OC program centers on team building

The Oil City School Board on Monday evening heard from Amy Highfield, assistant principal at Hasson Heights Elementary School, about Houses of Hasson, a team building program at the school.

Highfield said the goal of the program is to create unity in the building of relationships between different grades.

Last year, the first year for Houses of Hasson, teachers and students were split into four groups, or “Houses,” Highfield said.

On Tuesday, each team wears its team color. Last year, before the COVID-19 pandemic, they would eat together at lunch as a team instead of as classes, Highfield said.

The children, she said, receive points for good behavior. Each of the four “Houses” also keeps a running total of all the points team members earn, Highfield said. During the Christmas season, each of the “Houses” decorated a Christmas tree and collected items to donate to Precious Paws animal rescue.

“This has had a big positive impact on the school culture in the building, not that that was a problem before. Now the students are more connected across grades,” Superintendent Lynda Weller said.

Other business

– The board approved the retirement of Luanne Bodamer, Oil City Middle School’s administrative assistant.

Board member Jim Disque commended Bodamer for doing excellent work for the district for many years.

“I’m sorry to see her go, but I guess it’s time,” Disque said.

– The board approved the resignations of Justin McFall, a computer technologist, and Wendy Masters, Science Department head, with seven votes cast to approve the resignations.

Board member Mark Kerr abstained from voting and board member Tyler Johnson was unable to attend the meeting.

– The board approved the list of boy’s basketball coaches in a 7-1 vote.

Disque voted against accepting the list of boy’s basketball coaches. He said the decision was personal, as he didn’t believe one of the people on the list was fit to be a coach.