Ridgemont Board of Education members were updated on plans for the Class of 2021 commencement exercises, set for 7 p.m. Friday, June 4, at the football stadium in Ridgeway.
Parents will be seated in chairs on the field and the Class of 2021 will be seated in the stands.
Rain dates are set for 7 p.m. June 5 or June 6 at 7 p.m.. Face masks will be required. The district’s social media pages will include updates with further details.
“Graduation will be upon us soon and we are looking forward to the celebration for our Class of 2021,” Superintendent Sally Henrick said. “Ridgemont is proud of our graduates.”
Also during the meeting, members accepted the resignation of Erica O’Keeffe, principal of curriculum and instruction, effective Aug. 1
In operational matters, the approved a resolution to refund a portion of the bonds originally issued in August 2012 for the grades pre-K through 12 construction project, to take advance of lower interest rates and saving taxpayers in bond interest. The issuance of the bonds is in an amount not to exceed $6.25 million.
The purchase of 200 Chromebooks was approved, at a cost of $55,255, as replacements in grades 3 through 6 and for the seventh-grade class.
Members also approved the purchase of a new 84-passenger bus from Cardinal Bus Sales & Service through Metropolitan Educational Council’s School Bus Purchasing Program, at a cost of $98,346, for the 2021-22 school year.
District officials said kindergarten registration is now open and is taking place online via Final Forms at https://ridgemont-oh.finalforms.com/. The deadline to register is May 15.
In other upcoming activities, the district operates on a two-hour delay Tuesday, May 4, for teacher professional development.
The last day of school for 2021-22 is Tuesday, May 4, and students will be dismissed one hour early that day.
In other action, the board:
• extended a one-year teaching contract to Roman Williams, high school integrated languages arts;
• approved the list of seniors for the Class of 2021 to graduate June 4, provided all local and state requirements are met;
• extended the following supplemental contracts for 2021-22: Nick Stuck, head boys basketball; Shawn Smith, JV boys basketball;Tim Weyant, head girls basketball; Keysten Creamer, JV Girls basketball; J.T. Reppart, seventh-grade boys basketball; Tyler Tillman, eighth-grade boys basketball; Erica Elsasser, seventh-grade girls basketball; Travis Ramsey, eighth-grade girls basketball; Autumn Francisco, high school fall, winter cheerleading; Danette Weaver, junior high fall, winter cheerleading; Brian Claybaugh, head football; Darcy Ruppright, head volleyball, junior class adviser/prom, extracurricular co-supervisor; Danielle Webber, Quiz Bowl, senior class adviser; Toni McKee, assistant volleyball; Malana Huffman, freshman volleyball; Dan McCulloch, pep band, jazz band; Kim Hawk, test coordinator; and Stephanie Jolliff, extracurricular supervisor;
• approved the following staff for extended service days: Kim Hawk, guidance, 20 days; Dan McCulloch, music program, 10 days; Stephanie Jolliff, Shelby Faulkner, vocational agriculture, 60 days; Shawn Smith, athletic director, 30 days;
• approved the following volunteer coaches for 2021-22: Bob Stuck, Ryan Newland, boys basketball assistants; Samantha McCullough, girls basketball assistant;
• approved an agreement with Midwest Educational Service Center for educational assistants, study hall monitor, resident educator professional development services, special education supervision services (as needed), CPI training, and preschool program services;
• approved a College Credit Plus agreement with Rhodes State College.
• approved optional Student insurance for the 2021-22 school year, check the district’s website in June to sign up for this optional insurance or contact our office if you are interested in the football insurance coverage in June;
• extended thanks to the following donors: Dustin and Keri Robinson for donation of clothing to Nurse’s Clinic; Renee Stalder’s donation of hats and gloves to students; Nancy Ledley family’s donation to Ridgemont FFA in memory of Lauren Ledley; Tom at Belly Acre for donation of pizza boxes for sixth-grade cell project.