5 longtime Perkins teachers retiring

PERKINS TWP. — A handful of longtime educators will leave Perkins Schools at the end of the school year. During this week's public meeting, board members accepted the retirements of five district teachers and the resignation of one educator. "When I think of this group, from my experience here of five years, they're tremendously dedicated, engaging, yet very challenging in the curriculum that they led," superintendent Todd Boggs said. "I've seen, firsthand, how they provide significant opportunities for students and tremendously provide a purpose for our children. They're iconic staff members." Between each retiring teacher, Perkins Schools is losing 142 years of combined experience. Among those retiring is Michael Beuglass, the district's longest-serving teacher. Beuglass started as an art teacher at Furry Elementary in 1986 and moved to Perkins High School in 2012, where he teaches art. Also retiring at the end of this school year are: • Mary Darr, a gifted intervention specialist at Briar Middle School, who was hired in August 1997; Darr was named the 2020 District 2 Teacher of the Year by the state board of education. Darr has 34 years of experience under her belt. She's also advised Briar Middle School's Academic Challenge teams, that have picked up several wins, including sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade championship titles in December at BGSU Firelands. • Candiss Kessler, a math teacher at Briar Middle School, who was hired in September 1995 • Beverly Moyer, an algebra and statistics teacher at Perkins High School, who was hired in July 1993 • Robert Myer, a social studies teacher at Briar Middle School, who was hired in July 2002 In addition to the retirements, Amanda Wolf, a gifted intervention specialist at Meadowlawn Intermediate, will resign at the end of the school year. Wolf was hired in July 2002. Solar eclipse plans Boggs announced that on April 8, 2024 — when a total solar eclipse is slated to cover the Sandusky area — Perkins Schools will either have no school by using a calamity day or, if none are available, make it a remote learning day for students. April 8 is the same day Perkins students, teachers and staff were expected to return from spring break. Thousands of people are expected to flock to the area to watch the phenomenon, which is estimated to occur at about 3:15 p.m. that day. Boggs said that he met with Perkins police, who advised him that the Sandusky area is likely to have a gigantic swell in tourists when the total solar eclipse occurs. Planning for the eclipse has already begun across Ohio and other states, which are expected to be impacted. A solar eclipse happens when the moon casts its shadow on the Earth as it passes between the Earth and the sun. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon appears to totally obscure the sun. Local police and Ohio Emergency Management Agency experts have advised that cellular phone service, as well as transportation routes and hotel accommodations, will be impacted by an influx of tourists coming to witness the once-in-a-lifetime event. More board action Board members, at this meeting, also: • Approved a contract to rename the press box in Firelands Health Stadium after Hermes-Parker Concrete of Sandusky; The concrete contractor, for $30,000, bought the naming rights for the press box for the next 10 years. Board member Ted Kastor thanked the company for its generosity. "Hermes-Parker has been a great sponsor," Kastor said. • Adopted calendars for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years, which are on Perkins Schools' website; Important dates from both calendars are: — Students' first days: Aug. 22, 2024, and Aug. 21, 2025 — Graduation: May 25, 2025, and May 31, 2026 — Students' last days: May 29, 2025, and June 2, 2026 • Accepted almost $25,000 in donations _ Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood