The Riverside Board of Education tentatively approved a resolution that would allow armed staff members on its campus at its meeting on Tuesday night. According to Superintendent Dr. Scott Mann, to this point, Riverside has benefited from an armed School Resource Officer. However, recent violent acts at schools and businesses across the country have compelled him to bring the request to the board for their consideration.
Currently, District Police 3217 states in part, the board “prohibits staff members from possessing, storing, making, or using a weapon, including a concealed weapon, in a school safety zone and any setting that is under the control and supervision of the Board for the purpose of school activities approved and authorized by the Board including, but not limited to, property leased, owned, or contracted for by the Board, a school-sponsored event, or in a Board-owned vehicle, except as permitted by law.”
Per the resolution, the policy would be updated so that the board would give “written authorization to approved personnel who meet the requirements of Ohio Revised Code Section 5502.703 to convey deadly weapons or dangerous ordnance into a school safety zone, or to possess a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance in a school safety zone of the Riverside Local School District.”
Part of the requirements for staff members to carry weapons will mean each armed staff member would “complete and pass the required 24-hour training with the Ohio School Safety Center and any additional subsequent training as determined by the District Board of Education; and complete a minimum of 8 hours of training to recertify annually.”
Superintendent Mann discusses the decision:
In addition to the legislative action, Lois Stoll, Executive Director of the Logan County Education Foundation, addressed the board about the foundation’s mission and announced that they would be initiating a Legacy Scholarship for Riverside students as soon as the scholarship is fully funded. Stoll talks about the Legacy Scholarships:
Board member Mark Zumberger updated the board on the happenings at Ohio Hi-Point. According to Zumberger, the Sloan Kitchen is open Monday and Tuesday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. In addition, the student-run salon is open for appointments. These services and many others are open to the public.
Hi-Point is also looking for a School Nurse, an HVAC Instructor, and a Media Arts Instructor for the Hi-Point and Graham campuses.
Dr. Mann said that the recently installed turn and track surfaces have been sealed and are ready to go. The football field has been hosting football games, but the track has not been used until the surfacing could be completed. He also said that work on the fieldhouse is on schedule, with the workers now inside. He expects the building to be completed by the target of early February.
The board also approved several personnel issues:
- Approve the Certified Substitute Teacher and Classified Substitute Para Pro List as presented.
- Approve the resignation due to retirement of Melanie Easton, Teacher at the conclusion of the 2026-2027 school year.
- Accept the resignation of Billy Shoffner as the 8th-grade Boys Basketball Coach for the 2025-2026 season.
- Employ the following on a one-year limited supplemental contract for the following 2025-2026 positions per the adopted salary schedule:
- Jayden Burchett – JH Volleyball Game Manager
- Hank Harshbarger – 8th-grade Head Coach Boys Basketball
- Josh Foreman – 7th-grade Head Coach Boys Basketball
- Harlie McClintick – JH Basketball Cheerleader Coach
- Morgan Robison – HS Boys Basketball
- Morgan Robison – HS Girls Basketball
- Todd Guthrie – Varsity Baseball Head Coach
- Tim Walls – Varsity Baseball Coach
- Zerah Crouch – Varsity Baseball Asst Coach
- Ryan Robinson – JV / Asst Baseball Coach
- John Godwin – JV / Asst Baseball Coach
- Andy Phelps – Varsity Softball Head Coach
- Kylee Purtee – Varsity Asst Softball Coach
- Helena Faulder – JV Softball Coach
- Michelle Suman – HS Girls Track Head Coach
The board also approved invoices and expenditures paid in the amount of $763,089 for the General fund and $1,503,633 for all other funds for a total of $2,266,722 for the month of September 2025.
The next regular meeting of the Riverside Board of Education will be held on November 18th, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the school district library.
