Cumberland Board Holds Final Meeting w/Ragon as Superintendent

Thursday night's Cumberland School Board meeting was the last meeting for departing Superintendent Russell Ragon.

Ragon is leaving to become superintendent in Manhattan, Illinois, near Peoria.

John Hasten of Marshall was introduced as interim superintendent for the coming school year while Todd Butler completes certification to take over as superintendent as of the 2014-2015 school year.

Ragon thanked Johnny St. John and members of the Board of Education who hired him at Cumberland eight years ago and those who have served since then, as well as the district staff.  Ragon said, "There are so many individuals that I have developed close relationships with and have enjoyed working with; too many to name."

In regular business, the Cumberland board adopted an amended budget for the fiscal year ending Monday.  The budget anticipates an overall deficit of $100,000 if remaining revenues are received from the State.

The Board also approved a request for a waiver from the State Board of Education to allow Veterans Day, Lincoln's Birthday and Casimir Pulaski Day to be attendance days; and hired Mose, Yockey, Brown and Kull as district auditors.

In personnel moves, the Cumberland board employed Wendy Johnson as Grades K-12 Art teacher and Tyler Owen as Industrial Arts teacher, and accepted letters of resignation from Mel Titus and Jamie Carreon, effective immediately.  The Board also granted 70 days of sick leave to Donna Spannagel and to accept her irrevocable letter of retirement as of the end of the coming school year.  Board members also hired Jim Miller as high school Cross Country and Wrestling coach for the coming school year, and accepted letters of resignation from Carrie Jansen as high school girls basketball coach, Lee Walk as middle school boys basketball coach, and Daniel Nelson as middle school assistant boys baseball coach.

Board members also heard that registration for the coming school year is August 12 from 9am-6pm and August 13 from noon-6pm at the high school cafeteria.