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Ada Schools suspend search for new superintendent following interview questions leak

On Monday, January 25, the Ada Exempted Village Schools issued the following announcement cancelling the current search for a new superintendent. The board has a closed door executive session scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on February 1. Members of the Board of Education are President Matt Gossman, Vice-President Amy Mullins, Ron Fleming, Ted Griffith and Steve Ramey.

"The Ada Exempted Village Schools Board of Education has decided to cancel the current search for a Superintendent who will replace Superintendent Robin Van Buskirk following her retirement. 

"The Board will select an interim Superintendent who will serve the District for the 2023-2024 school year. The Board made this decision following one candidate in the current search receiving a copy of the questions intended for the interview process. 

"The questions were delivered to the candidate anonymously and the Board has not been able to identify the source of the copy of the advance questions. 

"Board President Matt Gossman explained, 'How can we proceed with a Superintendent search when the credibility of the search has been irreparably damaged by someone who violated the trust and integrity of this search process.  Finding the next leader of our schools is a sacred responsibility and we will take all necessary measures to ensure that the process is transparent and fair to all candidates.'"

Current superintendent Robin VanBuskirk was hired in October 2021, having previously served the district as Director of Teaching and Learning and as K-12 Principal.

Larry Claypool served as interim superintendent from about September 2021-November 2021.

Meri Skilliter served as superintendent from January 2017- July 2021.

Dr. Suzanne Darmer served as superintendent from January 2007-December 2016.

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CANCELED Vaccine development to be discussed at Bluffton University forum

UPDATE This event has been cancelled.

Robert A. Lerch, Ph.D., head of lab and site management and business operations at Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development, will present the Forum “Vaccine Development During a Pandemic,” at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 31 in Yoder Recital Hall on the campus of Bluffton University

As a member of the Pfizer team that developed the COVID mRNA vaccine, Lerch will discuss his research as a practice of Christian service.

This event is free and open to the public.

Area students named to Dean’s List at Ohio Northern University

The following students from Hardin County and from Bluffton and Rawson were named to the Dean’s List for fall semester 2022 at Ohio Northern University.

To be eligible for the Dean’s List, a student must attain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and be enrolled full time.

Aleece Al-Olimat - Ada - Ada High School

Grace Allison - Ada - Ada High School

Jeffrey Bassitt - Ada - Ada High School

Griffin Broge - Ada - Home School

Rielyn Castle - Ada - Ada High School

Jacob Colwell - Ada - Ada High School

Avery Demland - Ada

Alizay Furtado - Ada

Abigail Gerding - Kenton Kenton - Senior High School

AHS girls basketball seeded 5th, to play New Bremen

By Cort Reynolds

The Ada girls basketball team was seeded fifth out of 11 teams in their Div. IV sectional drawing Sunday.

After receiving a first round bye, the 10-9 Lady Bulldogs will play fourth seed New Bremen (10-10) in a sectional final Thursday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Shawnee.

The Ada/NB winner advances to the Wapakoneta district semifinals, almost certainly against top seed Marion Local (17-2), on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m.

Eschewing a round one bye, ML plays winless 11th seed Ridgemont Feb. 16 in the first round. The winner takes on 10th seed New Knoxville (1-19) in one sectional final.

Ninth-seeded USV (4-15) plays third seed St. Henry (11-7) in a first round matchup at Spencerville Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m. The winner faces seventh seed Perry (9-9) Feb. 18 at Spencerville.

SH passed on a bye, which Perry then received.

Hardin Northern (12-7) was seeded sixth and will play eighth seed Waynesfield (7-10) in Spencerville Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. in first round action. 

The victor advances to take on second seed Minster (10-8) at Spencerville Feb. 18.

The top four seeds are all MAC teams. The district finals are set for Thursday, Feb. 25 in Wapak at 6 p.m.

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From Ada's Punt Pass & Kick to national finals

This past weekend PPK USA hosted their national punt, pass and kick contest in Tampa, Florida, including competitors advancing from the Made in Ada Wilson Football festival regional event. Jamarcus St Laurent is now the National Champion 1st place overall ages 8-9 and Kamden Sampson placed 2nd overall ages 6-7.

AHS girls basketball: 45-33 win vs North Baltimore

By Cort Reynolds

Playing at home, the Ada High School girls basketball team reeled off a 17-0 second half run to break open a close game and defeat North Baltimore 45-33 in non-conference action Saturday night, January 28.

Ada improved to 10-9 with their fourth win in five games. Meanwhile, NB dropped to 2-17 after the defeat.

"At halftime we told the girls we needed to do it on the defensive end to get steals and easy buckets," said Bulldog head coach Zach Ricker. "And the girls did that in the second half." 

Ada guard Lexi Poling drained a triple to open the game, but NB went ahead 5-3 on a three-pointer by Kaylee Allison.

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