BUCYRUS — The Bucyrus City Schools Board of Education approved the hiring of two administrative staff members during a special board meeting Monday afternoon.
The board approved Kimberly Radulovich as the new Bucyrus Secondary School principal and approved Dr. Karen Hall as BCS special education director and director of student services.
Radulovich is replacing Dr. Mark Burke who left BCS to become the superintendent at Mohawk Local Schools, and Hall is replacing John Massara who will leave BCS when his contract is completed after submitting his intent in writing to not seek reemployment with the district.
Radulovich comes to Bucyrus after serving as high school principal at Fredericktown Local Schools since 2017.
She said one thing that enticed her to apply for the job at BCS was the opportunity to work with students grades sixth through 12th. At Fredericktown, her position focused on grades ninth through 12th.
“Being able to expand and work with more students and staff and being able to make a bigger difference,” is what Radulovich said enticed her to be interest in the position.
She said she expects the transition to be smooth, especially with her previous working relationship with new BCS Superintendent Matt Chrispin.
“It definitely makes it a lot smoother knowing where he comes from with child-centered approach, and that we’ve worked through an array of situations in two years, and we’re supportive of moving students forward as our main goal,” Radulovich said. “Knowing he’ll be a person here of support will make it an easier transition in getting to know people and looking at a holistic approach with the district.”
Chrispin said Radulovich’s curriculum knowledge made hiring her a “no brainer.”
“Before Kim came to Fredericktown High School, we had zero out of 11 standards on the report card. After one year of having Mrs. Radulovich at the helm, we accomplished six. She’s excellent. She’s one of the best I’ve been around in 28 years as far as curriculum and instruction.”
The proposed contract, which is expected to be signed by Radulovich this week, is for three years beginning Aug. 1. Until the contract is signed, the position’s cost to the district is unknown.
Hall comes to BCS after serving as the director of student services at Springfield City Schools.
She said the opportunity to work in a smaller community appealed to her.
“What attracted me to Bucyrus City Schools was the sense of community. We didn’t have a strong community component in Springfield with participation. So, I’m really looking forward to that.”
Hall said Springfield had approximately 900 staff members. She said there were more than 100 intervention specialists at Springfield while she said Bucyrus City Schools has less than 20.
Chrispin said he was aware of Hall due to her husband working at Fredericktown. He said he had never met Hall, personally, and an employee at Fredericktown, whom Hall mentored, made Hall aware of the Bucyrus opening.
He said her experience extremely impressed him and made her a desirable candidate for the position.
Hall previously worked at Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center and with North Central Ohio Educational Service Center. She received her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Toledo. She obtained her administrator’s license from Ashland University
She said one of her main tasks moving forward is to examine the student population on individualized education program, a population which nearly 24 percent of the Bucyrus City School District belongs to, according to the most recent available information from the Ohio Department of Education.
“We really have to look at it, because are we over-identifying? Are we labeling students with a disability when maybe they just haven’t had the same richness of preparation?” Hall said. “Maybe there is that many kids with disabilities, but let’s take a look and make sure we’re not giving a kid a label that really doesn’t need it.”
Chrispin said regardless of the percentage of students in the population on IEP’s, he expects proper growth for those students as well as for gifted students. He also expects Hall to be successful with legal compliance.
He said he sees Hall being able to continue the special education success at the district on the state report card, as BCS received an “A” in progress for students with disabilities.
She said with her background with different ESC’s, she also is looking forward to working with NCOESC’s staff during the transition.
The transition will also see the special education director and director of student services position being altered for the upcoming school year.
After Massara’s departure, the position will change from a 260-day position to a 180-day position.
“As I’ve had a cursory look at the administrative days here for all positions, I think there are areas we can cut back and don’t need as many. Not just that position but others,” Chrispin said. “That’s just one step.”
He said he was not familiar with district’s Bucyrus’ size having the position assigned to 240-260 days.
Bucyrus City Schools treasurer Ryan Cook said the change will bring $28,059.38 annually to the district. Cook said Hall will not have an administrative contract and will be paid per diem only.
Hall will be paid a per diem rate of $450 per day, totaling $81,000 for her 180-day contract. Cook said the with the district’s contribution to her State Teachers Retirement System, the expense to the district is $93,514.50.
Massara’s base pay, according to the Ohio Treasurer’s Office website for 2018 was $83,221. Cook said with fringe benefits offered to administrators, Massara’s cost on the district was $121,573.88. annually.
A request for the breakdown of what fringe benefits Massara accepted or declined was not fulfilled.
The administrator salary plan for BCS, which was approved June 3, lists available fringe benefits as:
- 100% STRS pick-up and “pick-up on the pick-up”
- Board Paid Professional Liability Insurance
- 85 percent (starting 08/01/2019) Board Paid Medical Insurance – Hospital, Surgical, Major Medical
- Board Paid Dental Insurance
- Board Paid Life Insurance – nearest thousand salary equivalence
- Professional Meeting Compensation
- Mileage paid at the IRS rate for school business
Administrative employees who have served the district for five or more years shall receive a one-time severance package paid at final per diem rate for ¼ of all unused sick leaves days up to a maximum of 65 days.
All other non-specified benefits to be equal to or the greatest of either union negotiated contracts.
The board meeting agenda lists Hall’s first day as Aug. 1. She was approved for the 2019-20 school year. Her office will be located in the Lincoln Administrative Building on Plymouth Street.
Also during the meeting, the board accepted the resignation of Aaron Eckert, Benjamin Britton and William Todd Roll.
Bucyrus athletic director Rick Rawson’s resignation for the purpose of retirement also was approved.
The board also approved the revised administrative salary schedule and revised central office salary schedule.
The board’s next meeting is June 27 at 6:30 p.m.