Ridgemont plans library/maker space, gets grant for more bus cameras

By TIM THOMAS

Times editor

MOUNT VICTORY — Ridgemont will be converting a room into a library/maker space for the next school year.

Tammy Kissell, elementary principal, announced the move at Thursday’s board of education.

“The library is the heart of the school,” she said, stressing the need to focus on literacy.

One-half of the room will be a library, with the other half a maker space which offers space to help students collaborate on projects, Kissell said.

Also at the meeting, transportation supervisor Robert Ball said Ridgemont will be receiving a grant to improve surveillance in and around school buses.

The grant is from the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation and in place of the existing three cameras now on buses, the new system will have six cameras – although it has the capability for up to 12, he said.

Four of the cameras will be focused on students, one will look out the windshield and the other will target the driver’s side of the vehicle to catch anyone illegally passing a stopped school bus.

The school board also recognized students who will be recognized or participating in the FFA State Convention May 5-6 in Columbus. Adviser Stephanie Jolliff said Ridgemont will have the most state science fair finalists of any school in Ohio.

State FFA Degree recipients to be honored include Abby McElfresh, Jillian Kearns, Kevin Eckstein, Loryn Elsasser, Lola Ramsey, Makynna Parthemore, McKala Grauel and Weston McKinley.

Jolliff said when junior high school students are included, Ridgemont will have close to 60 students attending the convention.

In other action, the board approved the hiring of two new teachers for the 2022-2023 school year.

Lori Romie was approved as the 4-12 agricultural and environmental systems teacher on a one year contract. A graduate of Covington Schools, she received her bachelor of science in agriculture from Ohio State and is working on her master’s from Colorado State. For the last four years she has been an agricultural educator at Spencerville Schools.

Ridgemont graduate Wyatt James was approved as the new sixth grade math and science teacher on a one year contract. He earned his bachelor of science degree in education from OSU.

Superintendent Sally Henrick told the board that it is “very difficult to find people to fill positions, the most difficult I’ve ever seen.” She has talked to other districts and they are having the same problem.

Also at the meeting, the board approved supplemental contracts for the 2022-2023 school year. Topping the list is Shawn Smith, who will serve as athletic director and boys basketball head coach. Tyler Tillman will be the junior varsity boys basketball coach. Tim Weyant will return as head coach of the girls basketball team, with Keysten Creamer the junior varsity coach and Mackenzie Rader the eighth grade girls hoops coach.

Other supplementals were approved for Erica Elsasser, fall and winter high school chearleading; Collin Wallace, golf coach; Kim Hawk, guidance 20 days; Darcy Ruppright, volleyball head coach, junior class advisor/prom and extracurricular supervisor; Lucretia Fenwick, musical advisor and swing choir coordinator; Cassie Thomas, pep band instructor, jazz band instructor and summer music program 10 days; Stephanie Jolliff and Lori Romie, vocational agriculture instructor 60 days; eighth grade volleyball, Brittany Rudasill.

In other business, the board:

– Congratulated Roman Williams for being selected as the Quest Federal Credit Union 2022 Teacher of the Year from Ridgemont. Later in the meeting the board accepted William’s resignation as integrated language arts English teacher effect at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.

– Approved the list of seniors for the class of 2022 who will graduate June 3.

– Voted to purchase 175 Chromebooks and accessories at a total cost of $53,348.55.

– Approved fiscal year 2023 service agreements with the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center for educational assistants, behavior therapist services (as needed), preschool program services and school social liaison.

– Approved field trips to the FFA State Convention in Columbus May 5-6 and the FFA National Convention in Indianapolis, Ind., Oct. 26-29.

– Conducted a closed session to discuss finances, including the current status and five-year goals and budgets.