Ridgemont preschool expansion slated Posted on March 25, 2022 0 By TIM THOMAS Times editor MOUNT VICTORY — Plans are taking shape for the expansion of the preschool program at Ridgemont Schools. Superintendent Sally Henrick outlined the plan which will see the doubling of space for preschoolers as the program moves from the Mount Victory school to the Ridgeway building for the 2022-2023 school year. Ridgemont currently has one preschool classroom in the Mount Victory building, with both a morning and afternoon class. She said it serves slightly more than 30 students, but there is a waiting list to get into the program. The new plan is to develop two preschool classrooms at the Ridgeway building and both will have morning and afternoon sessions, Henrick said. The rooms will feature the same color scheme and furnishings as in Mount Victory. In addition, both the tile floors and ceiling tiles will be replaced. An office space will be created as well. The school district would provide transportation for students to the Ridgeway building and the district would offer breakfast and lunch. “We’re super excited to get started on that,” she said. Another part of the project would be a new playground to the west of the building. It would feature a chain link fence and at least a set of swings. There is another piece of playground apparatus being considered, but it would cost $25,000 and Henrick isn’t sure if Ridgemont has the funding to cover the purchase. She doesn’t have an estimate for how much the preschool project will cost as it hasn’t been put out for bids yet. However, it will be covered by the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER), which is part of the CARES Act. Also at the meeting, the board: – Approved Heiberger Paving of Canal Winchester to be the contractor for the track replacement project. It submitted the lowest bid of $518,695 among three bidders. Henrick said the plan is for the track work to begin in May. – Adopted a 2022-2023 school calendar with the first day of school set for Aug. 17. Christmas break will run from Dec. 19 to 30, with school back in session on Jan. 2, 2023. The last day of school for students will be May 25 and high school graduation will be June 2. Henrick noted all two-hour delays for professional development have been eliminated. Instead there will be two extra days off for students during which teachers will have professional development. – Approved a resolution to seek renewal of a .5 mill tax for five years for current operating expenses of the Ridgemont Public Library. It would appear on the November ballot. First approved in 1983, it generates $19,790 annually. Hardin County Auditor Mike Bacon said the library is seeking the renewal a year early to give it additional time to pass the issue in 2023 should it fail in 2022. – Adopted revised permanent appropriations for fiscal year 2022. The general fund total is $7,351,632 with the grand total of all funds being $9,899,751. – Voted to accept the retirement of Pam Robinson, sixth grade math and science teacher, effective at the end of the 2021-2022 school year. She will have taught for 30 years in the Ridgemont district. – Accepted the resignation of Megan Looney as College Credit Plus and high school English teacher, effective at the end of the 2021-2022 school year. – Voted to non-renew all winter supplemental contracts since the winter season is complete. – Approved certified teacher substitutes Wendy Paul, Daphny Stover and Jessica Wilson as well as Rusty Bingham as a TEMP substitute. – Approved payment to Jennifer Ledley and Lisa Oberlitner for reading tutor planning outside of the school day. – Motion to approve Riley Hunt, a student from Kenton City Schools, to travel with the Spanish Club to Europe June 16-28. – Approved non-certified/classified substitutes Kara Jones, bus driver and educational aide, and Becky Large, cafeteria, secretarial, custodial and educational aide. – Approved Jace McGue as a volunteer assistant baseball coach. – Approved the purchase of a new van from White’s Ford in Urbana through the Metropolitan Education Council (META) School Bus Cooperative Purchasing Program. The cost will be $32,247.95. – Approved a College Credit Plus agreement with Rhodes State College for the 2022-2023 school year. – Set a board work session for 4 p.m. on April 7. The next regular board meeting will be April 28 at 4:30 p.m.
