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BLOOMINGDALE -- Jefferson County Joint Vocational School will be seeking a replacement as longtime treasurer Karen Spoonemore announced her retirement.
During the March 21 regular meeting, the school board approved Spoonemore's resignation effective Aug. 1, which follows 31 years of service to the district. Her overall career spans 46 years and includes seven years as a secretary at Cadiz High School followed by four years as an assistant treasurer at Harrison Hills City Schools and a four-year stint as treasurer for Indian Creek Local Schools. She arrived at the JVS in 1992 and has watched it evolve with a changing of the guard in board members, administrators and staff plus the expansion of programs. She also counted former Supervisor/Principal Tony D'Aurora as a close friend and mentor and likened being at the school to being part of a family.
"We've been through births here and we've been through deaths here. They all impact you," she said. "The job is the same no matter where you go, but what makes the difference is the staff."
"It's a family," Spoonemore added. "We take care of our own, always have and always will."
She also appreciated the board's support and said it has made her comfortable and confident about her role. After all these years, it was time to go and enjoy opportunities with family and traveling.
"It's just time to be moving on," she said.
Superintendent Todd Phillipson said Spoonemore had done a lot for the school and he appreciated her dedication.
"She has done an excellent job for the district over the past 31 years," Dr. Phillipson added, praising her efforts to maintain operations. "She is just a great person to have serving the JVS."
The position will be posted for Spoonemore's replacement.
Among other action, the board:
— Heard from area resident Barry Bardone, who questioned officials' support of a lawsuit against the state's EdChoice school voucher program. EdChoice offers private school vouchers to students in grades K-12 who are assigned to "low-performing" public schools while school district pays the costs. The JVS is among those involved with the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding, which declared the funding unconstitutional. Bardone asked how the board about backing the move and how they funded the lawsuit, saying he would accept a response letter to his questions;
— Approved an agreement with Buckeye Field Maintenance Inc., of Bloomingdale for the renovation of the cosmetology lab. Officials discussed the $294,490 bid in February and said the project entails replacing stations, painting, flooring, new countertops and some design modifications. Plans are to be completed this summer;
— Heard from Supervisor/Assistant Principal Gabrielle Wilson, who announced SkillsUSA, Business and Professionals of America and Future Career and Community Leaders of America regional participants and state qualifiers, including senior Buckeye Local High School and auto collision student Brady Ogden for collision repair technology division; senior BLHS and electrical trades student Ian Latynski, industrial motor control; Indian Creek High School junior and cosmetology student Kyley Shebondi, job skills demo A; junior BLHS and culinary arts student Abbigail Keenan, restaurant service; junior ICHS and culinary arts student Shelley Young, culinary; ICHS seniors Peyton Marsh, Sydni Cunningham and Torry Burks and BLHS senior Annabelle Morgan, multimedia and design, broadcast news production team at the state BPA event; BLHS junior Jarryn Hill, ICHS juniors Jason Nutter and Lance Thornton and Steubenville High School junior Demarrihanna Harper, MAD, podcast production team at BPA; Edison Local High School senior Lita Bennett and ICHS senior Brianna Cottrell, both early childhood education students, lesson presentation team; and senior Jefferson County Christian School and ECE student Karlee Wilson, early childhood education. Wilson also said the ECE team will be recognized at the state FCCLA competition for receiving the FACTS traffic safety grant;
— Belatedly celebrated School Board Recognition Month with a dinner at the Crestview Inn Restaurant which was catered by culinary arts students. Instructor Glen Zalenski introduced pupils Dylan Howell, Shelley Young, Sharolyn Brooks, Abbi Keenan and Brennan Shipley and said they recently attended the ProStart culinary competition in Columbus. Zalenski said it was their first time attending and he was proud of their hard work;
— Set the next meeting for 5 p.m. April 11.