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YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Board of Education has given added responsibilities and new titles to administrators and does not plan to add new executive -level team members for the 2023-24 school year, the school district announced.
In addition, the board will officially appoint Jeremy Batchelor as superintendent effective Aug. 1, taking over from Justin Jennings, who resigned. Batchelor has been the districtás deputy superintendent of teaching, learning and scholarship for the past year under Jennings.
The board said during his time as interim superintendent, Batchelor has been communicating with board members on ways to ensure the district continues to move toward meeting its goals and strategic plan with “minimal interruption and in an even more efficient manner.”
Although no new executive team members will be added, the board Wednesday said familiar faces who have proven valuable to the districtás operations and academic improvement will be tasked with added responsibilities in renamed positions:
— Robert Kearns, former Chaney High School principal and current executive director of operations and student experience, will elevate to chief of staff to work alongside Batchelor. Kearns will provide direct support to all departments in the district with a specific focus on areas of student support, facilities, security and wrap-around services.
— Aaron Bouie III, a principal and current executive director of elementary teaching and learning, will elevate to chief academic officer. Bouie will lead the department responsible for the districtás academic improvement. He will be supported by Tiffany Varney, executive director of secondary teaching and learning.
“This department will ensure that we continue to improve academic measures in the district as well as professional learning for our staff,” the district stated.
— Ava Yeager, a state-level expert on grants and federal programs and current executive director of school improvement, will serve as chief of school improvement, overseeing all funding sources and how they are used to support instructional and social-emotional improvement across the district. Youngstown City Schoolsá internal restructuring with more streamlined reporting will bring a cost savings of nearly $200,000 in reduced top-level administrative salaries and benefits, a news release states.
In addition to these changes, the Youngstown City School District also will have two new head principals. Kelly Washington, former assistant superintendent with the Ashtabula City Schools and former Ohio Department of Education consultant, will serve as principal of Kirkmere Elementary, replacing Michelle Payich.
Michael Sauner will take on the principal position at Chaney Middle School at the McGuffey Campus. Sauner is a veteran principal with previous experience at Austintown and Western Reserve Local Schools.
The district said it also is reorganizing its athletic administration for the 2023-24 school year without losing any key members. Nick Sferra, who previously served the district as the middle school athletic director / special projects coordinator, will now be the districtás athletic sdministrator.
Casey Bogerd and Tanisha Franklin will continue to serve as building-level athletic managers at Chaney and East high schools, respectively, as well as serve as graduation coaches for their schools. These shifts will reduce some general fund athletic department costs, the district stated.