By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Buckeye Central will be searching for a new superintendent after the Board of Education approved a transition agreement with Superintendent Tara Meyerink Thursday night.
In a special meeting held following the school board’s organizational meeting, the school board approved the agreement unanimously after going into executive session.
After Board approval, newly elected Board President Missy McDougal read in a prepared statement.
“The Buckeye Central Local Board of Education wishes to inform the public that its current Superintendent, Tara Meyerink, will be leaving her position with the District under the terms of a resignation agreement submitted to the Board and approved by the Board at its meeting today. Ms. Meyerink will continue to serve as Superintendent of Schools until such time as the Board has identified and employed an individual to serve as either interim superintendent or as a successor superintendent of school under a regular employment contract. Once a new superintendent has been employed, Ms. Meyerink will continue to serve in a transitional role for a limited period of time as forth in the resignation agreement.”
“The Board wishes to express its appreciation to Ms. Meyerink for her dedicated service to the District and its students during her term as Superintendent, and for her assistance in facilitating an orderly transition in District management. As in all decisions involving school personnel, and out of concern for the privacy for the individuals involved the Board wishes to refrain from any additional public comment at this time,” McDougal continued.
The board’s statement in its entirety is shown below.
The board also used the special meeting to hire Mark Heydinger as musical director for the 2013-2014 school year. Heydinger, who works for Wynford, was chosen after no employee of the Buckeye Central School District applied for the position.
The next Buckeye Central Board of Education meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Jan. 9 in the Multipurpose Room at Buckeye Central.
Buckeye Central School District Board of Education statement on the resignation of Superintendent Tara Meyerink
The Buckeye Central Local Board of Education wishes to inform the public that its current Superintendent, Tara Meyerink, will be leaving her position with the District under the terms of a resignation agreement submitted to the Board and approved by the Board at its meeting today. Ms. Meyerink will continue to serve as Superintendent of Schools until such time as the Board has identified and employed an individual to serve as either interim superintendent or as a successor superintendent of school under a regular employment contract. Once a new superintendent has been employed, Ms. Meyerink will continue to serve in a transitional role for a limited period of time as forth in the resignation agreement.
The Board has initiated discussions with the Ohio School Boards Association and the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center, concerning the search process for a new superintendent and/or interim superintendent. Criteria and procedures for the selection of candidates, including a process for the public input, will be developed by the board in upcoming meetings and will be shared with the community at the earliest opportunity.
The Board wishes to express its appreciation to Ms. Meyerink for her dedicated service to the District and its students during her term as Superintendent, and for her assistance in facilitating an orderly transition in District management. As in all decisions involving school personnel, and out of concern for the privacy for the individuals involved the Board wishes to refrain from any additional public comment at this time.
Going forward, it is the intention of the Board to continue to listen closely to staff and community, and to act openly and deliberately on important decisions affecting our schools as we work to build upon the many successes of our outstanding staff, students, and school support organizations.