Minutes of Ridgemont Board of Education Meeting Released

Happy Summer! I hope all of you are enjoying some time with your family and friends and enjoying the beautiful summer weather. We are working hard to prepare for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year. At the Athletic Facility, the old track surface and asphalt have been removed. The base was found to be somewhat unstable so we are working to build the base before replacing the asphalt and then resurfacing. Many exciting changes are coming for the 2022-2023 school year.

Information about the 2022- 2023 school will be posted on the Ridgemont School website and shared with parents via ParentSquare as we get closer to the start of next school year.

Upcoming Calendar:

Wednesday, August 17 First Day of School

Monday, September 5 No School – Labor Day
Tuesday, September 6 to Friday, September 9 – No School – Enjoy the Hardin County Fair!
Monday, September 12 No School – Teacher Professional Development

Friday, October 21 No School – Teacher Professional Development
Thursday, October 20 End of First Grading Period

June 23, 2022 Regular Board Meeting Highlights
Congratulations to Brenden Eckstein, Ruth Eckstein and Masen Jolliff on being selected to represent Ohio in the AgriScience Competition in September and travel to the Big E. These students were selected in the top 8 of all science fair papers in Ohio and will have the opportunity to compete and learn about agriculture.
Personnel
The board accepted the resignations from the following employees, effective the end of the 2021-2022 contract: Jennifer Ledley as Third Grade Teacher, Danielle Poland as 7-9 Science Teacher, Lori Seiler as Cafeteria Cashier, Jill Stover as 7-12 Principal, Brian Claybaugh as 9-12 Social Studies Teacher, and Kim Hawk as Director Student Services.

All Spring and all other supplemental contracts were non renewed for the 2021-2022 school year.

The board approved hiring Robert Amspach as 6th Grade English Language Arts and Reading / Social Studies Teacher on a one year limited contract for the 2022-2023 school year. Mr. Amspach is from the Galion area and has teaching experience from area schools. His teaching degree is from Wright State University and he is currently a student at Ashland University. Please welcome Mr. Amspach to Ridgemont.

The board approved hiring Holly Frey as the 3rd grade teacher on a one year limited contract for the 2022-2023 school year. Ms. Frey is from the Forest area and earned her degree from The University of Findlay and is currently attending Bowling Green State University. During the 2021-2022 school year Ms. Frey worked with our Preschool students through the MRESC as an intervention specialist. Please welcome Ms. Frey.

The board approved hiring Sara McKee as 4th Grade Math and Science Teacher on a one year limited contract for the 2022-2023 school year. Ms. McKee is an alumni of the Ridgemont School District and we welcome her back to Ridgemont. Ms. Mckee earned her teaching degree from The Ohio State University. Welcome back home Sara!

Luke Taviano was approved for a supplemental contract for the 2022-2023 school year as Weight Room Coordinator. The board approved teacher salary adjustments for the 2022-2023 school year.

Operations
The Board approved the contractor agreement for the preschool renovation and playground improvements. The contractor will be Elford, Inc. for the amount of $324,413.00

The Student/Athletic Handbook, Student 1:1 Device Handbook and the NWCC League Athletic Fees for the 2022-2023 school year were all approved.

The approved school fees for the 2022-2023 school year are:

• Kindergarten-3rd grade school fees – $20 per student
• 4th – 6th grade school fees – $35 per student
• 7-12 Technology Fee – $50 per student in each grade level.
• 9-12 Art Class Fee – $22 per student/per class
• Class Dues for All 7th through 12th Graders-$25.00
(No fundraisers will be approved to raise funds for classes. The $25 fee will support all class projects such as prom and graduation.)
• FFA Dues-$25.00
• 5-12 Grade Band Instrument Rental Fee for all students using school instruments-$25.00
• Miscellaneous Band Charges-At Cost

The approved athletic gate ticket cost for the 2022-2023 school year, as per NWCC League Constitution are:

High School Contests
• Adults-$7.00
• Student/Senior-$5.00

Jr. High Contests
• Adults-$5.00
• Student/Senior-$5.00

The membership and resolution for the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding was approved for the 2022-2023 school year. The FFA field trip to the Big E AgriScience Competition in West Springfield, Massachusetts from September 15-18, 2022 was approved.

Donations
We want to thank everyone who has generously donated to our school. The Ridgemont Board of Education accepted donations and took the time to thank the donors listed below for their generosity to the district.

-Thank you to Mt. Victory State Bank for treating the staff with a pizza lunch on their work day to celebrate the completion of another school year.

-Thank you to New Leaf Lawn and Garden Center for allowing us to borrow plants for the graduation ceremony.

-Thank you to those who donated to our students going on the Europe Trip.
*Hardin Memorial for the donation of Goodie Bags.
*Quest and Michael and Tina Hunt for the donation of t-shirts for traveling.

-Thank you to all of the following who kindly donated for the Weight Room Overhaul Fundraiser! We appreciate all who helped with the fundraiser and all who made donations. Total donation was $26,325.00

Gold Sponsors
*Quest Federal Credit Union
*McCullough Industries Olympic Steel
*Mt. Victory State Bank
*Liberty National Bank
*Hardin County Community Foundation
*Kevin and Kate Wingfield – Wingfield Farms

Green Sponsors
*Hensel Ready Mix
*Underwood Stock Farms
*State Rep Jon Cross
*OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital

White Sponsors
*The Jennings Family
*Newland Heydinger Insurance

Booster Sponsors
*HSLC
*Mike and Jannette Jacobs
*The Haushalter Family

*Ridgemont Activities Boosters

(Minutes prepared and released by Ridgemont Superintendent Sally Hendricks)