Board calls special meeting for tonight to discuss superintendent search
The Ridgemont Board of Education members handled a number of personnel items at their recent meeting, including accepting the resignation of Superintendent Sally Henrick, effective at the end of the 2021-22 contract.
Scott Howell of the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center was approved as acting interim superintendent.
Members have called a special board meeting for 7 p.m. today, Tuesday, Aug. 2, to discuss the superintendent search.
The board also accepted the following other resignations, all effective at the conclusion of the 2021-22 contract year: Tammy Kissell, K-6 principal; Anthony Fink, grades 7-9 social studies/English language arts; Samantha McCullough, intervention specialist; Tobin O’Reilly, grades 7-9 English language arts; and Katrina Riepenhoff, fifth-grade.
Members extended two-year administrative contracts to: Nick Stuck as junior/senior high school Principal and Tana Mull as the elementary principal; both effective Aug. 1, through July 31, 2024.
Stuck has served as a teacher in the Ridgemont, Findlay City, White Hall and Kenton City districts. He received degrees from The Ohio State University, Ashland University and Concordia University.
Mull was a teacher at Marion City Schools and received her degree from Ashland University.
The board hired seven new staff members on one-year contracts, starting with the 2022-23 school year, including Araina Johnson, the new director of student services. She has been a high school science teacher at Ridgemont, and has served at the Auglaize County Educational Service Center online, Focus Learning and Ohio Hi-Point Career Center.
Other new hires include: Angela Arthur and Tara Neer, 9-12 Language Arts/English; Madison Geyer, 7-9 Language Arts/English; Matthew Stemmer, 7-9 social studies; Andrew Trihaft, 9-12 social studies, government and American history; Luke Taviano, 1/2 athletic director, 1/2 monitor/aide position.
In building and grounds updates, the new track surface is moving forward, and the construction for the preschool rooms at the Ridgeway building are progressing as well.
The Welcome Center is now open to enroll students. Information on schedules will be e-mailed soon. Parents should enroll and update current student information in Final Forms for the 2022-2023 school year.
Open House for students in grades K-12 will be Monday, Aug. 15, from 4 to 6 p.m. to meet teachers, drop off your supplies, pay school fees, and grades 7-12 can pick up their Chromebooks. More information will be sent out closer to the event.
The first day of school for students is Wednesday, Aug. 17. School hours will remain the same, doors will open at 8:15 a.m. and classes start at 8:30 a.m. Dismissal will be at 3:15 p.m.
Lunch prices and free and reduced lunch applications are on the school website under Departments and Food Services.
More information about the 2022-2023 school year will be posted on the Ridgemont School website and shared with parents via ParentSquare.
In other board news, a shared service agreement with Kenton City Schools for special education services was approved for the upcoming school year, along with a school resource officer contract with Hardin County Sheriff’s Office for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years.
In other action, the board:
• approved Lynda Vermillion as a regular route bus driver for the 2022-2023 school year;
• approved an agreement with Christine Jeffers to assist the district with scheduling.;
• extended the following supplemental contracts: Rene Essex, head assistant football; Don Galbraith, Bobby Snyder, and Mike Bell, assistant football; Mike McGue, junior high head football; Jace McGue, junior high assistant football; Nikia Rudasill, junior high fall cheerleading; Danielle Webber, Quiz Bowl, senior class adviser; Araina Johnson, district test coordinator, guidance 20 days;
• approved the following volunteer coaches: Bob Stuck and Nick Stuck for boys basketball and JT Taviano for football;
• approved the 2022-2023 Bus Driver Handbook, as well as all bus drivers and school-owned van drivers;
• approved payment for teachers for Title I, PBIS, and New Teacher Professional Development; and
• approved Kate Wingfield as the delegate and Matt Jennings as the alternate for the OSBA Annual Business Meeting.
The next regular meeting is 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, in the conference room.