Editor’s note: The initial edition of this story contained an error regarding contracts for Kevin Vargyas and Tammy Studer. That error was Crawford County Now’s and has been corrected.
By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
For the first time in 22 years the Buckeye Central principal’s office will be occupied by someone other than Jay Zeiter. Wednesday night at Buckeye Central’s Board of Education meeting Michael Martin was named as the district’s new high school principal.
Martin comes to Buckeye Central from Pioneer where he was the administrator in charge of satellite programs. Martin will be on the job at Buckeye Central in July on a one-month contract and then has a two-year contract with the district beginning Aug. 1.
Martin explained that his first year as principal will largely be an observational one.
“The first year is going to be a whole lot of observations: what are we good at, what are we great at, what have we been doing traditionally that we just can’t change because it is tradition, what areas of weakness that we can improve on,” Martin said.
Martin, a Buckeye Central graduate, was one of three finalists for the district’s superintendent’s position in 2014.
Attending his final meeting, Jay Zeiter reflected on his time as principal and looked towards the future for the school.
“I have enjoyed my time at Buckeye Central all 22 years. I’ve had great people to work with, great students, and the board has been very supportive of me and I thank them for that. I know that they have a great replacement in Mr. Martin for me,” Zeiter said.
During the meeting Zeiter noted that in his 22 years as principal 1,250 kids graduated with a member of the Kaple family having a graduate in all but four graduating classes.
Zeiter will have a retirement party at the New Washington American Legion from 2 to 5 p.m. on June 28.
In other business, the school board approved the contract with the Buckeye Central Education Association. The contract with the teachers’ union will be in effect from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2018. Also approved were the contracts for the Buckeye Central school support personnel for the same length of time.
In her financial report to the board, Buckeye Central Treasurer Nancy Ackerman noted that the annual income tax revenue came in better than expected.
“With income tax and CAUB rates have helped us out. Everything is on track and I will begin the planning process for next year’s budget,” Ackerman said.
Ackerman noted that October will reflect more updates which will include the state’s biennium budget and the potential change in Crawford County CAUB rates.
Superintendent Mark Robinson reported on his testimony to the Ohio Senate earlier in the day Wednesday. Robinson said representatives from schools from all parts of Ohio testified along with him and that one thing everyone was in agreement on is that the state’s schools should be funded to best help the students.
The board approved all items on the Personnel Agenda including extensions for Kevin Vargyas as athletics director/assistant principal and Tammy Studer as technology supervisor. Vargyas received a two-year extension and Studer one for three years.