JERRY CITY – Kristy Silverwood has joined the Elmwood Local Schools Board of Education.
Silverwood, who was sworn in at the Dec. 6 meeting, replaces Brian King.
“I have children in elementary, middle school and high school and I felt being a parent … I wanted to represent all levels of the grades,” she said about her interest in serving on the board.
Silverwood said she would like to be a voice for the younger families.
“She brought enthusiasm and love for the district,” said board President Debbie Reynolds about Silverwood’s selection. “Her enthusiasm was very apparent, and she brought good ideas.
“She brings a fresh perspective because she has a child in elementary, she has a child in middle school and she has a child in high school,” Reynolds said.
Thirteen applications were given out and the board interviewed the five that were submitted, said Superintendent Tony Borton.
Silverwood has an associate degree in applied science with a major in medical assistant from Owens Community College and has worked as a pharmacy relief coordinator at Meijer since 2018.
“She was a high energy candidate. She seemed to be well rounded in all the buildings,” said board member Jeremie Pennington.
He and board member Melanie Davis both commented on Silverwood having students in each of the three buildings.
“She’ll bring inside knowledge about stuff we may not know about,” Pennington said.
“To me, she felt like she was a perfect fit,” Davis said.
Board member Ryan Lee did not participate in the interviews due to a work commitment.
A native of Luckey, Silverwood graduated in 2002 from Eastwood High School and now lives in Wayne with her husband and three children.
“I’m glad I went to Eastwood so I could learn what a good school is, and here at Elmwood I can see we’ve exceeded what I learned from Eastwood,” Silverwood said.
Silverwoodis a member of the Wayne Fire Auxiliary. Her family is involved in 4-H and raise sheep.
In her application, Silverwood praised Elmwood for its wonderful teachers but said the district could provide more inclusive mental health care.
Also at the meeting, the board:
• Learned that Zane Hagemeyer, who was a finalist for a national FFA American Star Farmer Award, did not win.
FFA Adviser Krysteena Lawrence said Hagemeyer had conducted online practice interviews with farmers and ranchers from across the country and then interviewed with the national committee in August.
“We’ve never had a national finalist,” Lawrence said about Hagemeyer’s achievements. This was “amazing for not only Ohio but for our community.”
The committee looked at skills, goals and efficiency of operations, she said.
Hagemeyer won Ohio’s Star Farmer and was one of four national finalists.
The national FFA convention was held in Indianapolis in October, and there were 70,000 members in attendance.
Reynolds praised Hagemeyer for his achievement and said what stood out with his cattle operations was “yours was completely self-driven.”
• Learned that Fellowship of Christian Athletes will start a chapter in the middle school in January.
Monica Arnold said she was giving up the title of high school FCA adviser to move to the middle school and start a chapter there.
She said there normally are 35-40 high school students who attend the monthly meetings and middle school students were interested.
FCA members presented holiday gift baskets to the board, treasurer and superintendent.
• Heard high school Principal Ty Traxler praise the visit by Kevin Hines, sponsored by the FFA. Hines spoke to grades 7-12 on Nov. 18.
One of the few survivors of a suicide attempt by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, Hines spoke about mental health and suicide prevention.
Guidance counselors were swamped for the rest of the day and continue to work with those students, Traxler said.
• Accepted donations of $1,549 for the softball program from the Elmwood Athletic Boosters and $2,571 from Biddy Volleyball, $949 for the cafeteria fund to aid student debt from Wayne United Methodist Church and $2,000 for the food pantry from Benschoter Hay & Straw LLC.
• Approved the appointment of Susan Secrist to the Wayne Public Library Board for a seven-year term that will conclude in 2030.
• Approved supplemental contracts for the following head coaches: Greg Bishop for football, Archer Spencer for volleyball, Jason Barringer for cross country, Gerald Taft for boys golf, Kyle Hackenburg for girls golf and Jackie Rothenbuhler for cheerleading.
• Learned the high school choir and band will be in concert Sunday in the community center. The middle school choirs will perform a holiday concert Dec. 20.
