Ridgemont School’s Board of Education Conducts May Meeting

School Staff Appreciation Week is this week. We want to take this opportunity to thank all of the Ridgemont Staff who make a difference every day. Our staff works hard and we are very grateful for their daily dedication to our students. Please send a kind email or thank them in a note or in person, your support means a lot as they are an important part of your child’s life.

The Class of 2023 will graduate on Friday, June 2, 2023, at 7:00 pm in the Mt. Victory Gym. Everyone is invited to share this moment with our seniors. We are proud of our graduates and we wish them the best of luck in their future. We are honored to be a part of their education.

The board hired an Assistant Superintendent to start August 1, 2023 at the meeting tonight.

Please welcome to the Ridgemont family, Brian Hogan. Mr. Hogan was approved by the board as the Assistant Superintendent effective August 1, 2023. Mr. Hogan is from the Bellefontaine area and has degrees from Urbana University and the University of Dayton. His leadership license is from Bowling Green University. He was a Government and History Teacher for 10 years and has been a principal for the last 7 years. The list of extra curricular activities that he has coached include junior high and high school football, basketball and track, along with musical director and show choir director.

Upcoming Calendar

May 11 & 12 Kindergarten Screening – Call the office for an appt. at 937-354-2141
May 25 – Last Day of School
June 2 – Senior Graduation – 7:00 pm Mt. Victory Gym

Students in the News-

The board would like to recognize and thank the following retiring staff members a gift from the district for their service to the students of the Ridgemont Schools. Thank you and enjoy your well deserved retirement!
Mrs. Sherrill Cramer – Bus Driver – 8+ years
Mrs. Deb Newland – Cafeteria Food Service – 27+ years
The board would also like to thank Mrs. Amy Bahr for her 13 years of dedication to the physical and mental health of the Ridgemont students and staff.

Congratulations to Lisa Oberlitner-Third Grade Teacher for winning the Ridgemont 2023 Quest Federal Credit Union Hardin County Teacher of the Year award!

Principals will introduce the newly hired teachers for the 2023-2024 school year:
Travis Rettig-JH/HS Science
Misty Snyder-K-5 Intervention Specialist
Craig Taylor-Athletic Director/Facilities Usage Manager

Hardin County Players TAB Awards
Congratulations to the following who have been nominated.
The winners will be announced at the Awards Night on May 16th.
Category Nominee for Ridgemont’s “Once Upon A Mattress” production.
Best Female Comic Performance: Matty McLane as ”Queen Aggravain”
Best Male Comic Performance: Weston McKinley as ”King Sextimus the Silent”
Best Ensemble: “SHY” – Winifred, Dauntless, Queen, Ensemble
Best Female Solo: “Happily Ever After” – Jillian Kearns as “Princess Winnifred”
Best Male Solo: “Many Moons Ago” – Brenden Eckstein as “the Minstrel”
Best Choreography: “Spanish Panic” – Ensemble
Outstanding Female in a Supporting Role: Matty McLane as ”Queen Aggravain”
Outstanding Male in a Supporting Role: Will Browning as ”Sir Harry”
Outstanding Female in a Lead Role: Jillian Kearns as ”Princess Winnifred”
Outstanding Male in a Lead Role: Kevin Eckstein as ”Prince Dauntless”
Outstanding Junior Performance: Willow Kearns as ”Lady Mabelle”
Best Group Comic Performance: “The Minstrel, The Jester, and I” – Minstrel, Jester, King
(Brenden Eckstein, Xavier Stuck, Weston McKinley)
Best Duet: “Man to Man Talk” – the King and Prince Dauntless
(Weston McKinley, Kevin Eckstein)

Congratulations to the Ridgemont FFA Members on their awards announced at the FFA State Convention:
We had 31 students earn the title of State Champions, 5 students won State Runner Up, and 5 students placed third overall in Ohio!! State winners will advance to the National level for the next level of competition.
State Proficiency Winner
• Hannah McKinniss – Organic Production- STATE CHAMPION
• Taylor Payne – Agricultural Sales Placement- State Runner Up in Ohio
• McKala Grauel – Agricultural Education – State Runner Up in Ohio
• Lola Ramsey – Vegetable Production – 3rd Place in Ohio

