Board approves consent agenda; public commenter urges diversity while welcoming new hire

The Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Local School District Board of Education approved its consent agenda during the Aug. 8 meeting, endorsing certificated employment, administrative hires, resignations, leaves of absence, supplemental duty assignments and the first-semester substitute list.

The consent agenda was moved and seconded and approved by roll call. The superintendent introduced the consent items and noted they were included with the agenda materials and available on the district website.

During the open communication period, Meredith Bryniger, who identified herself as a parent and chair of the local nonprofit Sugar Creek Cares, welcomed the board's new hire Dr. Therese Monroe and urged the district to pursue greater racial and ethnic diversity among teachers and principals. Bryniger cited research she said shows that students benefit when they have at least one teacher of the same race and said she hopes Dr. Monroe's appointment will be the start of change.

"I'm mostly here tonight as a parent to, warmly welcome Dr. Therese Monroe to BCI and to the Bellbrook-Sugar Creek community more broadly," Bryniger said. "We know that having even one teacher in grades K-5 makes an especially big difference."

The superintendent provided a brief overview of Dr. Monroe's background in Dayton Public Schools, including experience as an assistant and head principal and as an instructional coach, and the board members welcomed her to the district.

The agenda item approving personnel actions will be reflected in district records and the posted minutes; the administration said additional details about specific hires and resignations are available in the consent documents on the district website.