Riverside Junior High and High School Principal Kelly Kauffman reported at the Tuesday evening board of education meeting that despite the difficulties of the pandemic year and school shutdown last spring, the district is on track to graduate all 68 of its Class of 2021 seniors Friday, May 21.
“It’s a testament to the diligent efforts of our teaching staff and the hard work of our students that this is even possible,” she said. “There were some extreme challenges this year, but we’re really happy to have pulled through.”
The in-person commencement ceremony is set for 6:30 p.m. May 21 at the high school gymnasium, with the ceremony location subject to change. Kauffman said a new configuration will be offered with the bleachers on both sides of the gymnasium to provide for additional seating to meet COVID-19 guidelines.
Last spring, the district hosted its Class of 2020 commencement as a drive-thru style event in the school parking lot because of the indoor gathering restrictions at the time.
Also at the meeting, Superintendent Scott Mann recognizing one of the Riverside Class of 2021 members, Kale Long, who has received an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., likely for the first time in the school’s history. He was appointed by U.S. Congressman Jim Jordan and then was accepted for the academy, which has around a 10 percent acceptance rate.
“His hard work and dedication has paid off and he’s earned a full ride at the Air Force Academy,” district officials said.
A son of Shawn and Terri Long, Kale has been involved in football, basketball, baseball, track and Business Professionals of America, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Pirate Advisory Committee, United Way, Student Council, and is serving as the senior class vice president.
He will be majoring in either civil or aeronautical engineering and also intends to try out for the Academy’s football team as a walk-on.
Kauffman also reported the school’s Evening of Excellence is slated for 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, at the school gymnasium to honor top-performing students this year.
In buildings and grounds reports, Mann provided an overview of upcoming summer maintenance efforts, noting that the asphalt project is mostly completed, but crack sealing will be taking place in district parking lots.
The high school gymnasium also will be painted this summer, and the five-year effort to replace carpeting throughout the K-12 building wrap up in the high school wing.
Additionally, the cooler and freezer replacement project will be taking place, with the demolition to begin June 1.
The district’s new school bus also will be arriving in June.
Members also convened in executive session to discuss the employment or compensation of a public employee. No action was taken after the session.
In other action, the board:
• approved the employment of Jennifer Allen, custodian , effective March 18 through July 31;
• approved Kyle Knight and John Zumberger for summer maintenance help on an as needed basis; and
• extended the following supplemental contracts: Ryan Robinson, JV boys baseball, seventh-grade girls basketball; Helena Faulder JV girls volleyball; Rod Yoder, head varsity girls basketball; Jason Yoder, JV girls basketball; Tim Woods, head varsity boys basketball; Dennis Sanford, eighth-grade boys basketball; Seth Bodenmiller, seventh-grade boys basketball; Megan Graves, eighth-grade girls basketball; Zerah Crouch, boys bowling; Jaime Yelton, girls bowling; Brittney McClintick, head basketball cheerleading; Amanda Gammell, junior high basketball cheerleading;Tim McGill, junior high girls basketball coverage; Jan Knight, varsity girls basketball coverage, varsity boys basketball coverage, Rod Yoder, varsity boys basketball coverage.
The next meeting is 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 18, at the school library.