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Liberty Union names new high school principal





BALTIMORE – It took just about three weeks to find a new principal for Liberty Union-Thurston High School.

Board members unanimously approved a two-year contract with Ed Miller at a special board meeting Tuesday night. Miller replaces Mark Fullen who resigned July 9 to become principal of Newark High School.

Superintendent Paul Mathews said the district received 39 applications. After reference and credential checks, ten candidates were invited for interviews. That group was pared down to four finalists, each of whom was interviewed by the full board last week.

“We had four excellent candidates,” Mathews said. “His success and level of experience was the deciding factor.”

Miller is leaving the West Muskingum School District after 26 years service there. He started as a teacher, was assistant high school principal for 14 years and high school principal for the last four years. West Muskingum High School has about 50 percent more students than Liberty Union Thurston High School.

“We’re very fortunate to get a very experienced and successful high school principal,” Mathews added. Nelson will start Monday, August 4. He has bachelors and masters degrees from Ohio University.

The district has scheduled a community reception to meet Nelson from 8-9 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13 in the high school cafeteria. The reception immediately follows the freshman orientation program.

In other business Tuesday night, board members approved a one-year contract with Megan Driscoll to fill a leave of absence. The Ohio University graduate will teach high school language arts.

The district returned to Heiner’s Bakery for its bakery needs. “We switched last year,” Mathews explained. “We tried to give another company an opportunity.” Heiner’s wasn’t the lowest bidder, but the district had delivery and quality problems last year with the low bidder. The district bids for milk through its membership in the Metropolitan Education Council. United Dairy, Inc. was the low bid and it was accepted.

Board members also approved school meal prices for next year. Prices are: Student-reduced price breakfast-free; student-reduced price lunch-$0.40; student breakfast$ 1.10 (10¢ increase); student elementary lunch-$2.15 (15¢ increase); student middle/high school lunch-$2.40 (15¢ increase); adult breakfast-$1.50; and adult lunch-$3.00.

The board’s next regular meeting is set for 7 p.m. on Monday, August 11 in the high school library.


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