The Ridgemont Board of Education met in their final session of 2023 on Wednesday evening.
Superintendent, Brian Hogan, gave this report:
The holidays are approaching fast, our staff and students have worked extremely hard this school year and they all deserve a break.
The concerts have been exceptional, our sports teams are playing hard and our FFA students are delivering fruit this week, what a great start to winter.
I would like to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year. We will finish this year strong when students return on Thursday, January 4, 2024.
The board approved the 2024 Board Organization Meeting to be held on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at 5:00 pm with the January Regular Board Meeting immediately following. The proposed 2024-2025 school calendar public meeting will begin at 4:45 pm on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. All meetings on January 10th will be in the Math Room #304.
The board recognized and thanked outgoing Ridgemont Board of Education Members, Eric Hill and Charlie McCullough and welcomed new incoming Ridgemont Board of Education Members, Traci Elliott, Tim Furer, and Matt Jennings will be staying with us.
Mr. Eric Hill has been a Ridgemont Board of Education member for 16 years. Mr. Hill started his first term in January of 2008 and his last term will expire December 31, 2023. Mr. Hill’s mother Diana was a Ridgemont Board of Education member and he is a graduate of Ridgemont and his children are graduates too. Mr. Hill and his wife Rhonda were the Directors of the Ridgemont Musicals and Company R for many successful years. Mr. Hill was called on to be the Board President through the levy process and the building of the new PK-12 building. Mr. Hill was a great board representative to lead the community at a time when a driven and well-respected leader was needed. Mr. Hill has held President and Vice President was on many committees and was always willing to help where there was a need. This wooden box is a gift given to all who retire from Ridgemont or are on the Board of Education, we thank you for your service to the Ridgemont Local School District. We will miss you and thank you for your dedication to our students as a board member for the last 16 years.
Mr. Charlie McCullough has been a Ridgemont Board of Education member for 5 years and 4 months to be exact. Mr. McCullough was appointed to the board when member Cheryl France resigned in 2018. Mr. McCullough’s father Dean McCullough was a member of the Ridgemont Board of Education. Mr. McCullough and his wife Samantha are graduates of Ridgemont and his children attend Ridgemont. Mr. McCullough has been a positive board member and has held the offices of President and Vice President as well as being on numerous committees through the years. This wooden box is a gift given to all who retire from Ridgemont or are on the Board of Education, we thank you for your service to the Ridgemont Local School District. We will miss you and thank you for your dedication to our students as a board member for the last 5+ years.
The Board and Staff also recognized the Director of the Ridgemont Public Library, Mrs. Beccy Ramsey. Mrs. Ramsey will be retiring at the end of this December. Mrs. Ramsey has been with the Library for 33 years, 20 years as the Children’s Librarian reading numerous books to our students and children. Mrs. Ramsey has worked with Ridgemont Teachers to make sure students had books in their hands to read at all times.
Mrs. Ramsey’s collaboration with the Ridgemont Board of Education is appreciated, working together on the Library Levy Renewals, Library Board Member approvals, and anyway she could support the district.
Thank you Mrs. Ramsey for your years of managing the Ridgemont Public Library and for encouraging the community to read and to read to their children. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement!
The board passed a resolution to recognize our Ridgemont FFA Chapter Members who competed in the National FFA Convention Science Fair, results and placings are as follows:
Congratulations to all of our National Science Fair Finalists, their National Rankings are listed below:
- #6 in the USA-Jordan Chronister & Kelsey Ramsey – “An Analysis Of Felis catus Directional Preference Behaviors For Using Front Limbs” in Animal Systems
- #10 in the USA-Ruth Eckstein – “Evaluation of Effectiveness of Different Treatments For Pediculosis of Bos Taurus Phthiraptera” in Animal Systems
- #4 in the USA-Kolton Manns & Jevin Henderson – “Evaluating the Impact of Thawing Temperature on Sperm Mortality in Suffolk Ovis aries” in Animal Systems
- #6 in the USA-Kody Kiser & Cadyn Hamilton – “Assessment of the Effect of Live and Artificial Fishing Baits on Water Quality” in Environmental Systems
- #3 in the USA-Charlotte Ward – “Comparison of the Effectiveness of Environmentally Sustainable Food Containers” in Environmental Systems
- #1 in the USA-Will Browning & Xavier Stuck – “Comparison of Effect of Carbon Activation on Methane Emission from Manure Slurry and Food Waste In Anaerobic Digestion” in Environmental Systems
- #3 in the USA-Kevin Eckstein & Hannah McKinniss – “The Impact Of Urea and Iron On Dissolved Oxygen Levels In Simulation of Ocean Water” in Environmental Systems
- #5 in the USA-Bailey Brentlinger & Hendrix Eversole – “Effects of Microwave Radiation on Microorganisms In Different Pasteurized Milks” in Food Systems
- #7 in the USA-Albrey Bailey – “Comparison of Microbial Safety From Simulation of Decontamination of Cutting Board Materials” in Food Systems
- #3 in the USA-Riley Hites & Brilynn Rudasill – “Comparison of Glucose Concentration in Different Varieties of Brassica Spp Using Qualitative Benedict’s Solution” in Plant Systems
- #10 in the USA-Kylie Shreve & Amiah Jones – “Effects Of Natural and Synthetic Rooting Hormone on Shoot Regeneration of Xerophytes” in Plant Systems
- #4 in the USA-Masen Jolliff & Charles Wingfield – “Influence of Nyalic Application in Corrosion Prevention of Metals From Common Agricultural Sources” in Power Systems
- #9 in the USA-Zane Hampton & Colton Bailey – “Comparison of Shielded Metal Arc Welding Electrodes Performance in Relation to Novice and Competent Welders” in Power Systems
- #1 in the USA-Prezley Furer & Kamryn Kiser – “A Comparison of Teenage Perceptions of Agriculture From the Influence of TikTok Videos” in Social Systems
- #3 in the USA-Lauren Wingfield – “A Comparison of Generational Differences of Farmer Mental Health Perceptions” in Social Systems
- #2 in the USA-Kaytlin Billenstein & Laney Elsasser- “Effect of Agricultural Workshops on Elementary Students’ Agricultural Commodity Knowledge: A Comparative Community Residency Study” in Social Systems
Congratulations to the following for receiving their American FFA Degrees, the highest degree in FFA: Ashtin Elliott, Mitchell Jennings, Callie Cromer Smalley, Lane Underwood, Mykenzie Lance, and Emma Smith.
Thank you to Advisors, Stephanie Jolliff and Lori Romie for their guidance of this amazing program.
Upcoming Calendar:
- Thursday, December 21 – No School – Teacher Professional Development
- Friday, December 22, 2023 to Wednesday, January 3, 2024 – No School – Christmas Break
- Thursday, January 4 – School Back in Session
- Monday, January 15 – No School – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Monday, February 19 – No School – Presidents Day
- Monday, March 11 – No School – Teacher Professional Development
- Thursday, March 21 – K-5 Parent Teacher Conferences in the Evening
- Tuesday, March 26 – No School K-5 Students – Parent Teacher Conf. am
- Wednesday, March 27 to Monday, April 1 – No School – Easter Break
The Ridgemont board reports and motions for the meeting are now on BoardDocs for the public to see. All motions passed unanimously. Below is the link to go in and read the motions and reports at your leisure.
Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to all!
To see full BOE meeting details click HERE.
