Eastern Local student Abbey Porter was recognized during Wednesday board meeting for receiving first place in the Athens County Area Beekeepers Association (ACABA) essay contest. Pictured with Porter are board president Floyd Ridenour, left, and ACABA member Greg Bailey.

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TUPPERS PLAINS — Floyd Ridenour was elected as President of the Eastern Local Board of Education during Wednesday evening’s organizational meeting.

Ridenour will replace Adam Will as president, while Mark Hall was elected vice president for 2013.

Will will serve as the legislative liaison, while Ridenour will remain the student achievement liaison.

Will and Dennis Eichinger will serve on the district’s finance and audit committee; Hall and Eichinger will be on the policy committee; Hall and Ridenour will serve on the building and grounds committee; Will and Eichinger will be on the personnel committee; and John Rice and Eichinger will make up the public relations committee.

The board set regular meeting dates for the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Eastern Elementary School Conference Room. The bond for the treasurer in the sum of $50,000 was also approved.

Following the organizational meeting, the board held their regular January meeting.

Eastern student Abbey Porter was recognized for her first place essay in the Athens County Area Beekeepers Association essay contest. Students from several counties in the area take part in the contest, with essays about why they want to be beekeepers and why it is important. Porter is the first winner from Meigs County according to ACABA member Greg Bailey who was on hand to present the award. Porter will receive the items necessary to become a beekeeper.

Principals Shawn Bush, Bill Francis and Jody Howard updated to board on upcoming events, including a blood drive to be held at Eastern Elementary School on Jan. 14.

Personnel items approved were as follows: Emil Ray Tope, substitute teacher for the remainder of the 2012-13 school year; April Crall, substitute aide; Brian Cummins, paid assistant softball coach; Patricia Taylor, substitute custodian; and Jamie White, substitute secretary and cook.

Maternity leave was approved for Lorre D. Hill for 6-8 weeks depending on doctor release. A dock day was approved fro Debbie Barber.

Jeff Jones was approved as the coordinator of the National Archery in Schools Program.

Judy Lee was approved as the evening custodian at Eastern Elementary on a one year contract.

Open enrollment was approved for one student and denied for two students.

Minutes of the previous meeting, the annual tax budget, and financial reports were approved.

The board approved waiving the audit exit meeting as there were no issue in the audit.

The Eastern Local School District tax budget hearing was held prior to the organizational meeting by Chief Financial Officer Lisa Ritchie.

Present at the meeting were board members Eichinger, Hall, Rice, Ridenour and Will, superintendent Scot Gheen, and Ritchie.

The next meeting of the Eastern Local Board of Education will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20.