efficiently" by merging the Clinton, Fayette and Highland County boards of education to form the Clinton-Fayette-Highland Educational Service District. In 2004, the Adams County Ohio Valley School District followed and the SOESC was formed.

"On behalf of the SOESC and its governing board, I appreciate the commissioners taking time to acknowledge our 100th anniversary," Long said.

"We have five outstanding public schools here in Highland County – Bright Local, Fairfield Local, Lynchburg-Clay Local, Greenfield Exempted Village and Hillsboro City Schools – all of which prepare Highland County's number-one resource, that being our children. We appreciate the partnership with the county commissioners over these many years."

For more on the Southern Ohio Educational Service Center, go to: http://www.southernohioesc.org/.

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• In other business, Wilkin asked commissioners Horst and Duncan to begin thinking about projects that need to be addressed in 2015.

"First and foremost is the Hi-TEC building," Wilkin said. "We need to get bid packets on H-VAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), exterior issues, carpeting at Job and Family Services, flooring in the meeting rooms and exterior lighting."

Wilkin also referenced improvements needed at the Highland County Justice Center, including the parking lot, roof and water pipes. In addition, the Highland County Courthouse continues to have some water intrusion issues with the gutters.

"These are the three main issues we have," Wilkin said. "They can get rather pricey. We need to get with the engineer and get these packets together."

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Commissioners also discussed the board meeting days for 2015.

"Wednesday has been the traditional meeting day," Wilkin said.

"That's OK with me," Duncan said.

Horst pointed out that there can be conflicts with once-a-month training in Columbus, but added, "Everybody's pretty used to Wednesdays. About one third of Ohio counties meet on Wednesdays, and county auditor Bill Fawley said it's easier on his office."

Commissioners will meet on Monday, Jan. 12 at 8:30 a.m. for their annual organizational meeting to determine 2015 meetings.

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• Commissioners also mentioned the beginning of FOP negotiations with the Highland County Sheriff's Office and said an email correspondence has been sent from county representative Bob Cross to Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera regarding potential meeting dates.

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• Commissioners entered into a recess at 9 a.m. with an executive session for personnel to follow.

Resolutions

Commissioners passed the following resolutions, each by a 3-0 vote:

* A resolution to authorize travel for Highland County Job and Family Services, Child Support Enforcement, and Public Children Services Agency employees for travel outside of the county as part of their job duties for the calendar year 2015.

* A resolution to authorize Highland County Job and Family Services for purchases for the calendar year 2015.

* A resolution to declare county personal property not needed for public use, obsolete or unfit for the use for which the property was acquired.

* A resolution to for the Alternatives to Violence Center for payment of funds.