Sandusky treasurer to retire

SANDUSKY — Sandusky Schools' top finance official will depart her post. Board members accepted treasurer Gina Deppert's retirement, effective Dec. 31, at Monday's public meeting. Deppert was hired in 2015 after working as the chief financial officer for Ashland and Berne Union schools.At Sandusky Schools, Deppert and the district's finance team earned a number of awards, including certificates of excellence in financial reporting for fiscal year 2018 from the Association of School Business Officials International and from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.During Deppert's tenure, Sandusky Schools also received several Auditor of State awards for its clean financial audit reports.Board president Brigitte Green-Churchwell described Deppert's dedication to Sandusky Schools."Gina and her family moved into our community from Ashland, Ohio and they were 'all-in' from the beginning," Green-Churchwell said. "During her first week in the district, she and her family attended the boys basketball playoff game, all dressed in blue and white, and they brought orange slices for the team. That alone demonstrated an immense level of dedication."Gina Deppert, treasurer for Sandusky City Schools, celebrates Issue 12 passing during a watch party at Sandusky High School on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016.Added board vice president Martha Murray: "Mrs. Deppert is well-loved by district families. Mrs. Deppert worked diligently to create a capital plan for the district which pulled together every aspect of capital spending in the district. This was a first for Sandusky City Schools."After more than 90 minutes of meeting behind closed doors, board members unanimously agreed to appoint assistant treasurer Yvonne Anderson to interim treasurer beginning Jan. 1, 2020. Anderson has worked for Sandusky Schools for five years.In a 4-1 vote, board members chose the Ohio School Boards Association to conduct the search. Tom Patterson, an OSBA trustee representing northwestern Ohio, refrained from voting.Green-Churchwell said the district hopes to fill the treasurer position by July 1.Sandusky Schools board members and administrators are pictured with outgoing board member Jeff Krabill and his wife, Lauralee, during Monday's public meeting. More meeting news— Monday's meeting was also the last for Jeff Krabill, who served on the board for about 17-and-a-half years. He chose not to run for another term. Krabill was initially elected to the board in 1999 and served on the board ever since, except during a two-and-a-half-year absence, according to the district.In January, Ebony Sizemore, a longtime city resident and mother of two, will replace Krabill as a first-time board member. Murray and Patterson also won new terms after an uncontested November election."There's never a bad day when you're doing something for a kid, and when you're doing something for 3,400 kids, that's a wonderful thing," Krabill said. "I'm looking forward to what the next chapter is. I think what I want to do with the time the Lord has left for me is to devote time to the Sandusky Education Foundation and help the school district."Krabill was also recently elected to the Erie County Board of Elections. At this week's meeting, Krabill's colleagues congratulated him for his service."It has been a pleasure working with Mr. Krabill," Sandusky Schools superintendent Eugene Sanders said. "His dedication and commitment to Sandusky City Schools over the years has been wonderful. I wish Mr. Krabill the best in his next ventures."— John Feick, owner's representative for Sandusky Schools' facilities construction project, told administrators the roof of the intermediate school, for grades 3-6, is completed and heat is on in all portions of the building. Ontario Primary, for first and second grades, should have the same features in three weeks, Feick said.— Next month, Sandusky Schools staff will be up for honors each semester through a new reward program. Chief of staff and transformation officer Stephen Sturgill said the program was developed to boost morale and inspire excellence. Through Jan. 10, staff members will be able to nominate their peers online for four honors: the Going the Extra Mile Award, Rising Star Award, Blue Streak Leadership Award and the Blue Streak Excellent Attendance Award.The district's recognition and retention committee will go through nominations Jan. 13-15 and winners will be announced on Jan. 28 during a professional development day for employees."(This program) is a chance to reward our staff for doing a great job," Sturgill said.Board members also:• Approved a memo of understanding with the Here! app project. Sturgill said the Ohio Department of Education and Ohio Supreme Court approached Sandusky Schools with the pilot project to track student attendance. Other school districts across Ohio are also participating. For six months beginning next year, a small group of Sandusky High School students will be able to download the app and use it to report their attendance. Next summer, the district will give feedback on the app.• Accepted three donations, including a $106,000 donation from the Mylander Foundation to the district's Sandusky Elementary School grant fund."We need to be forever grateful for (Mylander's) gifts to the district," Krabill said. "His gifts to Sandusky Schools are remarkable."Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhoodSandusky Schools treasurer Gina Deppert is retiring from the district Dec. 31.