By Martha Jacob – 

During the Western Brown Board of Education meeting on Nov. 20, board members were treated to a presentation by members of the Western Brown High School FCCLA Program and Student Diversity Club led by advisor Ms. Julie Dye.
Dye’s students were asked to present to the board, the importance of FCCLA and the skills that will be transferable for life. Those FCCLA students speaking included five freshman and the president of the FCCLA, Elizabeth Booth of the new diversity club.
“Our FCCLA kids discussed the importance of acceptance and tolerance of all students,” Dye said.
“Western Brown’s FCCLA is offered at our school to all students in grades 9-12,” Dye said. “The curriculum has been modernized to fit teens of the twenty-first century. Students are able to learn skills and obtain knowledge applicable to the real world.”
Dye explained that topics covered in FCCLA include child development, parenting, nutrition, finance, diversity training, mental health, healthy relationships, interior design, fashion design and management, career preparation and college preparation.
Superintendent Reagan White updated the board on happenings and stated that the Veterans Day assembly was deemed a huge success. He also congratulated the Mt. Orab Middle School for receiving the ‘Momentum Award’ given out by the Ohio Department of Education to building who gained higher than projected performance growth on state testing.White also recognized Martha Jacob, reporter for the Brown County Press honoring her for making the Ohio School Boards Association Media Honor Roll.
In other business at the meeting, the following actions were taken by the board:
• approved the retirement of John Mica Wells as Western Brown High School custodian, effective 1-1-18
• approve the retirement of Dan Reed, Mt. Orab Middle School custodian, effective 1-1-18
• approve employment of Chris Duncan as high school volunteer assistant baseball coach, Nate Spears as high school volunteer freshman baseball coach, Ready School Grant stipends Jan. 2017 to Oct. 2017;
• approve employment of Michael Mullis as sub custodian, effective 11-2-2017, Vivian Sheldon as Hamersville Elementary/middle school 4-hour cook, effective 10-23-17, Emily Hardy as high school volunteer swim coach and Kristi Smith as HEMS, Friday school teacher and Debbie Adkins as HEMS sub Friday School monitor;
• approve sub bus drivers/sub bus aides, David Smith, Paul Patrick, Kris Swanson (pending certification and David Smith and Paul Patrick as van drivers, effective 11-20-17;
• approve Debbie Swearingen as van driver;
• approve pay increase for Kellie Day to $15 per hour effective 10-30-17 and approve the  OHSSA Soccer tournament personnel;
• approve building tech aides stipends;
• approve several field trips, the freshman baseball team and approved Nathan Hauke and Chad Sexton attending the OAHPERD Convention in Sandusky;
• approved a plan for identification and Service of Children Who are Gifted.