JEROMESVILLE — Hillsdale Local Schools’ Monday board meeting saw about 32 minutes of public comment from eight people.
The comments went over the allotted half hour the board typically gives for public comment, making up nearly half the meeting.
Commenters focused on two issues: a board decision from June to cut the number of days of extended time for a teacher in the district, and claims of a problematic girls’ soccer team culture.
More time for Hoffman
Three people — one community member and two students — focused their comments on a June decision by the board to approve 30 days of extended time for Mark Hoffman, a vocational agriculture teacher with the district.
The board’s minutes from its regular June meeting show that it unanimously approved Hoffman’s 30 days of extended time. Hoffman was not present at Monday’s meeting.
His wife, Abbey Hoffman, read a statement to the board. Her statement claimed that in the past, Mark has had 60 days of extended time. The decrease in time, she said, affects his ability to work with the school’s Future Farmers of America students.
“I have remained silent for six months and feel that I can no longer do so, and I wanted you all to publicly hear the negative impact your choice has had on Mark, our family and the students in the FFA program,” Abbey said in her comments.
She said the 30 days of extended time, rather than 60 days, has affected Mark Hoffman’s retirement plans. Abbey added the choice came without Mark being consulted.
She stated that thanks to having fewer days, Mark Hoffman already reached his limit and can no longer participate in or advise FFA students.
The two student commenters both spoke about feeling that they’re missing out without Mark Hoffman’s guidance.
Makayla Schwendeman, a 15-year-old sophomore, said she wanted to participate in advanced parliamentary procedure this year. Schwendeman claimed that event is going unfilled due to Mark Hoffman’s absence.
“Both of our ag advisors are key pieces in helping our chapter function,” Schwendeman said. “We need them both to attend as many activities as possible.”
Brayden Rakovec, the vice president of Hillsdale’s FFA chapter, added that not having Mark Hoffman at FFA meetings and conventions has been “strange.”
Abbey Hoffman, Schwendeman and Rakovec called on the board to reassess its June decision and grant Mark Hoffman more days of extended time.
The board did not approve any more extended time for Mark Hoffman on Monday.
Soccer struggles
Another five people stepped up to publicly document their issues with Hillsdale Local Schools’ head soccer coach, Michelle Lahmers. They claimed the head coach played favorites with athletes on the soccer team.
Three of the people who stepped forward to list their issues were Erica, Jill and Justin Van Stee. Erica was a senior on the team this year. Her father, Justin, provided a written statement to all board members. He read part of the statement aloud at the meeting.
“My daughter Erica has been bullied,” Justin said. “She’s had retaliatory behavior shown to her from the soccer coach.”
Justin and Jill claimed they met with school administrators about the alleged bullying. They brought it to the board after feeling that there wasn’t enough action taken about their concerns. They said they had written documentation to back their claims and were willing to share it with the board.
Erica and two other players, Gretchen Heldenbrand and Kori Vesper, gave comments as well. Vesper claimed she was kicked off the team via text. Vesper and Erica both said they felt their experience on the soccer team had ruined their senior year.
Nicholas Atterholt, the vice president of Hillsdale’s board, interjected during Vesper and Erica’s comment.
He said he was taking in the frustrations, but encouraged the girls to keep in mind that the year hadn’t ended yet.
The board recognized Lahmers, the soccer coach, and one of the other players on the team, Kailyn Moneer, on the agenda Monday.
Moneer, a captain on the team this fall, earned the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association Leadership Award, presented by the Ohio National Guard, this year.
That award goes to one male and one female high school senior soccer player statewide each year.
