By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
When Ed Whipple got his first teaching job, teaching English and French in Chicago Public Schools, he didn’t think too highly of the board of education.
“You remember Welcome Back Kotter?” he asked. “I was Kotter. I had the Sweathogs.”
But times changed, and so did Whipple, who has come to appreciate that school boards perform a valuable service.
And now times are changing again, and Whipple submitted his resignation Tuesday evening from the Bowling Green Board of Education. He will be moving back to Salem, Oregon, where his life in education first began.
Whipple practically grew up on the Willamette University campus, where his father was alumni affairs director. His father later became the school’s first vice president of student affairs in 1967 – the job Whipple will be filling on June 1.
But that means Bowling Green Board of Education now must find a person to fill Whipple’s seat here.
“He did a fantastic job,” Board President Paul Walker said.
Whipple’s resignation was accepted, “reluctantly” and “begrudgingly” by fellow board member.
“It’s been a great honor and privilege to serve as a board of education member,” he said. “I thank you for the opportunity to serve.”
Whipple, who was vice president for student affairs at BGSU, said as his son went through school in Bowling Green, he was pleased with staff, school leadership and the community support. “I’ve been so impressed.”
Superintendent Francis Scruci said Whipple’s leaving is a hard hit for the board.
“It is a tremendous loss to our district,” Scruci said. “Those are big shoes to fill. He’s as good a board member as I’ve ever been around.”
Whipple’s departure means just two of the remaining four board members have much experience. Paul Walker and Ellen Scholl have served multiple terms, but Jill Carr and Ginny Stewart are new to the board this year.
“There’s something to say about the experience piece,” Scruci said.
“This is a critical appointment because we’ve got some important issues coming up,” like teacher negotiations, facility discussions, and a levy to pass, Scruci said. “There’s some difficult things coming forward.”
The process to fill the vacant seat begins Wednesday.
“We don’t know the kind of interest to expect,” Scruci said. “It’s an open process to anybody.”
Those interested in being appointed to the board must submit a letter of interest addressing the following issues:
- Reason for interest in joining the board.
- Qualifications and experience that would add value to the board.
- Most pressing or important issue facing Bowing Green City Schools.
To be eligible, an applicant must be a registered voter and reside in the school district.
Letters of interest should be sent to: Bowling Green City Schools Board of Education; Attention: Paul Walker, president; 137 Clough St., Bowling Green, OH 43402.
The application deadline is April 29 at 4:30 p.m.
Applicants will be interviewed by the board. The members reserve the right to interview only those candidates deemed qualified based on their written statements. The board anticipates conducting interviews beginning the week of May 2.
The board is required to make an appointment within 30 days of the vacancy, and plans to fill the seat at the May 17 board meeting. If the board fails to fill the vacancy within 30 days, the probate court must fill the seat.
The replacement will fill the remainder of Whipple’s term, which ends December 2017.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Scott Seeliger announced his retirement as athletic director.
“He’s breathed new life into the football program and the athletic program,” Scruci said.
In other business, contracts were renewed for Jeffrey Dever as high school principal, and Elizabeth Krolak as technology coordinator. Jodi Anderson was named secondary curriculum coordinator.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the school board heard that change orders in the football stadium bleacher project will add $17,850 to the cost. Kent Buerher, the architect of the project, said the visitors side bleachers have already been torn down, the foundation has been poured for the restrooms, and the work should be completed on time or early.
Math competition winners recognized by school board.
Several people were recognized during the meeting, including:
- Dan DeWitt and Eddie Powers for hitting the 500th win in high school hockey.
- Laura Weaver’s PACE students who excelled in the recent Perennial Math Competition, including Benjamin Burton, Cole Ash, Braden Knavel, Isa Wan, Anthony Yun, Alexandra Parish, Gabe Mott, Eli Marx, Jordan Schuman, Aaron Partin, Abigail Utz and Daniel Schuman.
- Winners of Youth Art Month awards, Raeya Powers-Kantorski, Aiden Meyer, Ishan Chattopadhyay, Bree Digby, Anita Kukeli, Leanne Hershberger, Lily Cook and Nile Peterson.
- Not In Our Town art contest winners, Shan Patel, Maddy Rothenbuhler, Emily Batchelder and Cameron Roehl.
- Wood County Solid Waste Management District billboard contest winner Nina Zhu.
