Board hears passionate pleas, but votes to
approve transfer
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
Over 100 students, parents and community members filled the room to overflow capacity at
Monday's Ball-Chatham Board of Education meeting at the District Office.
Most of the group was there to show support for Glenwood High School SAP (Student Assistance
Program) Coordinator Betty Cress, who after nine years at her position has been recommended for
transfer to a P.E./Health teaching position at Glenwood Middle School for the 2010-11 school year.
School officials, whether it be Supt. Bob Gillum or board president Mark Bartolozzi, could not
comment on why Cress, three years from retirement, was being recommended for transfer by the
GHS administration. By law, school officials cannot comment directly on personnel issues.
After hearing comments from 21 different speakers for over an hour, board members called for a
special closed session. After 25 minutes, the board came out and voted on all of the personnel items
in one fell swoop, with none being pulled out for a separate vote.
Included in that 7-0 vote was the decision to approve the involuntary transfer of Cress to GMS, with
not many in the audience realizing what had happened for several minutes. The meeting adjourned
back to a planned closed session 10 minutes later.
"We appreciate the parents and students who came out, and we took their comments into
consideration seriously," Bartolozzi told the Clarion afterwards. "We thought it best to call for an extra
closed session. Most certainly, it was not easy. It was a gut-wrenching decision."
In the end, the board decided to go with the administration's recommendation. Neither Bartolozzi
or Gillum could say exactly how Cress' position at GHS might be filled, though it is expected that
someone will be hired in some capacity to provide the services she did, though the exact scope and
range are to be determined.
The comments about Cress were deep and passionate. Her influence on the student body over
the years has been wide-ranging, and the Snowball, Snowflake and Snowflurry drug and alcohol
prevention programs in the district have blossomed under her guidance.
Students at GHS who have personal issues or problems or just want an adult person to talk to
have turned to Cress for years, and hundreds of relationships have been formed and kept through the
years.
"Betty genuinely cares about each one of us," said sophomore Britni Harper. "Betty's job doesn't
end when the bell rings. She has a passion for what she does."
"This will have a bigger impact than the administration realizes," added junior Sean Lex. "Betty
has changed so many lives. I wish you all could see what she means to us at the high school."
"My oldest daughter referred to Betty as her second mother," said parent Rihab Habibi, a teacher at
SHG. "I'm honored to share that with Betty. She creates a safe haven for high schoolers."
"I guess I'm struggling to understand why something is being fixed that isn't broken," added parent
Sandy Lex. "As a role model, Betty is one of the best this high school has ever had the fortune to
have."
"It's amazing," added parent Tom Walters. "I feel like I know Betty, though I've never met her. My
son always speaks of her when he comes home. This situation is not broke, and there's no reason
to change something that is working so well."
"Betty Cress has helped me be the best I can be," said junior Josh Hobson. "I am a better student
because of her."
"These kids respect Betty so much," added parent Lucy Earhart. "If you hire a social worker to
replace her, it's a big mistake. Betty does a great job and her 21 years of experience has to count for
something."
In other personnel moves (effective for the 2010-11 school year):
•The board approved the voluntary transfer of Ball Elementary asst. principal Michelle Lee to a K-9
classroom position, due to personal reasons.
•The board approved the voluntary transfer of Jennifer Schwartz from Chatham Elementary asst.
principal to Ball asst. principal.
•The board approved the voluntary transfer of Jennifer Barham from GIS asst. principal to Special
Education Coordinator.
•The board approved the voluntary transfer of Kristina Valentine from GHS Freshman Intervention
Coordinator to a GHS English teaching position.
•The board also voted to employ teachers that are transferring from SASED to the District's Special
Education Program (41 positions total), and the board also voted to renew fall sports coaches, non-
tenured certified staff and extra-curricular sponsors, dept. coordinators and team leaders.
•The board voted to employ Cathy Jo Wahl as a Special Education Coordinator.
•Due to Lee's transfer to the classroom, one non-tenured teacher (Justin Habenschuss) had to be
honorably dismissed and will be recalled if needed.
•Faculty members Shelly Skeeters and Jimee'n Jackson were honorably released, pending the
status of two foreign language teachers currently on leaves of absence.
