Community Health and Wellness Director of School-Based Health Center Services Jara Everhart told the Riverside Board of Education that the Riverside District’s Health Center saw an increase in the number of medical visits to its clinic, which led to an increase in the amount of time students were in class for the 2025-2026 school year.
Everhart cited statistics on the number of visits compared to last school year and relayed that, on average, 165 minutes of class time were saved per visit, meaning that time was spent in the classroom rather than at home. In the past, according to Everhart, if a student left school for a doctor’s appointment, most of the time, that student would not return to school but would remain at home.
Now, the site-based care allows students to be seen by a medical provider, receive medical care, and, in many cases, return to the classroom. She said parents will see the benefit of this service since the Ohio Legislature recently enacted legislation that mandates that districts keep a tighter rein on absences. In addition, parents will no longer be required to try to make an appointment, leave work, come to the school, and take their child to the doctor.
To that point, District Superintendent Dr. Scott Mann said that the district has seen a decrease in what the State calls ‘chronic absenteeism,’ and he attributes the decrease in part to the services offered by the clinic.
Overall, Everhart said the clinic had 2,778 patient visits, a 13.5% increase from last school year. The students received 567 same-day visits and averaged 62 visits per month for both medical and behavioral care on campus.
In his report to the board, Elementary and High School Principal Bryce Hodge said that diagnostic testing has concluded at the elementary school, while testing is ongoing at the High School. Hodge also said that there were several field trips taken by high school students in the month of September.
Dr. Mann relayed to the board that he recently received a phone call from a former student who wanted to establish a recurring gift to the district. Dr. Mann said that he will suggest the donation be directed toward the “Free Table,” an area where students can receive additional food items like ramen noodles or spaghetti cups if they are still hungry.
Dr. Mann also acknowledged the way that the faculty and staff of the school district have a selfless attitude and often jump in to fill a need without waiting to be asked:
Several Board and Consent Agenda Items were approved by the board, including the approval of the substitute classified teacher list and the MRESC substitute list.
Also, the following supplemental hirings were approved:
FALL 2026
- JH Volleyball Game Manager: Jayden Burchett
- JH Football Game Manager: Jayden Burchett
- JV Football Game Manager: Jayden Burchett
WINTER 2026/27
- JV Boys Basketball Coach: Brad Jenkins
- Freshmen Boys Basketball Coach: Reece Jenkins
- 7th Grade Boys Basketball Coach: Billy Shoffner
- 7th Grade Girls Basketball Coach: Kaitlyn Schlumbohm
Two out-of-state trips were also approved by the board:
- October 20 to October 22, 2026 – FFA National Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana
- May 5 to 9, 2027 – BPA National Conference in Denver, Colorado
The board also approved the amended Student and Staff Handbooks for the 2026-2027 school year and the NEOLA Bylaws and Policies, plus the 2026 Financial Reports and Invoices as presented by District Treasurer and CFO Ronnie Fitchpatrick.
Fitchpatrick also submitted invoices and expenditures for August for the board’s approval:
Payroll-Related Expenditures for August:
- Regular Payroll $459,789
- Payroll Related $219,502
Significant or Atypical Vendor Expenditures for August:
- DP&L $10,520 (Electricity)
- Buehler Paving $87,286 (Paving)
- Cleveland Heights UH $29,256 (Excess Cost Tuition)
The next Riverside Board of Education meeting will be Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the district library.
