BUCYRUS — Donna Hoy came to the Bucyrus School District Board of Education meeting Thursday evening to inquire about recent staff changes.
Hoy was visibly upset and in tears as she asked about the resignations of several administrators to obtain employment at other districts.
“Our kids trust these people. That man right there has done a hell of a job for our kids but you ran him off,” Hoy said while pointing to Director of Student Services John Massara, who asked that the board not renew his contract after rumors they were not going to.
Hoy then repeated herself while pointing to Superintendent Kevin Kimmel who is leaving to take the position as superintendent of the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center in Mansfield.
“Just like you ran this man off. Did you offer him $125,000 like you did the new superintendent,” Hoy asked.
Board president Dr. Paul Johnson thanked Hoy for her concerns before going onto the next item on the agenda.
The board accepted the letter of Massara’s intent not to renew his contract in June along with several other agenda items quickly so administrators could attend an awards ceremony for students.
After the meeting, Doug and April Suits said they are happy with the progress their children have made in the district, including their son who is on the autism spectrum.
“We were told by many people to send him to a school for autism, but Mr. Massara said stick with me, we can do this, and I have seen success with our son and have been very happy with the district,” Doug Suits said.
They, like Hoy, expressed their concern over rumors they have heard that Bucyrus Schools does not want to be known as the IEP school for children with special needs.
Johnson said that is absolutely not true.
“It’s the other way around. We want to do more and feel that we can do better for all of our students,” Johnson said.
Board member Adam Stone said the district is spending massive amounts of money yet not getting very much back in return.
“We are spending more money per student than any other district in the area. We are investing in these kids as best we can and for some odd reason, we are getting the least amount of achievement,” Stone said.
Johnson said the curriculum leaders dictate how and what the teachers do in the classrooms.
“They are the ones that keep the needle moving in the right direction and if the needle is moving in the wrong direction, changes need to be made,” Johnson said.
A new three-year contract with Matt Henderson, director of curriculum and instruction for the district, was approved at the last board meeting for three years but Henderson has since been hired as superintendent of Crestline Village Schools.
“Three of our administrators (Mr. Kimmel, Dr. Burke, and Mr. Henderson) are leaving for career advancement opportunities,” Johnson said in an email on Friday. “But one of the board’s ongoing goals and concerns is to improve our academic performance and part of that is always to make sure our teachers have the appropriate curriculum and curriculum materials to support their classroom instruction. And we believe that NCOESC (North Central Ohio Education Service Center) can support our district in this area, too.”