(Skip Schulz/For the Gazette) The Ontonagon Area School District Board was handed a certificate of appreciation as a part of the state’s “Honoring School Board Recognition Month.” The board also reelected its officers. Far left, Karen Jackson as treasurer, next to her Tammy Strasser as secretary, far right is Tanya Weisinger as vice president, and standing is President Nancy Mattson.

Many would want the election of the Ontonagon Area School District (OASD) School Board to be the blueprint of all elections. Within minutes, the full board was re-elected unanimously.

Nancy Mattson was re-elected as president, Tanya Weisinger as vice president, Tammy Strasser as secretary, and Karen Jackson as treasurer.

Upon re-election, Mattson handed out to the media the board’s policy regarding “public expression of board members.” The policy states that the president is the “official” spokesman for the board. The policy does state that from time-to-time individual board members will make public statements on school matters.

The policy does state that a board member’s personal or private use of social media may have unintended, negative consequences to the board member and/or the district, “including possible violations of the Open Meetings Act and issues relating to the creation of a public record.”

At Monday’s meeting, the board announced it planned to have an agreement with Citizen’s State Bank to provide space in the school in case of a catastrophic event, such as a flood.

“I think this is a good move as we are a community building. Willy Dupont of Citizens (State Bank) looked at our facilities and felt it would be a good fit,” said Jim Bobula, OASD superintendent/principal. “This is similar to the agreement we have with Aspirus-Ontonagon, and a ‘first’ with the bank.”

“The bank is required to have an emergency plan,” said Mattson.

Bobula informed the board of a recent trip that he had with others from the school district had to the Florence School. They looked over the “Fab Lab” that Florence has.

“We have comparable school. A lot of the equipment they have, we already have. What we don’t have, is equipment that is very affordable and there may be financing options,” said Bobula.

Bobula was impressed with the students in Florence working in the Fab Lab.

“We’re hoping to have this Fab Lab in Ontonagon in the fall,” he said.

There is a movement throughout the state and the nation to prepare students in different vocational trades.

In his report, Bobula stated that the district has a CMT wood router currently located in Covington. The district is looking for someone to be able to transport this 7,000-pound piece of equipment to the school.

The district’s “Strive 4 a Safe Drive” campaign has earned OASD the governor’s Traffic Safety Award. On behalf of the district, Michigan State Police trooper and OASD alumni Jerry Mazurek will be in Lansing to receive the award.

Mazurek also held a bus driver safety training.

“He (Mazurek) also took bus drivers on the road to go over safety issues,” Bobula said. 

On the issue of Safety, the sixth grade students will take part in a snowmobile safety program on Feb. 4 and 5.

Next week, fourth and fifth graders will take their annual trip to the Porkies Ski Hill. The Winter Recreation Day for grades sixth thru eighth will be on Feb. 14. On Feb. 6, Strong Dental Clinic will give a dental hygiene presentation to kids from kindergarten to fifth grade. 

The board accepted the resignation of guidance counselor Tammy Lancioni. Lancioni is retiring to spend more time with her family. The board also accepted the resignation of Ed (Lawrence) Seid from his part-time custodian position, and hired Denise Davidson for the position.

Lancioni received kudos for her 25 years in the district, Jodi Store and Betsy Guilbault also were given some for the work they did in preparing the district’s audit. Store was also thanked for setting up this week’s blood drive.

The board went into closed session to discuss a student disciplinary matter.