By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
A unanimous vote by Buckeye Central’s Board of Education marked the beginning of a new era for the district. The school board approved hiring Mark Robinson as the district’s next superintendent Thursday night. Robinson will begin June 25 as the district’s new administrative head.
Robinson, who is a Willard High School graduate, will be coming to the Buckeye Central School District from the Ohio Department of Education where he has served as a Student Growth Measurers and Alignment Specialist for the past two years.
Robinson explained his goals for Buckeye Central as superintendent.
“I would like to come into the community, become an integral member within the community, and really talk with the folks in Buckeye Central schools to see what they would like us to look at and focus on. I am very student centered, and the one thing I want to continue to do within the district is focus on the students.”
“I also want to focus on working with the staff, working with the administration, and the kids for a student centered education,” Robinson continued.
“On behalf of the board I would like to welcome Mark Robinson, his wife Joni, and their three children to Buckeye Central. It is without hesitation that I can say they will fit in here and be a very positive addition to our district.” Buckeye Central Board President Missy McDougal said in a prepared statement.
“I am very excited and hopeful to have Mark joining Buckeye Central. I feel he is an excellent fit with our district. His knowledge of instructional leadership is strong as well as his understanding and application of technology. Mark will also help to improve district communications, build cooperative relationships, within these walls, and the communities, focus and lead the BC team to student-centered education,” McDougal continued.
Robinson will take over the reins of Buckeye Central Superintendent from Colonel Crawford Superintendent Todd Martin who filled in as interim superintendent after Tara Meyerink resigned from the position in January.
With one administrator entering the school district another will be leaving as Middle School Principal Nan Chorba’s retirement was approved by the board Thursday. Chorba, who has been with the school district for 24 years, will retire at the end of the current contract year.
“We would like to thank Nan Chorba for the 24 years she spent with the school district, her camaraderie, as well as her devotion to the students will be missed,” McDougal said of the decision.
Buckeye Central received good news during Treasurer Nancy Ackerman’s report. Ackerman noted that due to a one-time Medicaid repayment from fiscal years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 totaling $70,000-$80,000, a 14-percent increase in income tax revenue, as well as a few biennium adjustments the school is receiving $500,000 more than planned in the five-year financial forecast.
Three students from Barb Christianson’s fourth grade social studies class who received recognition for Awesome Student Achievement during the May Board of Education meeting also gave a presentation on a research project for energy resources. During the presentation Stella Betts, Megan Rhodes, and Aiden McDougal spoke of both renewable and nonrenewable energy resources as well as citing advantages and disadvantages on both humans and the environment. After the presentation the students handed out a quiz for those in the audience.
The Buckeye Central Board of Education approved all certified staff up for contracts including retaining boys basketball coach Phil Loy, assistant coach Terry Oswald, and girls basketball coach Greg Moore.
The board also approved accepting a $15,367 grant from the Community Foundation for Crawford County. The grant will be used towards Buckeye Central’s Outdoor Learning Center.