The Cambridge City School District Board of Education started the new year by electing David Evancho as board president and Dave Peoples as vice-president for 2024. The two officers switched positions from 2023 when Evancho served as vice-president and Peoples served as president.
“It is an honor to be selected by my colleagues to lead the school board,” Evancho said. “We have an experienced board with members who have spent time in the classroom and in administrative positions within our district. I just want to guide the group in the right direction and let our district and students benefit from their knowledge and experience.
“My overall goal is to continue to improve our district,” Evancho continued. “I am proud to be a Bobcat!”
Following the election, Director of Federal Programs and 6-12 Curriculum Rose Marie Daymut, and Data Specialist and Testing Coordinator Danielle Eubanks shared a presentation with the board about the Leadership Structure in the district.
The leadership structure starts with a district level leadership team (DLT) made up of district administrators, principals and teacher leaders from each building, the building leadership teams (BLT) that include department heads and other leaders in each building, and the teacher-based teams (TBT) made up of teaching staff members within a content area, grade level, or teaching pod.
The grass roots approach helps the district address needs by creating goals and implementing strategies based on research and data. Information flows from the district level to the building level to the team level and back to the district level in a way that encourages participation by all staff members and positively impacts all employees and students.
“This structure is important because it involves everyone in the district and not just a few administrators checking boxes,” Daymut said. “It encourages participation, builds strong leaders from within, and creates an environment of inclusion for our staff members. They are really taking ownership of their work towards meeting the goals set forth by the district.”
During the treasurer’s report, the board accepted donations of more than $55,000 including an anonymous donation of $50,000 and two grants from the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio – a $1,959 grant to support the PAX Store at the Intermediate Schol and $4,330 to help pay for students to attend the Ohio Model United Nations state conference in Columbus.
“We appreciate the financial support from our community and also want to commend the employees of the district who spent time to apply for grants,” Superintendent Dan Coffman said. “Donations and grant money allow our students to participate in activities and have supplies and equipment that may not otherwise be available. We appreciate the generosity of our community.”
In other business, the board approved the 2024-2025 school calendar which includes a staggered start with first, second, third, sixth and ninth graders all starting on Aug. 15, 2024, with all first through 12th graders attending on Aug. 16. Kindergarten girls will start on Aug.19, with kindergarten boys starting on Aug. 20.
Open houses are slated for August 13 from noon to 2 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. at all buildings. Graduation is planned for May 10, 2025, with the last day of school for students being May 16.
The full calendar will be posted on the district website soon.
The board also approved a resolution to approve paper/pencil testing for all third-grade students for OST English Language Arts, OST Mathematics, AASCD English Language Arts and/or AASCD Mathematics during the 2024-2025 school year.
Annual housing keeping resolutions authorizing the superintendent to employ temporary personnel as needed for emergency situations and to accept any resignation from employment tendered by a District employee were approved.
The board also designated the Daily Jeffersonian newspaper as the official newspaper for publication of notices required to be made in a newspaper.
In personnel, the board approved the medical leave of Jennifer Reed and Leslie Leppla, the unpaid leave of absence for Christine Albaugh, the resignation of Rachel Gadd and Erica Cunningham, the hiring of Danielle Simmons as a 21st Century Community Learning Center teacher, and Brady Hannon as a substitute teacher.
In athletics, the board approved Bryan Craft and Melissa Hains as Middle School girls’ track and field coaches, Kevin Gunn as assistant high school girls’ track and field coach, and Mike Birkhimer as assistant softball coach.
The board also approved the following individuals for athletic support positions, Tom Cahoon, Phillip Wentzel, Melissa Wheeler, Paul Ayres, Robert Shephard, Tammy Ball, Kevin Smith, Michelle Landman, and Dave Conrath.
The board agreed to schedule regular board meetings on the third Thursday of the month at 5 p.m. at the Garfield Administrative Center unless otherwise announced.
The February meeting of the Board of Education will be Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at 5 p.m. at the Garfield Administrative Center due to a conflict on the third Thursday.