East Holmes Superintendent Erik Beun: 'It has definitely felt more normal'

Kevin Lynch, The Daily Record
·3 min read
Superintendent Erik Beun
Superintendent Erik Beun

BERLIN - As the 2021-22 school year comes to a close at the end of this month, East Holmes Superintendent Erik Beun said the district has embraced the new normal throughout the school year, and continues to move forward.

"It has definitely felt more normal," Beun said of the current school year. "We dealt with some COVID things at the beginning of the year, but I think we're certainly back into all the normal routines, even though it is a 'new normal.' There are lots of activities here at the end of the school year, and people are excited for summer as we celebrate another year."

The superintendent said the East Holmes District not only celebrates the 77 graduating seniors from Hiland High School, but the graduating eighth-grade Amish students from Wise, Chestnut Ridge and Mount Hope as well.

The Board approved the list of 77 Hiland seniors for graduation on May 29, 2022, providing they meet both the State Board of Education and the East Holmes Board of Education requirements.

In personnel action, three-year limited administrative contract renewals were approved for: James Luneborg, Casey Travis and Jon Wilson.

Continuing contracts were approved for: Tyler Cook, Michelle Mishler and Tonya Widder. Three-year limited contracts were renewed for: Elizabeth Boyd, Noah Boyd, Lindsey Crilley, Amy Schlabach, Elizabeth Sommers and Elisabeth Weber.

Two-year limited contract were renewed for: Megan Amos, Chris Franks, Korie Haswell, Marlea Hershberger-Leinbach and Shannon Troyer. The following certified one-year limited contracts were renewed: Reis Bonifant, Jared Coblentz, Callie Gerber, Sara Hales, Roche Harmon, Sara Hochstetler, Beth Landon, Mary “Macy” Lautenschleger, Anna Miller, Warden Neuenschwander, Zachery Raber, Rachel Snyder, Alexandria Strouse, Megan Weaver and Joanna Yoder.

East Holmes School Board accepts resignations

The Board accepted the following resignations: Elsa Byler, library aide at Winesburg, resigned at end of 2021-22 contractual school year; Dawn Chamberlin, bus driver, resigned at end of 2021-22 contractual school year; Heidi Erb, aide at Berlin, resigned at end of 2021-2022 contractual school year; Susan Miller, library aide at Walnut Creek, retiring effective Sept. 1, 2022.

Nicole Troyer, aide at Walnut Creek will transfer to library aide at Winesburg, effective for the 2022-23 contractual school year. Her hours will increase from six to seven hours per day for 185 days.

Supplemental contracts approved

The board approved the following supplemental positions for the 2022-23 school year:

  • Reis Bonifant, assistant athletic director;

  • Brady Schlabach, head varsity girls basketball coach;

  • Amy Schlabach, junior class adviser;

  • Justin Mark Schlabach, middle school student council;

  • Melissa Diener, yearbook adviser;

  • Scott Bodiker, Washington, D.C. trip coordinator;

  • Alexander Looney, high school musical director;

  • Melanie Clay, high school assistant musical director/choreography;

  • Melanie Clay, high school assistant musical director/drama and stage;

  • Mark Stutzman, high school assistant musical director/drama and stage;

  • Brent Schloneger, vocal music/assistant director;

  • Melanie Clay, spring class play director;

  • Alexander Looney, spring class play/assistant director;

  • Jenny Bauer, spring class play/stage & ticket manager

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: East Holmes Board of Education prepares for end of school year