•Several Pre-K positions were dismissed, but the program will remain in place. It's exact scope
and the number of students that will be served will depend on state funding. But to some degree, the
district has agreed to provide part of the funding for the 2010-11 school year. Two tenured teaching
positions are protected. Those positions that were let go could be hired back once the scope of the
program is determined.
•Teachers that are advancing from fourth year to tenure status include: Tracey Lex, Allison McCue,
Jessica Ogden, Jennifer Pecoraro, Jessica Tobias, Laura Atkins, Shea Moore, Brittany Sitko, Keeli
Zerrusen, Kyle Andrew, Jamie Berry, Meghan Gonzalez, Dana Gray, Jared Marshall, Ellen Maton,
Sandra Albrecht, Laura Brauer, Tommy Johnson Jr., Sarah Scheufele, Gary Sneyd and Janelle Voss.
•The board accepted the retirement of BE second grade teacher Melinda Hoover, who has worked
in the district since 1993.
•The board accepted the following resignations: Mathew Davis (CE teacher, GMS asst. football
coach), Mark Lash (GHS Driver's Education/GHS girls varsity basketball coach), Ryan Moldenhauer
(GMS Math teacher), Mark Berry (GHS English teacher and Newspaper sponsor), Arletha Stanley
(GHS Math teacher), Constance Roesch (District Office receptionist), Lynn Leach (BE 3rd grade team
leader), Jennifer Barham (GMS 7th grade girls basketball coach), Alison Anderson (GHS freshman
volleyball coach), Lori Williams (bus driver), Bill Roesch (bus driver).
•The board voted to employ the following: Tracy Ellis (bus driver), Steven Surber (bus mechanic),
Keith Kelly (GHS asst. speech coach), Susan Klontz (GMS readers' forum sponsor), Sue Zartler (GMS
asst. cross country coach), Corinne O'Donoghue (GMS special education teacher).
•Leaves of absence requests were granted for: Kathryn Clark, Gerald Martin, Jay Lipe, Brittany
Sitko and Jamie Berry. A leave of absence request for GHS Spanish teacher Jamie Althoff for the
2010-11 school year was approved.
approve transfer
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
Over 100 students, parents and community members filled the room to overflow capacity at
Monday's Ball-Chatham Board of Education meeting at the District Office.
Most of the group was there to show support for Glenwood High School SAP (Student Assistance
Program) Coordinator Betty Cress, who after nine years at her position has been recommended for
transfer to a P.E./Health teaching position at Glenwood Middle School for the 2010-11 school year.
School officials, whether it be Supt. Bob Gillum or board president Mark Bartolozzi, could not
comment on why Cress, three years from retirement, was being recommended for transfer by the
GHS administration. By law, school officials cannot comment directly on personnel issues.
After hearing comments from 21 different speakers for over an hour, board members called for a
special closed session. After 25 minutes, the board came out and voted on all of the personnel items
in one fell swoop, with none being pulled out for a separate vote.
Included in that 7-0 vote was the decision to approve the involuntary transfer of Cress to GMS, with
not many in the audience realizing what had happened for several minutes. The meeting adjourned
back to a planned closed session 10 minutes later.
"We appreciate the parents and students who came out, and we took their comments into
consideration seriously," Bartolozzi told the Clarion afterwards. "We thought it best to call for an extra
closed session. Most certainly, it was not easy. It was a gut-wrenching decision."
In the end, the board decided to go with the administration's recommendation. Neither Bartolozzi
or Gillum could say exactly how Cress' position at GHS might be filled, though it is expected that
someone will be hired in some capacity to provide the services she did, though the exact scope and
range are to be determined.
The comments about Cress were deep and passionate. Her influence on the student body over
the years has been wide-ranging, and the Snowball, Snowflake and Snowflurry drug and alcohol
prevention programs in the district have blossomed under her guidance.
Students at GHS who have personal issues or problems or just want an adult person to talk to
have turned to Cress for years, and hundreds of relationships have been formed and kept through the
years.
"Betty genuinely cares about each one of us," said sophomore Britni Harper. "Betty's job doesn't
end when the bell rings. She has a passion for what she does."
"This will have a bigger impact than the administration realizes," added junior Sean Lex. "Betty
has changed so many lives. I wish you all could see what she means to us at the high school."
