Minerva Board approves retirements, hires and 2025–26 coaching roster

The Minerva Local Board of Education handled several personnel and business matters at its October meeting. 

Alexander Albert, assistant high school principal, will retire Jan. 30, 2026, after 28 years with the district. The board also accepted the resignations of certified substitute Rachel Galameau, effective Oct. 16; cafeteria worker Donna Ramsey, effective Oct. 4; and bus driver Brandi Grove, effective Oct. 23. 

The board hired Jennifer Jordan as a long-term certified substitute for Minerva High School; approved a certified separation agreement with Stephanie Linder, effective May 31, 2026; named Amy Olmstead and Amber Slaight as classified substitutes for the 2025–26 school year; and amended Shirley Pitts’ contract from a four-hour bus aide to a four-hour cafeteria worker. 

Coaching assignments for 2025–26 were approved as follows: For boys basketball, Rich Hart will serve as head coach with Bruce Wright as varsity assistant, Logan Coe as JV head coach, Dale Dixon as freshman head coach, Scott Russell as eighth-grade coach, and Brian Steffey as seventh-grade coach. Girls basketball coaches include Josh Morckel, head coach (89.35 percent head coach stipend); Becca Kovach, high school assistant (10.65% head coach stipend); Nick Apisa, varsity assistant; Fred Bigham, JV head coach; Scott Cassidy, eighth-grade coach; and Maddie Foutz, seventh-grade coach. Nick Embrogno will coach boys bowling, and Dana Keister will coach girls bowling. In wrestling, Kenny Beaumariage will lead the boys team with Leo Saniuk and Bodey Kiko as varsity assistants, Brenton Stith as middle school head coach, and Jacob Cruz-Perez as middle school assistant. For girls wrestling, Sammy Southers will serve as head coach with Jada Shafer and Jaqueline Zwick as assistants. Jacob Eberling will oversee the winter weight room. Volunteer coaches include Kristian Knight (boys basketball, JV assistant), Rob Yeagley (boys basketball, eighth grade), Megan Keister (assistant girls bowling), Josh McGeorge (middle school boys wrestling), Chad Hilliard (boys varsity wrestling), Olivia Scott (indoor track), and Mackenzie Scott, Arin Rettig, Marcie Herstine, Megan Keyser and Leslie Saban (indoor track). 

In other business, the board approved three resolutions—policy updates, a memorandum of understanding with the University of Akron, and disposal of two 65-passenger Blue Bird buses deemed obsolete, broken or unrepairable. Expenditures for September totaled $2,324,316.04. 

Superintendent Mark Scott recognized student accomplishments: the girls golf team placed 12th in the state at the OHSAA Championships; both boys and girls golf teams were EBC champions; boys and girls cross-country teams won EBC and East District OHSAA titles; and MHS volleyball finished with 14 wins. 

District enrollment stands at 1,678 students, including 186 open-enrolled in, 108 open-enrolled out, 122 homeschooled, and 60 in community schools. 

The next board meeting will be Monday, Nov. 10, at 6 p.m. at R.G. Drage Career Center.