United superintendent plans to retire this summer
By MATTHEW WHITEHANOVERTON - Superintendent Tom Davis offered his retirement resignation to the United Local School Board during Thursday evening's meeting.
Davis, who has been with the district for five years, thanked the board for the opportunity to be superintendent of the district. He said he wanted to give the board as much time as possible to find a suitable replacement.
Davis's resignation will be effective Aug. 1, 2009.
Members of the school board thanked Davis for his time and for the many things he has helped the district to accomplish during his tenure.
Davis said United Local was already a good district when he came and he was happy to have spent the last five years of his career with the district.
Board members discussed updating the district's administrative policies and whether to contract with NEOLA or the Ohio School Board Association for the service.
Board Member John Zehentbauer asked Davis to check into the costs associated with each service and to also check into the consequences of updating less often.
Board Member Mike Ellyson also voiced concern about the costs of updating so often.
Currently the district updates its administrative policies twice a year in order to remain consistent with changes to the state law.
Davis said he would check with the respective companies and report back on the items.
During Building and Grounds Supervisor David Starcher's report, Board Member Lora Chestnut said she heard some recent concerns about the Junior High gym floor being slippery.
Starcher said he would look into the issue and said there may be some things he can do to ensure safety.
Also during the meeting:
In a re-organization meeting prior to the beginning of the meeting, the board elected Sue Drotleff as president and Mike Phillis as vice president.
The board set the meeting times for 7:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month. The alternative date is the Tuesday following the second Thursday.
The board accepted approximately $4,500 in donations from the Booster Club for basketball uniforms, golf-team shirts and awards.
The board displayed a new scorer's table, which was made by local craftsman Ken Bagwell. Bagwell's wife, Cathy, is an elementary teacher with the district. The Booster's club donated the funds for the table.
Susan Smith, a fifth-grade science teacher, talked to the board about her recent trip to Australia to visit the Great Barrier Reef. During her trip, Smith communicated with her students through audio and video via the Internet. She said she hoped the trip helped impress upon her students that science can be a tremendous adventure, and that scientists come in many forms.
Matthew White may be contacted at mwhite@salemnews.net.
