By Paula Pyzik Scott

At the June 27 Ada Schools Board of Education meeting, members met the new

elementary school principal, Angie Maag, and thanked Dennis Recker for serving as interim superintendent during the past school year.

In 2023-2024 Maag taught at Leipsic Elementary School. She succeeds Jeremy Clark, who came to Ada Schools in 2022. Clark has accepted a position with Bath Local School District.

In his report to the board, High School principal Dan Lee noted that it would not be difficult to implement the new State of Ohio policy prohibiting use of cell phones during school. Lee explained this is already the policy for grades K-8. Ada High School students are provided with Chromebooks, giving them needed Internet access for school work. Students will be able to store phones in their lockers. 

When Superintendent’s Recommendations A-Q were presented to the board, Member Ted Griffith made a motion to separate items J (approve stipend for Transportation Coordinator), L (Adopt a resolution requesting approval of State Teachers Retirement System)  and O (Approve changes to student handbook). The motion did not receive a second. The items were approved 4-1.

In his comments to the board, Recker noted that during the past year the Ada Schools have been maintained as “the heart of the community,” enjoying strong support from tax payers and performing well among schools in Ohio. He warned that in the next 2-5 years Ohio public schools will face “overt and covert” efforts to dismantle public education and reduce state funding.

Julie Simmons is the new superintendent of Ada Schools. Her contract began on July 1.

The next meeting of the board of education is July 18, 2024.