A second round of school bells are ringing for local students to return to the classroom.
Riverside Local Schools
The first day of classes for Riverside Local Schools students is Wednesday, Aug. 16, for first graders through seniors. The first day for preschool/kindergarten girls is Aug. 21. The first day for preschool/kindergarten boys is Aug. 22. All preschool/kindergarten student on Aug. 23.
New staff members for the district include Abby Coggins elementary music; Erin Krisher, kindergarten; Lauren Otting, fifth-grade; Ellie Johnson, fifth/sixth-grade intervention; Mollie Bell, preschool; Amy Pleiman, sixth-grade math; Kyle Hurley, high school math; Becky Lentz, junior high science; and Spencer Saunders, high school social studies.
Students won’t have school on Monday, Sept. 4, in observance of Labor Day. Power hour delays are planned for Sept. 13 and Sept. 27.
Fairlawn Local School
Tuesday, Aug. 22, is the first day of school for Fairlawn Local School District students. An open house will be held Thursday, Aug. 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. There won’t be any school on Monday, Sept. 4, for the Labor Day holiday.
New staff members for the 2017-18 school year include Kimberly Cotterman, Spanish; Christopher Lauterbach, elementary school guidance counselor; Tonya Slonaker, high school guidance counselor; Elisabeth Baker, intervention specialist; Jill Smith, intervention specialist; Darren Kaiser, intervention specialist; Todd Acker, part-time custodian; and Timothy Brown, teacher aide and soccer coach.
Since the dismissal of school in the spring, several projects have been completed at the school. The parking lots have been resurfaced. The track/soccer press box is now ready for use. The gym floors were also resurfaced.
Special events that are upcoming include the Princess Spay Day on Sunday, Sept. 24, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the school. A fall festival is planned for Friday, Oct. 27, from 6 to 9 p.m. A harvest cafe will be open during the festival from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Botkins Local School
The first day of school at Botkins Local School is Monday, Aug. 21. An open houses is planned for Thursday, Aug. 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. There’s no school on Monday, Sept. 4, in observance of Labor Day.
New staff members for the year include Elementary Principal Chris Abke, Elementary Guidance Counselor Kirsten Martinez, high school business teacher Andrew Davis, high school family consumer science teacher Jena Holtkamp, high school Spanish teacher Renee Wildermuth, nutrition program supervisor Annette Hensley, cafeteria worker Emily Gill and bus driver Ken Lemmon.
Anna Local Schools
Anna students will be returning the class on Wednesday, Aug. 23. An open house is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 21. The elementary school open house will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. the high school open house is planned from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The district expects 1,200 students to be attending classes this year.
There will be no school on Monday, Sept. 4, for the Labor Day holiday.
New staff members include Maggie Bittner, band director, and Pam Berning, high school administrative assistant. Bittner is a graduate of Ohio Northern University.
Over the summer, the district was busy with many projects. The foundation for the swing building will be poured in August. Steel has been ordered for the building, which will hold 10 temporary classrooms during the school renovation. The swing building will be ready for use by Jan. 1, 2018.
Initial drawings for the renovation in the high school and middle school have been completed.
Russia Local School
School bells will be ringing Wednesday, Aug. 23, for students in Russia Local Schools. An open house for students in kindergarten through sixth-grade will be held Monday, Aug. 21, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
There’s no school on Monday, Sept. 4, for the Labor Day holiday.
Rachel Gregg has been hired as a full time guidance counselor for the district. Jayme Goubeaux is the new fifth-grade ELA and social studies teacher. Kathy Bevans is coming out of retirement to fill the part-time Title 1 position. Lynn Blakely will be the part-time music teacher. Mark Travis will be the part-time K-9 physical education teacher. Missy Seger is the new assistant cook. Cathy Courter is the one-to-one aide for a special needs student. Doris Goubeaux is a part-time evening custodian.
New windows have been installed at the high school. Work is being planned in the gymnasium to deal with the moisture and condensation.
A new storage building has been completed on the north end of the track. The building was funded by the Russia Wellness Foundation.
