Kindergarten mandate to end
Gov. John Kasich is expected to sign a bill that relieves school districts of a requirement to offer all-day kindergarten and allows districts with existing kindergarten programs funded by tuition fees to continue charging the fees.

State Representative Randy Gardner, a sponsor of the bill, said it represents millions of dollars of savings for school systems by ending unfunded mandates.

It won passage in the Senate Tuesday by a voter of 25-8 and in the House Wednesday with a vote of 59-38.

Gardner said bill also prohibits the state superintendent of public instruction from imposing financial penalties against local schools that do not spend funds according to new state education models.

The models were included in a budget bill passed last year.

Voter deadline
Ottawa County residents of the Woodmore and Benton-Carroll-Salem school districts have until April 4 to file new voter registrations and address changes for the May 3 special elections in their districts.

Both districts have property tax levies on the May ballot.

Regular office hours for the Ottawa County Board of Elections are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday but the board office will be open until 9 p.m. on April 4. The board office is located at 8444 W. State Route 163, Oak Harbor.

New registrations and address changes may also be filed at public libraries, bureau of motor vehicles offices, the county health department, and at the county court house at the clerk of courts title department or treasurer’s office.

For information call the board of elections office: 800-697-9807.

B-C-S board to meet
There will be a regular meeting of the Benton-Carroll-Salem Board of Education March 22 at 6 p.m. in the board office, 11685 W. St. Rt. 163, Oak Harbor.

Deputy warden hired
The Ottawa County commissioners have authorized the hiring of Eric Kramer as deputy dog warden. He will be paid $12 per hour. The hiring goes into effect March 28.

Costly snowfall
Last month’s snowfall was so heavy the road department in Lake Township logged 247.5 hours of overtime to clear roads and related work, Dan McLargin, the department’s supervisor, reported to the township trustees.

Looking ahead to next year, the trustees approved the purchase of 103 tons of road salt from the Village of Walbridge for $5,772.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed