A student and parent, Jillian and Jina Kearns, who toured Europe this summer with the Spanish Club offered a presentation during the recent Ridgemont Board of Education meeting, alongside Spanish teacher Danielle Webber.
The group spent 13 days traveling through Italy, France and Spain. In Italy, they stopped in Rome, Assisi, Florence and Pisa.
Students traveled to Southern France and the French Riviera with stops in Nice, Avignone, and Provence. In Spain, they visited Barcelona and Madrid.
Junior/Senior High Principal Nick Stuck and Elementary Principal Tana Mull also introduced the new staff to the board members.
“We have a full staff with the addition of a full-time school liaison and director of academic testing and guidance, this is a great accomplishment to start out the year,” said Interim Superintendent Chris Pfister, who recently retired as the superintendent of Waynesfield-Goshen Schools.
“Thank you for your dedicated work to get the school year off to a great start.”
Members also approved Pfister’s interim superintendent contract, which officially began Aug. 8, to allow the board time to employ a new superintendent following the resignation of its former Superintendent Sally Henrick.
His contract is for a period not to exceed a total of 200 work days and he will be paid at the rate of $500 per day.
In other personnel matters, members accepted the resignation from Araina Johnson, director of student services, effective Aug. 8.
One-year limited contracts also were extended to Title I teachers Sarabeth Wolf and Tami Johnson.
In other action, the board:
• approved the employment of Becky Large as classified assistant cook, effective Aug. 15;
• approved Holly Frey for a salary adjustment for an increase in training to master’s;
• approved the following teachers for mentoring new teachers through the Ohio Resident Educator Program during the 2022-23 school year and receiving payment in the amount of $450 upon completion: Darcy Ruppright, Jessica Thompson, Nicole Stuck, Stephanie Jolliff, Danielle Webber, Tom Jarvis, Victoria Welker and Kevin Wingfield;
• approved the Interdistrict Contract with Midwest Regional ESC for the 2022-2023 school year for services, along with the School Social Liaison Agreement with Midwest Regional ESC, and the Director of Academic Testing and Guidance Agreement with Midwest Regional ESC; and
• expressed appreciation for the following donations: Ann Rose, Deana Gibson and Mekenzie Jolliff for donating their time to help the community plant with the FFA at open house; Emily Buck and Stacy Stacklin for the use of lawn games; Madisen Jolliff for taking family Back to School photos; and 101 Smokehouse, Dressy Dogs Gourmet Hot Dogs, Caity Did’s and Kona Ice for setting up at the Open House.
The next meeting is 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, in the conference room.