At the Thursday, March 30 meeting of the Ada Board of Education, board members approved a motion to hire Dennis L. Recker as interim superintendent for a period of 11 months, from August 2023 to June 2024. The board also approved an earlier retirement date for Superintendent Robin Vanbuskirk of June 31, 2023. Therefore an appointment will be needed to cover the month of July 2023.
New hires for 2023-2024 also included Carrie Smith, 6th grade social studies and science teacher; and Zachary Dunn, high school chemistry and physics teacher.
In the New Business segment of the meeting, board members discussed the opportunity to join the Blanchard Valley Conference, their impressions of the March 6 community forum on this topic, and their perspectives on the issue. Board president Matt Gossman noted the lack of depth on Ada teams and said he felt Ada would be competitive in the BVC. Vice President Amy Mullins did not comment. Ron Fleming said he was leaning toward the change and noted that while football is seen as guiding this decision, soccer is becoming more popular and that children begin to play soccer at a very young age. Ted Griffith was disappointed that individual schools in the BVC had not reached out to Ada and said he was not ready to vote. Steve Ramey praised the way participants discussed the change and the public meeting and noted the risk of injury for younger football players.
Gossman called for the issue to be put on the April agenda.
CONTINUES
In other action, the board approved the financial report made by Treasurer Kim Light (attached).
The board also approved the following resolutions of recognition and commendation for six Ada HIgh School Student who have excelled in athletics and art:
The Ada Board of Education hereby adopts a Resolution of Recognition and Commendation to Lily Baumgartner and Carlie Oldfield for competing at the 2023 Division II state swim meet in Canton, Ohio. On Thursday, February 23, 2023, Lily Baumgartner swam the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke preliminary heats, making it to the B Finals Friday. On Friday, February 24, 2023, she finished third in the 100 butterfly finals with a time of 55.87 and fifth in the 100 backstroke finals with a time of 57.27. On Thursday, February 23, 2023, Carlie Oldfield finished in a 26th-place tie in the 50-yard freestyle preliminaries with a time of 24.97.
The Ada Board of Education hereby adopts a Resolution of Recognition and Commendation to Clayton McClain and Marley Bulerin for competing at the 2023 state boys and girls wrestling meets in Columbus, Ohio, on March 10, 2023. Clayton McClain finished his season with a record of 40-12. Marley Bulerin ended her season with a record of 30-7.
The Ada Board of Education hereby adopts a Resolution of Recognition and Commendation to Kylee Pott and Xander Wells for having artwork juried into the Ohio Governor's Youth Art Exhibition. The show will open on April 23rd in Columbus and run until May 18.
The board also unanimously approved 18 recommendations by the superintendent including:
- College Credit Plus agreements with Ohio Northern University and James A Rhodes State College for 2023-2024
- Allen County ESC services for 2022-2023
- Partners in Education program for 2023-2024
- NWOET membership
- Volunteer driver Ashley Haynor (retroactively)
- ESL Tutor Bethany Daft (retroactively)
- Library board appointments: Aaron Morford, Melenie Weaver
- Classified contracts: Kathie Rooker, Custodian; Corey Ward, Bus Driver and classified substitute Scotty Fuqua
- Supplemental contracts: Jackson Bradfield, physical condition coach
- Out of state 8th grade trip to Washington D.C.
The next meeting of the Ada Board of Education will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26.
