Tuscarawas Valley BOE accepts resignation of longtime member
Richard Gooding, Tusky Valley BOE member, resigns, effective July 31.
After 22 years of serving the Tuscarawas Valley Board of Education and the community, Richard Gooding has decided to step down, effective July 31. The board accepted his resignation at the June 9 meeting. His term expires Dec. 31, 2027.
“I want to publicly thank the residents for allowing me to serve them for the past 22 years. It is my hope that they feel I have represented them with the utmost honesty, integrity and to the best of my ability in discharging the duties on the board,” Gooding said.
Gooding thanked the board for the honor to serve under three superintendents and several treasurers, the community, teachers, support staff, and students and their parents. He also thanked his wife Mary Ellen for the sacrifices of having him being involved in the different aspects in the district. He spoke about being involved in the original plan to have one campus, opening of the senior center, and soon the opening of the Aultman Health Clinic in the community building and the improvements in the athletic facilities.
Board President Amy Burrier thanked Gooding for mentoring her when she was elected to the board 11 years ago.
The board will begin interviewing candidates at the beginning of August at a date to be determined and must name a replacement within 30 days of the vacancy. Applications are available on the district’s website and are due by July 31 to the central office.
In another matter the board approved ratification of a three-year agreement between the board and Ohio Association of Public School Employees, effective Aug. 1 to July 31, 2028. The employees will receive a 75 cent hourly wage increase for each year of the negotiated agreement and a one-time $1,000 signing bonus, payable by Aug. 29, 2025.
The board also did the following:
—Granted one-year contracts to Elyce Enrique, instrumental music teacher, and John Warner, vocal music teacher, both effective Aug. 15.
—Accepted donations/grants for $250 from Sparta Steel and Equipment for Trojan Crush and $60 from Rochester Institute of Technology for Project Lead the Way.
—Issued one-year supplemental contracts to 19 certified employees and eight contracted employees for the 2025-26 school year.
—Approved meal prices as follows: breakfast at no cost for kindergarten through 12th grade, $2.50 for adults, and no cost for lunch for kindergarten through 12th grade with adults $4. This is the second year for the Community Eligibility Provision.
—Approved an amended agreement with Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital for certified athletic training coverage, effective Aug. 1.
—Approved board members Sally Green and Adam Fisher to attend the Consortium of State School Boards Association National School Safety Symposium June 22-27 in St. Louis, Missouri.
—Approved the track team to attend the New Balance track meet June 21 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
—Accepted the resignations of Peggy Lee, middle school cook, for retirement and Courtney Rae, bus driver, both effective June 5.
—Approved a one-year lease agreement with Cardinal Rehab for rental of room 132, effective Aug. 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026.
—Gave approval to a one-year lease agreement with Cognitive Organics LLC, effective Aug. 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026.
—Approved a lease agreement with the Orrville Hospital Foundation, dba Aultman Orrville Hospital, health clinic, effective September 2025.
Other information
The Back-to-School Bash will be held Aug. 15 from 5-7 p.m. in front of the district administration building.
A fiscal year end meeting will be June 30 at 5 p.m. The next regular meeting will be Aug. 11 at 6 p.m. in the community board room at 6237 Tusky Valley Road NE in Zoarville. The July 14 meeting is canceled.