Madison Messenger - July 4th, 2021

PAGE 2 - MADISON MESSENGER - July 4, 2021
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LCS hires one of its own as elementary principal
By Kristy Zurbrick
Madison Editor
From a field of 16 candidates, London City Schools chose an internal
candidate to fill the role of elementary school principal.
Heather Mills, a third-grade teacher, will take the helm effective
Aug. 1. She replaces John Riley who served as principal for three
years. Riley has accepted a job as an elementary school principal
at Hilliard City Schools. Roy Ohr remains as London Elementary’s
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assistant principal.
“Over the last three
years, Mr. Riley and Mr. Ohr
have worked hard to build a
positive climate with students,
parents, and staff.
Heather has been a part of
that process as a teacher,”
said Dr. Lou Kramer, London
City Schools superintendent.
“She can walk into that
role (of principal) understanding
where the school is
and pick up where Mr. Riley
left off.”
Mills joined the London
staff in 2014 and has taught
kindergarten, first grade,
and third grade. She served
as the third-grade teacher
leader on the building leadership
team, and she is
heading up the elementary
school’s summer school program.
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Prior to her time at London, Mills was an
elementary school teacher at Imagine Great
Western Academy in Columbus. She holds
a bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio
Northern University and a master’s degree
in educational leadership from Ohio Dominican
University.
Eliminating student fees
On June 22, the school board approved
the elimination of student fees at the elementary
and middle schools for next school
year as a way to cut the cost burden on parents.
The fees usually run between
$15 and $25 per student
per year.
“This decision follows our philosophy
from a district standpoint
that we want to provide the best
experience for families,” Kramer
said. “We’re constantly looking at
what programs are beneficial to
families or ways we can improve
what we call the user experience.
We felt like this was an area in
which we could do that.”
The high school student fees
and pay-to-participate fees remain
in place for the 2021-22
school year.
Food service contract
The district continues to iron
out details on a contract with
Chartwells, a division of Compass
Group USA, for management of
the district’s food service. The district
is moving from an in-house
Heather Mills is the new principal at London
Elementary.
operation to outside management.
The proposed contract—a one-year arrangement renewable up to
three times—will be back on the agenda at the school board’s meeting
on July 13. The proposed contract guarantees the district will
reap at least $41,000 in food service revenues next school year.
“Those are revenues that, prior to the pandemic, we weren’t able
to do on our own,” Kramer said.
As part of the transition, the board approved the elimination of
its food service director position. The person who formerly held that
position has chosen to take a position outside the district, Kramer
said. The district’s remaining food service employees retained their
jobs. If positions come open, Chartwells will fill those spots, per the
proposed contract.
Courtyard project
The board approved donations from Scotts Miracle-Gro for a
courtyard renovation project at the elementary school. The district
has teamed up with the Madison County Master Gardeners who,
starting July 12, will work with summer school students to enhance
the courtyard with new vegetation. The collaboration aligns with
the district’s project-based learning approach. Scotts donated $250
for supplies and $250 in coupons for products at the Scotts Store.
FIRE LEVY
Continued from page 1
put a request for a five-year replacement of the levy on the November
2021 ballot. The timing gives the board time to make the request
again if it fails the first time.
Currently, the levy generates $441,335 per year. If the replacement
request passes, the levy would generate $514,345 per year as
estimated by the Madison County Auditor’s Office. A replacement
levy brings tax collection up-to-date with current property values.
Tax collection on the updated values would start Jan. 1, 2023. The
main purpose of the replacement levy would be to generate added
dollars to allow for more paid personnel hours.
The fire district board’s next meeting is July 29 at 8 p.m. at the
fire station, 7 W. Columbus St., Mount Sterling.
Taylor also serves as chief of the Sterling Joint Ambulance District.
The district recently ordered a new EMS vehicle. The estimated
delivery date is April. The $206,545 vehicle will replace an
ambulance the district has had since 2011. The old truck has
155,000 miles on it.
The ambulance district board’s next meeting is July 7 at 8 p.m.
at the squad bay, 24 S. London St., Mount Sterling. The meeting
was moved up due to the Madison County Fair. Following the July
meeting, meetings will return to the normal schedule of the second
Wednesday of the month.