Reese to follow Reinbolt as Fostoria food service lead

FOSTORIA — The Fostoria City Schools Board of Education on Monday night approved Billy Reese as the successor to Holly Reinbolt as food service supervisor, effective Feb. 1.Reinbolt is retiring from her position after 27 years.Reese, a Fostoria High School graduate, has been food service team leader at Fostoria Elementary School since February 2024. The previous work history of the Hocking College alumnus includes stints as chef of about seven years each at Logan's Irish Pub in Findlay and KemoSabes Roadhouse Grill in Fostoria.He was earlier hired as a junior-high assistant wrestling coach in Fostoria schools.The board also approved the hiring of Logan Lamalie as athletic trainer. Lamalie was most recently an assistant trainer at Bowling Green State University. Lamalie, a Fremont Ross graduate, received her bachelor's degree in athletic training from Ohio State University before working as a graduate assistant trainer and receiving her master's degree in business administration from the University of West Alabama.Also Monday night, the board tabled for further discussion a second reading and adoption of several new, revised or rescinded school board policies. Among the policies, which drew considerable discussion Monday night, is a revised cell-phone-use policy for students.The policy, mandated for public schools by a new state law that will take effect on Jan. 1, will, by and large, keep students' hands off their phones throughout the school day."The current policy is that students are not supposed to use their cell phones during class time," Fostoria Junior/Senior High School Principal Jodi Gaietto said during an interview Tuesday. "If they do, they get a warning. The second time, the teacher takes the phone. And then, the third time, an administrator takes the phone. The student can get it back at the end of the day. "They are allowed, currently, to have their cell phones in between classes and at lunch time."She added: "The (new) law is there are no cell phones to be used during school hours, from the beginning bell to the end bell. That means during class changes and that means at lunch time. Those are the two big changes."Said Superintendent Jason Longbrake during the meeting: "I've heard some students say it's not fair. It's the law. There are a couple of things we can choose from, whether to do this or that, but the bottom line is cell phones will be banned in public schools from the start of the day to the end of the day."Junior/senior high school teacher Amy Stultz said during the meeting that she's in favor of a measure that brings about "a solution that we, as teachers, can get back to teaching and not arguing about these phones." She said she often spends a good amount of class time dealing with students' phone use.In addition to Reese's and Lamalie's contracts, the board approved Kendra Crist and Skylar Roy as substitute teachers, Bryce Brookman as a custodian, Joshua Richmond as a maintenance worker, Hunter Wallen as a bus mechanic, Cody Helms and Taylor Ray as substitute paraprofessionals; Cory Ritter as a substitute custodian and Patrick Nusbaum as boys bowling coach.Also, Chelsea Leon-Guerrero was approved for advancement on the salary schedule due to additional coursework completed.A first reading of revised and new transportation policies was approved, as was the October financial report.The board approved $50 per month cell-phone stipends for Lamalie and Wallen.Also gaining approval were health-insurance rates, effective Jan. 1; a certificate of availability for a $6,634 purchase order from Newfax Corporation; an agreement with A&G Education Services for special-needs students; a trip to Grand Rapids, Mich., in March for 18 students and chaperones to attend the Mid-American Model United Nations Conference; a memorandum of understanding with Local 1945 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees regarding a change in the recognition clause to add a new classification (monitor). The board's next session is scheduled for 6 p.m., Dec. 1 in the board office at Fostoria Junior/Senior High School. The next regular meeting is slated for 6 p.m., Dec. 15 in the board office.