The Riverside Board of Education met in regular session Tuesday night and bid farewell to three longtime employees and said hello to a new athletic conference.
District Superintendent Dr. Scott Mann expressed gratitude to three longtime employees who have recently submitted their resignations: Payroll and Human Resource Officer Janice Davis, District Librarian Lori Roberts, and Physical Education teacher Ken Truster. Dr. Mann discusses the impact these employees have had on the district:
In his report to the board, Dr. Mann asked the board to approve a resolution approving membership into the Ohio Heritage Conference (OHC) beginning with the 2027-2028 school year. The Pirates have been in the TRC (Three Rivers Conference) the last four years. Recently, the league has been unsettled. Bethel is leaving to join the CBC and now Riverside will exit leaving the league with six teams in two years. Joining the OHC will enable Riverside to renew local rivalries with West Liberty-Salem, Triad, and Mechanicsburg. Dr. Mann talks about the decision to move to the OHC:
In his report to the board, Elementary Principal Bryce Hodge reported that high school students are taking exams through Thursday, and at the elementary school, students are enjoying end-of-year activities and crafts. Hodge said that he is very pleased with the growth shown by the students this year, and he is proud of the hard work put in by the teachers.
Board member Mark Zumberger gave the board an update from Ohio Hi-Point. He said that the school celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week from May 5-9. He also told the board that Animal Science instructor Brooke Sizemore was recognized as one of Quest Federal Credit Union’s Logan County Teacher of the Year. He also said that Ohio Hi-Point’s Convocation Ceremony was coming up on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 6:30 PM. The ceremony has been moved to the Bellefontaine High School gymnasium due to expected bad weather.
Zumberger also informed the board that seats are still available in the Culinary, Criminal Justice, Aviation and Drone Technology, Education Academy, and Graphic and Media Arts programs. Applications are being accepted for all these classes. Interested students can visit the application portal here.
District CFO Ronnie Fitchpatrick presented the board with the required 5-year plan as mandated by the State of Ohio. While in solid financial shape, Fitchpatrick said that proposed legislation working through the Ohio Senate is making it difficult to properly forecast some of the financial numbers. Fitchpatrick explained that the State of Ohio is considering lowering the amount of money districts can carry over year after year. He said that he tries to keep at least a 100-day supply of cash on hand, but if the State lowers that cap number, the district may be in danger of losing some state funding.
Dr. Mann discusses the funding issues that may come to the district:
The Board approved several personnel moves:
Resignations:
- Christine Schrage as MS/HS Intervention Specialist teacher at the end of the 2024-2025 contracted school year.
- Autumn Lafferty as the HS Life Science teacher for the 2025-2026 contracted school year.
Hires:
- Zach Showalter – limited 1-year contract as a Teacher for the 2025-2026 school year.
- Jean Stanfield – summer help in the technology department.
- Michelle Suman – HS Cross Country Head Coach and HS Basketball Cheer Head Coach.
- Zerah Crouch – HS Boys Bowling Head Coach.
- Jaime Yelton – HS Girls Bowling Head Coach.
- Zach Showalter – Varsity Boys Basketball Head Coach
- Andrew Reinhard – HS Boys Basketball Asst Coach
- Lee Reinhard – HS Boys Basketball Asst. Coach.
- Garrett Reinhard – HS Boys Basketball JV Head Coach.
- Jayden Burchett – HS Boys Basketball Freshman Head Coach.
- Scott Mann – Varsity Girls Basketball – Head Coach.
- Kyle Knight HS Girls Basketball – Asst. Coach.
- Megan Graves – HS Girls Basketball JV Head Coach
- Billy Shoffner – 8th Grade Boys Basketball Head Coach.
- Kylie Shoe – 8th Grade Girls Basketball Head Coach.
- Ryan Robinson – 7th Grade Girls Basketball Head Coach
The board also approved the waiver of all student fees for the 2025-2026 school year, including athletic participation fees, student admission costs, and transportation fees. Also, breakfast and lunch will be free for students once again.
The board also approved the Class of 2025 graduation list.
The next meeting of the Riverside Board of Education will be on June 10, 2025, at 5:30 PM in the school library.
