By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Beth Utz was hired Friday morning as assistant principal at Bowling Green High School.
The Board of Education voted unanimously to offer Utz a one-year contract with a base salary of $85,000. She will replace Katie Bacon, who resigned last month.
“I’m really excited to be a part of the BG Schools team,” Utz said after the special board meeting.
Utz and her husband, Derik, a dentist in town, have sent their six children through Bowling Green City School with the youngest now a senior.
Utz, who grew up in this area and graduated from Anthony Wayne, began her career in education as an intervention specialist in Delaware, Ohio. Then, “I stepped out to raise our six children,” she said.
She later taught special education and became a supervisor at the elementary level in Fostoria. Most recently, she was an assistant principal at a pre-kindergarten through sixth grade school in Fostoria.
Utz knows she is coming into the Bowling Green school system during a challenging time – with a new superintendent and a bond issue going on the ballot in November for a new high school.
“I’m ready to take things head-on with Dan,” Utz said, referencing the high school principal Dan Black.
“I’m really excited about a lot of things happening,” she said. “I’m already part of the community, and I’m excited about becoming part of the BG Schools community.”
As for the possibility of voters passing a bond issue for a new high school, Utz said she is keeping her ears open.
“I’m ready to listen and hear what the community is saying,” she said.
In other business at Friday morning’s special meeting, the school board accepted the resignation of Matthew Kern, middle school business technology teacher.
In addition to Utz, the board also voted to hire Lisa Mullins as speech language pathologist, Emily Myers as part-time secretary at Crim Elementary, and Kristine Fauver as school psychologist.
The board also approved Ohio Dyslexia Course training for 21 teachers.
Superintendent Francis Scruci said that Bowling Green City Schools is far ahead of other districts in meeting Ohio’s new dyslexia laws. He credited Angie Schaal, executive director of teaching and learning, with preparing the district.
“It certainly will benefit our students,” Scruci said.