State Science Fair Results:
STATE CHAMPIONS:
• Charlotte Ward – “Comparison of the Effectiveness of Environmentally Sustainable Food Containers” in Environmental Systems Division 3
• Kolton Manns & Jevin Henderson – “The influence of thawing temperature on sperm mortality of Suffolk Ovis Aries” in Animal Systems Division 4
• William Browning & Xavier Stuck – “Comparison of Effect of Carbon Activation on Methane Emission from Manure and Food Waste Slurries” in Environmental Systems Division 4
• Albrey Bailey – “Comparison of Microbial Safety from Simulation of Decontamination of Cutting Board Materials” in Food Products Division 3
• Michael Green – “Influence Of Colored Light On The Growth Rate Of Microgreens” in Plant Systems Division 3
• Amiah Jones & Kylie Shreve – “Effects of Natural and Synthetic Rooting Hormone on Shoot Regeneration of Xerophytes” in Plant Systems Division 4
• Aidan Hanson – “Detecting Plant Illness By Leaf Image Classification Using Artificial Neural Networks” in Power Systems Division 3
• Zane Hampton & Colton Bailey – “Comparison of Shielded Metal Arc Welding Electrode Varieties on Welding Skill Performance of Novice Welders” in Power Systems Division 4
• Lauren Wingfield – “A Comparison of Generational Differences of Farmer Perceptions of Mental Health” in Social Systems Division 3
• Kaytlin Billenstein & Laney Elsasser – “Evaluation of Elementary Aged Students Knowledge about Agriculture Before and After Attending Agricultural Workshop” in Social Systems Division 4
• Kevin Eckstein& Hannah McKinniss- “The Impact of Urea and Iron on Dissolved Oxygen Levels in Simulation of Ocean Water” in Environmental Systems Division 6
• Riley Hites & Brilynn Rudasill – “Comparison of Glucose Concentration In Different Varieties of Brassica Spp Using Benedict’s Solution” in Plant Systems Division 2
• Jordan Chronister & Kesley Ramsey – “An Analysis of Felis Catus Directional Preference Behaviors for Using Front Limbs” in Animal Systems Division 2
• Masen Jolliff & Charles Wingfiedl – “Influence of Nyalic Application in Corrosion Prevention of Bolts and Metals From Common Agricultural Sources” in Power Systems Division 2
• Bailey Brentlinger & Hendrix Eversole – “Effects of Microwave Radiation on Microorganisms in Different Pasteurized Milks” in Food Products Division 3
• Ruth Eckstein – “Evaluation of Effectiveness of Different Treatments for Pediculosis of Bos Taurus Phthiraptera” in Animal Systems Division 3
• Prezley Furer & Kamy Kiser – “A Comparison of Teenage Perceptions of Influencers in Agricultural Tik Tok Videos” in Social Systems Division 2
• Kody Kiser & Cadyn Hamilton – “Assessment of the Effect of Different Fishing Baits on Water Quality” in Environmental Systems Division 2
STATE RUNNER-UP
• Landon Eaton – “Comparison of Water Filtration of Organic and Inorganic Infill Material in Artificial Turf” in Environmental Systems Division 3
• Connor Manns & Dominic Curl – “Prevalence of Microbial Activity in Different Pasteurized Milk Using Methylene Blue Dye Reduction Test” in Food Products Division 4
• Patrick Stacklin& Brady Rowe- “Evaluating the Effect of DEXSORB+ Water Filter for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Removal” in Environmental Systems Division 4

THIRD OVERALL IN OHIO
• Gracyn McCullough – “Origanum Vulgare in Water for Gallus Gallus Domesticus Broilers and Its Effects on Animal Growth” in Animal Systems Division 3
• Shane Shelt – “Experimental study on the performance of insulation materials of farm barns” in Power Systems Division 3
• Connor Eckstein – “Soil Moisture Effects On Effectiveness of Parasitic Nematodes” in Environmental Systems Division 3
• Quinn Billenstein- “Quantitative Comparison of Bos Taurus Indicus Carcass Quality and Judges’ Ranking at Hardin County Fairs” in Animal Sciences Division 1

State FFA Degree Recipients
• Taylor Payne
• Hannah McKinniss
• Mary Rose
• Kaelyn Saylor

Gold Rated Officer Books
• Secretary – Abby McElfresh
• Reporter – Mary Rose & Taylor Payne
• Treasurer – Hannah McKinniss & Gracyn McCullough

The Ridgemont board reports and motions for the meeting are now on BoardDocs for the public to see. Tonight all motions passed unanimously. Below is the link to go in and read the motions and reports at your leisure: https://go.boarddocs.com/oh/rid/Board.nsf/