Cumberland Board Returns Ingram to Board Presidency

Cumberland school board members have re-elected Jack Ingram as board president on a 5-2 vote.

Ingram was nominated for president, as was Ben Bland. It wasn't a contentious vote, even Bland voted for Ingram, who is the incumbent president. Bland was then elected vice president and Steve Layton was chosen board secretary.

The Board heard from Ingram and from Superintendent Todd Butler on the successful outcome in Cumberland County of the vote on a 1% sales tax. Butler noted that it was the portion of the county in the Cumberland district where the majority voted for the tax, and it was enough of a majority to carry the day, even after the majority of those in the Neoga district voted against the tax.

The revenue generated from the tax can only be used to repair and maintain buildings and grounds.

Also at the meeting, the Cumberland board congratulated Tyson Magee for being the first-ever Cumberland student athlete to be named all-area basketball player of the year by the Journal-Gazette; the Scholastic Bowl team is to participate in the small school National Tournament in Rosemont April 29-30; Kindergarten registration will be held on May 25 from 3-7pm and May 26 from 10am-12:30pm at Toledo Christian Church.

End-of-year dates were approved, including Prom on April 29, Fine Arts Night on May 11, Scholarship Night on May 17, high school academic awards on May 17, Baccalaureate on May 21 at 2pm and graduation that same day at 3pm, the final day for students on May 26, and the final teacher institute on May 30.

In personnel matters, Cumberland board members hired Ash Edmonds as high school head wrestling coach to succeed the legendary Jim Miller who is retiring after 39 years as coach, hired Jaton McMechan and Tyler Pikowski as assistant boys basketball coaches, hired Audra Speakman as high school and middle school head volleyball coach, hired Jim Miller as high school head cross country coach, hired Amber Scales as assistant high school volleyball coach, hired Travis McGee as high school assistant football coach, hired Emma Baker as high school assistant girls basketball coach, hired Paula Gast as high school dance sponsor, hired Jim Talley as head middle school baseball coach, hired Greg Boldt as assistant middle school baseball coach, hired Steve Maroon as head middle school boys basketball coach, hired Darin Hanson as assistant middle school boys basketball coach, hired John Hendrix as assistant middle school softball coach, accepted the resignation of teacher Jamie Martin as of the end of the current school year, and posted the positions of middle school Social Studies/English teacher, middle school Language Arts teacher, and elementary teacher.

Cumberland board members also approved a reduction in the district's bond and interest levy by over $52,000, lowering the property tax rate for the district from $4.34 last year to $4.08 on the summer 2017 tax bill.