Miami East Board of Education welcomes new board members

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By Matt Clevenger

For the Miami Valley Today

CASSTOWN — The Miami East Local School District Board of Education held its annual re-organizational meeting on Monday, Jan. 11, electing officers and swearing in newly-elected board members Amanda Howell, Mark Lawson, and Pam Rice.

“I’m looking forward to the next four years, and serving the community,” Howell said.

“I’m looking forward to the next four years, also,” Lawson said. “I’m glad to be a part of it.”

“I’m very excited to be here,” Rice said. “I love Miami East; I’m really excited to serve the community and the kids.”

“We’re very appreciative,” District Superintendent Dr. Todd Rappold said. “We’re looking forward to a fresh perspective and different perspectives. I think that’s what makes Miami East a strong district.”

“We look forward to having you on the board,” Rappold said.

In other business, board members also elected officers for 2022. Mark Iiames was selected to continue serving as board president; board member John Demmitt was elected vice-president.

Board members also approved committee appointments for 2022, and the schedule for board meetings in 2022. Regular board meetings will be held at 7 p.m. in Room 116 at Miami East High School, on the third Monday of each month except February. February’s meeting will be held on the Tuesday, Feb. 22.

Iiames was selected to serve as the district’s OSBA legislative liaison and student achievement liaison. Lawson and Iiames will serve on the board’s M.V.C.T.C. committee; Howell, Demmitt, and Rice will serve on the athletic council. Rice and Howell will serve on the facilities committee, Rice and Lawson will serve on the Alumni Hall of Fame committee, and Howell and Demmitt will serve on the Miami East Foundation committee. All board members will serve on the audit committee.

Board members also voted to approve several donations, including a $50 donation to the Miami east Athletic Program in memory of Carolyn Cavender, a $50 donation to the athletic program in memory of Betty Kirk, a $1,000 donation from Sunrise Cooperative to the Miami East FFF program, a $61 donation from the Ohio FFA Foundation to the Miami East FFA for the Blue Jackets program and a $200 donation from Kandar Farms to the Miami East FFA program.

Board members also approved several financial housekeeping measures for 2022, and heard a financial report from district treasurer Lisa Fahncke.

“We’re right on target,” Fahncke said. “We’re looking good so far. We have more revenue in than we have expenditures out.”

Athletic events faced budgeting difficulties in 2021, mainly because of decreased attendance due to COVID-19 restrictions. “That’s picked up again this year, so that’s a good thing,” Fahncke said.

“Another area that we were having difficulties in was the cafeteria,” she said, “but that was before we went to having 100% lunches reimbursed. That’s looking better now, too.”

Board members ended their meeting with an executive session for the consideration of the appointment or employment of a public employee. Board members next regularly scheduled meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in Room 116 at Miami East High School on Tuesday, Feb. 22.

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