Rousselo named Bedford High principal

Board selects other hires, OKs levy issue

8/11/2014

TEMPERANCE — Bedford Senior High School has a new principal, and in November voters will be asked to renew the district’s expiring sinking fund levy for building repairs, following action taken by the board of education last week.

The board approved the appointment of Andy Rousselo as the new high school principal, effective immediately. He succeeds Scott Stalker, who decided to return to teaching so he could spend more time with his family.

Mr. Rousselo will be paid $99,815 for 2014-2015. He was an assistant principal at the high school and was selected from a pool of 12 applicants, six of whom were interviewed. Superintendent Mark Kleinhans said he was part of a two-hour interview of Mr. Rousselo and came away “very impressed. Andy has a lot of knowledge.”

Mr. Kleinhans recognized Mr. Stalker for his six years of “outstanding leadership” and will present him with a plaque. Mr. Stalker will teach social studies at the junior high school, a position that will pay $68,945.

The board also approved the rehiring of Laura Burgermeister, a laid-off teacher who will be a second grade instructor at Douglas Road Elementary. Her salary will be $51,699.25.

Other hirings approved are: Lisa Carnicom, a sixth grade teacher at the junior high ($50,452.75); Jennifer Harrison, a high school and junior high speech therapy teacher ($64,828), and Megan Salenbien, a junior high science teacher ($38,654).

In approving a request for the renewal of the district’s five-year, 0.5-mill sinking fund levy, the board was following through on its stated intention after the defeat of the district’s proposed facilities levy on May 6. The tax would raise about $484,560 annually for repairs to the district’s aging buildings, most of which date to the 1950s and 1960s. It would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $25 a year.

The board intended to let the tax lapse if voters had approved its $70.35-million plan for an extensive upgrade of the district’s facilities. But in a heavier-than-expected turnout, the request for the 30-year, 4.37-mill levy to finance the improvements suffered a landslide defeat at the polls.

In other business, the board approved spending $5,463.80 to recondition the football team’s helmets so they continue to comply with the requirements of the National Operating Committee for Standards on Athletic Equipment, and authorized Mr. Kleinhans to solicit bids for financing the installment purchase of 10 new 77-passenger school buses.

The cost of the buses is $926,528. Mr. Kleinhans said he expected the district to take delivery of them in the third week of September.

Contact Carl Ryan at: carlryan@theblade.com or 419-724-6095.