"My oldest daughter referred to Betty as her second mother," said parent Rihab Habibi, a teacher at
SHG. "I'm honored to share that with Betty. She creates a safe haven for high schoolers."
"I guess I'm struggling to understand why something is being fixed that isn't broken," added parent
Sandy Lex. "As a role model, Betty is one of the best this high school has ever had the fortune to
have."
"It's amazing," added parent Tom Walters. "I feel like I know Betty, though I've never met her. My
son always speaks of her when he comes home. This situation is not broke, and there's no reason
to change something that is working so well."
"Betty Cress has helped me be the best I can be," said junior Josh Hobson. "I am a better student
because of her."
"These kids respect Betty so much," added parent Lucy Earhart. "If you hire a social worker to
replace her, it's a big mistake. Betty does a great job and her 21 years of experience has to count for
something."
In other personnel moves (effective for the 2010-11 school year):
•The board approved the voluntary transfer of Ball Elementary asst. principal Michelle Lee to a K-9
classroom position, due to personal reasons.
•The board approved the voluntary transfer of Jennifer Schwartz from Chatham Elementary asst.
principal to Ball asst. principal.
•The board approved the voluntary transfer of Jennifer Barham from GIS asst. principal to Special
Education Coordinator.
•The board approved the voluntary transfer of Kristina Valentine from GHS Freshman Intervention
Coordinator to a GHS English teaching position.
•The board also voted to employ teachers that are transferring from SASED to the District's Special
Education Program (41 positions total), and the board also voted to renew fall sports coaches, non-
tenured certified staff and extra-curricular sponsors, dept. coordinators and team leaders.
•The board voted to employ Cathy Jo Wahl as a Special Education Coordinator.
•Due to Lee's transfer to the classroom, one non-tenured teacher (Justin Habenschuss) had to be
honorably dismissed and will be recalled if needed.
•Faculty members Shelly Skeeters and Jimee'n Jackson were honorably released, pending the
status of two foreign language teachers currently on leaves of absence.
•Several Pre-K positions were dismissed, but the program will remain in place. It's exact scope
and the number of students that will be served will depend on state funding. But to some degree, the
district has agreed to provide part of the funding for the 2010-11 school year. Two tenured teaching
positions are protected. Those positions that were let go could be hired back once the scope of the
program is determined.
•Teachers that are advancing from fourth year to tenure status include: Tracey Lex, Allison McCue,
Jessica Ogden, Jennifer Pecoraro, Jessica Tobias, Laura Atkins, Shea Moore, Brittany Sitko, Keeli
Zerrusen, Kyle Andrew, Jamie Berry, Meghan Gonzalez, Dana Gray, Jared Marshall, Ellen Maton,
Sandra Albrecht, Laura Brauer, Tommy Johnson Jr., Sarah Scheufele, Gary Sneyd and Janelle Voss.
•The board accepted the retirement of BE second grade teacher Melinda Hoover, who has worked
in the district since 1993.
•The board accepted the following resignations: Mathew Davis (CE teacher, GMS asst. football
coach), Mark Lash (GHS Driver's Education/GHS girls varsity basketball coach), Ryan Moldenhauer
(GMS Math teacher), Mark Berry (GHS English teacher and Newspaper sponsor), Arletha Stanley
(GHS Math teacher), Constance Roesch (District Office receptionist), Lynn Leach (BE 3rd grade team
leader), Jennifer Barham (GMS 7th grade girls basketball coach), Alison Anderson (GHS freshman
volleyball coach), Lori Williams (bus driver), Bill Roesch (bus driver).
•The board voted to employ the following: Tracy Ellis (bus driver), Steven Surber (bus mechanic),
Keith Kelly (GHS asst. speech coach), Susan Klontz (GMS readers' forum sponsor), Sue Zartler (GMS
asst. cross country coach), Corinne O'Donoghue (GMS special education teacher).
•Leaves of absence requests were granted for: Kathryn Clark, Gerald Martin, Jay Lipe, Brittany
Sitko and Jamie Berry. A leave of absence request for GHS Spanish teacher Jamie Althoff for the
2010-11 school year was approved.
Chatham Clarion
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Issue Date: March 18, 2010