Stahl to lead FR

FORT RECOVERY — School board didn’t stall around selecting its next superintendent.

Fort Recovery School Board hired Tony Stahl, current principal of Fort Recovery High School, as the district’s new superintendent Monday.

It also accepted Fort Recovery Athletic Boosters’ donation of the new LeFevre Family Baseball and Softball Complex upon its completion Friday and approved the 2023-24 staffing plan, which involves hiring a new teacher and rearranging a few other positions.

The school board approved a four-year contract for Stahl starting Aug. 1. The board has been looking for a new leader since superintendent Larry Brown announced he would be retiring at the end of the calendar year.

Stahl has served as high school principal for three years and previously as principal at Fort Recovery Middle School for four years. Prior to his time in administration, Stahl worked for three years as a social studies teacher at St. Henry High School. He finished his superintendent licensure program in July 2019 through the University of Dayton.

According to a press release, board president Don Wendel said Stahl exhibited all the qualities they were looking for in a new superintendent.

Upon hearing Stahl’s name as Wendel read it from the agenda before school board’s approval, school board members and those in attendance gave a round of applause. Stahl turned around in his seat with a grin on his face.

“I’ve been in the district, so I have a little bit of an advantage there,” Stahl said. “But I’ll be working with Larry to kind of learn the ropes and some of the board side of things, and kind of get my feet under me.”

He noted there he’ll also be hiring some new employees, which will include his replacement as high school principal and a new Fort Recovery Elementary principal. (Current elementary principal Kelli Thobe will be leaving at the end of the school year after resigning earlier this month in preparation for her role as Marion Local Elementary/Middle School principal.)

Brown will resign his position as superintendent effective July 31 and serve as director of the school district through the end of 2023 to provide transitional support to Stahl. He expressed pleasure with Stahl taking over next school year.

“I wish Tony the best of luck, he’ll do a great job,” said Brown. “He’s a good communicator, he’s learned a lot about education … and I’m going to be here to help transition for a short time. But I’m sure he’s very capable.”

Also Monday, the school board agreed to accept the Fort Recovery Athletic Boosters’ donation of the new softball/baseball complex Friday, when the first games are set to begin at the facility. Located on the southeast side of the Fort Recovery Elementary/Middle School property, the project included a new baseball field, a “face-lift” for the softball field and permanent restroom, concession and media facilities.

“I certainly want to thank the entire community for all the work and things that went into the development of that plan and the final implementation,” said Brown.

He also reviewed the school district’s plans for staffing next school year. He referenced the school’s kindergarten enrollment, which is estimated at more than 80 students, as well as changes in low incidence special education service needs provided by Mercer County Educational Service Center. Fort Recovery’s needs are now predominantly focused in the kindergarten through eighth grade levels, he noted.

With that in mind, Brown said, he suggested the school board consider adding a fourth grade elementary teacher and reassigning a low incidence special education service needs teacher from the high school to fifth through eighth grade.

The board approved the plan unanimously.

In other business, school board members Anne Guggenbiller, Sean Kahlig, Jake Knapke, Nick Wehrkamp and Don Wendel:

•Authorized the superintendent and treasurer Deanna Knapke to enter into an agreement through the Ohio Council of Educational Purchasing Consortia with Tremco to repair and replace the elementary/middle school gym roof.

•Were reminded by Knapke the next five-year financial forecast for Fort Recovery Local Schools begins at 6 p.m. May 15 prior to the regular school board meeting.

•Heard multiple upcoming dates for activities at the high school, including the FFA banquet April 4 and prom April 28.

•Approved the following groups to take overnight trips: Fort Recovery Cross Country team to attend a high school cross country camp from Aug. 2 to Aug. 3 at Chenoweth Trails in Greenville, Ohio; FFA wildlife judging team to attend the Ohio wildlife judging competition from March 31 to April 1 at Hocking Technical Community College in Nelsonville, Ohio; FFA Ag mechanics team to attend the Ohio Ag Mechanics Career Development event from March 30 to 31 at Ohio State ATI Campus in Wooster, Ohio; FFA members to attend the state FFA convention from May 3 to May 5 at Ohio State Fairgrounds in Columbus, Ohio.

•Hired, with Knapke and Wendel abstaining, Nina Wendel as a high school science teacher starting Aug. 1.

•Accepted building aide Pam Fullenkamp’s resignation. Fullenkamp plans to retire at the end of the school year.