Chad Merritt named principal at Fairless High School, replaces retiring administrator Larry Chambliss

The Independent
·2 min read
Fairless Local Schools
Fairless Local Schools

Fairless Board of Education

Tuesday meeting

KEY ACTION: Chad Merritt has a three-year contract as the new high school principal and Julie Weyandt is the director of curriculum, instruction and special programs.

Merritt will begin Aug. 1, replacing Larry Chambliss, who is retiring at the end of the year.

Weyandt gets a three-year contract beginning in the 2022-23 school year and replaces Mike Hearn, who will assume the duties of assistant superintendent next school year before taking the helm as superintendent the following school year when Superintendent Broc Bidlack retires.

Merritt began his career in education in 1998 as a science teacher at GlenOak High. He became an administrator at Perry Local in 2007 and since 2009 has been serving as assistant principal of Oakwood Middle School in Plain Local district.

After high school graduation, he spent two years at the Air Force Academy before realizing his life’s passion was education. He returned home and attended Malone University to complete his degree.

He and his wife, Liz, have three children.

Contracts: Fairless BOE approves new three-year pacts with district staff

New school: Fairless celebrates a new era with groundbreaking for new high school

Weyandt served as an elementary teacher in the district prior to joining State Support Team 9.

“I am beyond excited to return to Fairless and serve the community that I love in a school district that helped to cultivate who I am today. I have the opportunity to come full circle and apply the skills I have acquired working at State Support Team 9. I am blessed to have the opportunity to rejoin the Fairless family,” Weyandt said.

The board also issued three-year administrative contracts to Ryan Murphy, special education director; Daniel Nero, elementary assistant principal; and Julie Miller, food service director.

In another matter, Cindy Class, middle school principal, provided information to introduce a therapy dog pilot program in the middle school. Class plans to start the program this spring and expand it in the fall. She is seeking local individuals who might have a therapy dog and would like to participate.

OTHER ACTION:

  • Entered a contract with Vasco Sports Contractors to renovate the rubberized track and replace the track fence at a base cost of $319,000 as well as upgrade the rubber thickness to one-half inch (another $25,250) for a total cost of $344,250. The district will use permanent improvement funds.

  • Adopted a resolution allowing employees to transfer up to two days of the personal leave to sick leave balance annually, at the end of each school year through June 30, 2026.

  • Granted one-year supplemental contracts to non-teacher, non-district employees Joshua Beadling, assistant baseball coach; Conner Durant, middle school track; Kelly Bailey, assistant drama (spring); and Nathan Simmons, track volunteer.

UP NEXT: Meets at 6:15 p.m. April 19 at 11885 Navarre Road, Brewster.

BARB LIMBACHER

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Chad Merritt named to replace retiring Fairles High School principal