Western Buckeye ESC board organizes

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Western Buckeye Educational Service Center Governing Board organized for the new year, honoring a board member with more than four decades of service and recognizing an intervention specialist who is retiring at the end of the school year.

Board members William Poe II, Jerry Zielke and P. James Grubaugh were sworn in to begin serving a new term on the board.

Poe was also re-elected board president, while Nick Miller will serve as vice president.

Superintendent Brian Gerber talked a bit about Grubaugh’s 42-year-long tenure on the board. “Mr. Grubaugh brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the WBESC board,” Gerber noted. “He is passionate about Van Wert and Paulding county.

“Mr. Grubaugh loves this are and wants to see education succeed at all levels,” the WBESC superintendent added. “He may be in his 42nd year, but he is probably as feisty and spunky as he was in 1970.”

Gerber noted that he did not know Grubaugh when he first came on the WBESC Board, mainly because he was only 8 years old at the time, but complimented the board member on his longevity.

“His 42 years on the board is an incredible accomplishment,” Gerber noted. “That should tell you a little something about the man.”

Gerber also recognized the WBESC Governing Board members for their service to the board, something appropriate because it’s School Board Recognition Month.

The superintendent also had compliments for Sandra LeMieux, who is retiring from her position at an intervention specialist at Grover Hill Elementary School after 17 years of service.

“Sandra LeMieux cared and loved her students during her tenure at Grover Hill,” Gerber noted. “She was a team player and did what was necessary to help the students.

“We will miss Sandra and her pleasant personality, and wish her the best as she retires at the end of this school year.”

In other action, the board:

• Approved Treasurer Gary Ginter’s report.
• Renewed membership in the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) at a cost of $2,619, and renewed membership with OSBA’s Legal Assistance Fund at a cost of $250.
• Donated the Western Buckeye ESC Paulding County Retired Teachers plaques to the Paulding County Retired Teachers Association.