Board members wish to focus on student and community relations for upcoming year

Staff report

NORTH LIMA

South Range Board of Education welcomed three new members Tuesday evening.

New members expressed hope to improve community relations with the school system after a rough 2015.

New member John Kuhns said through learning, he wished to be an active party in the repair process and to breed positivity.

“What we need more than anything else is positivity,” Kuhns said.

Over the past year, South Range faced various budget cuts to combat a deficit; battled – and continues to fight – a lawsuit claiming the violation of Sunshine law; and saw defeat of a levy that was expected to pass.

Another new member, Corey Yoakam, said his first goal was to bring the focus back to students and second, to improve the negativity surrounding the district.

Amy White, another new member and fourth-grade teacher at United Local Schools, said students were her priority.

“I’ve always had a vested interest in education. I love it,” White said.

The lawsuit over the Sunshine, or state open-meetings law, was prompted by White’s appointment to a vacancy last year, and was filed by Richard Ferenchak – who recently decided not to settle the lawsuit. She won election in November.

Superintendent Dennis Dunham said during meetings it’s noticeable that many members reiterate the students are most important.

“It’s about the kids. We continue to keep them in the forefront, and that’s what we do here,” Dunham said. “We educate and give kids the best that we have to offer.”

In other action, members voted to keep Ralph Wince as board president and install White as vice president.