Amherst News-Times, 1998-04-15

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Lmherst News-Times
pril 15. 1998
Amherst, Ohio
50 cents
E     iton to serve schools as superintendent
by APRIL MILLER
Robert Boynton
News-Times reporter
Marion L. Steele High School
principal Robert Boynton said he is
always ready for a new challenge.
And the board of education must
agree as they appointed him the new
superintendent at the April 8 special
meeting. Boynton will be replacing
Howard Dulmage who will retire
July 31, after more than 14 years as
head of the district.
Boynton, 47, will step up to the
challenge on Aug. 1. His three-year
contract has him earning $82,714
for his first year with a three percent
increase the year after.
"In the very beginning, my challenges will be organizing a smooth
transition and finding a replacement
for the high school principal," Boynton said. "Growth of the district,
overcrowding, facility issues and
outdated science equipment are the
next big challenges."
Board president Carol Jajack said
the search for a new principal is
under way.
Wilh 19 years in the district, Boynton is no stranger to how the Amherst school system operates. He
said his good relationship with Dulmage will help ease the transition.
In 1979, Boynton joined the district as head football coach and
health teacher. In 1981 he became
assistant high school principal and
in 1990 was named principal.
He and his wife Sharon reside in
Elyria with their three sons; Bryan,
a senior at MLS; Brad, a junior; and
Brandon, who will become a freshman at MLS next year. Boynton
said they plan to move to Amherst
in the future.
Board member Ron Yacobozzi,
who was on the board which hired
Dulmage, said the second time around was just as easy. He again
knew they were hiring a qualified
man.
"Boynton has worked hard over
the years," Yacobozzi said. "He has
a great heart and a wonderful mind.
With those two things a person is
unbeatable."
Sandy Freedman, board vice-
president, said Boynton will bring
new ideas to the board. She is glad
he came from within the system and
said he shares the same type of goals as does Dulmage.
"Transition of the staff will be
one of his biggest challenges,"
Freedman said. "In three to five
years there will be many people in
the district who could qualify to
retire."
One of those nearing retirement is
assistant superintendent Tim Logar.
Being in the supporting role is what
Logar said he enjoys and is good aL
He said he was not interested in the
superintendent's position, because
he wants someone who will have
longevity in the district, something
he said is not on his resume now.
"It's getting late in my career,"
Logar said. "I don't want to speculate on when I'll retire, but I probably won't be here in five years."
Although he will miss everything
about the high school, Boynton said
he is honored to be named superintendent and plans to be there for
some time.
Less paperwork, more
sleep are on retiring
school leader's mind
by APRIL MILLER
News-Times reporter
What do volumes of paperwork
and checking road conditions at 3
a.m. have in common?
They arc the two things school
superintendent Howard Dulmage
won't miss when he ends his more
lhan 14-year reign in the district.
"There .arc at least three times the
. amount of paperwork as there used
'•j)b be," Dulmage, 59, said. "And I
never liked waking up at three, four
tor five in the morning to check the
weather lo see if school should be
canceled."
Dulmage said he also won't miss
the constant lack of adequate funding of public schools by the state
legislature.
* But when asked what he will miss
most, Dulmage was almost
Speechless.
\ "Whal can I say — 37 years goes
fike that," he said, snapping his
fingers.
He is referring to his entire educational career, which began as a
high school teacher of government,
political science, sociology and anthropology. Most of Dulmage's
teaching was done in Berea.
He then became principal of Wellington High School before becoming superintendent of New London
schools for more than five years. Il
was after New London that he
joined the Amherst school district.
Board member Ron Yacobozzi,
who has served 17 years on the
board, rcmemembcrs ihe decision jo
hire Dulmage as an easy one."'-'Z.
"He was clearly the best candidate," Yacobozzi said. "And this has
proved true. The school district
thanks him for what the district is
today. His actions speak louder than
words."
Being a man of action over words
led him io become an administrator.
While leaching in Berea, Dulmage
said he was very involved wilh the
teachers association and trying to
improve the conditions for class
rooms and teachers.
The Berea superintendent told
him if he really wanted to improve
the conditions he should become an
administrator. So he did.
"My whole goal has been to remember what it was like to be a
teacher," he said. "Trying to create a
safe learning environment for the
kids has been my first priority."
Treasurer Salah Elhindy said Dulmage is a great leader and
humanitarian.
"As a team — Dulmage, assistant
superintendent Tim Logar and all
aflrWiistrators have built the district," Elhindy said.
Board vice president Sandy
Freedman said when she first joined
the board five years ago she didn't
realize the magnitude of Dulmage's
accomplishments.
"He is very professional, articulate and thorough," Freedman said.
"My respect for him hfis grown
from    learning   about   his
CONTINUED on page 2
Howard Dulmage
You make the decision: shingles, costly slate?
by GLEN MILLER
:
News-Times reporter
Whether to shingle or slate the
roof of city hall seems to the major
question holding up the much-
needed renovation of the building.
Not only would there be as much
as a $90,000 cost difference, but it
also would determine whether the
114-year-old building retains its status as an historic landmark.
A decision was tabled by city
council's finance committee April 6
until members have an opportunity
to look over a thick construction
consultant's report.
Parts of the roof and bell tower
have been leaking and rotting away
for years. In addition to copper
flashing and new wood, the building
must have a slate roof — the kind
originally used — in order to retain
its listing on the National Registry
of Historic Places.
But the cost of a slate roof will
increase the estimated cost of renovation $180,000 to $270,000 —
possibly more depending on the
contractual bid, according lo mayor
John Higgins.
The higher estimate nearly rules
out plans to renovate office space on
the first floor and basement. Only
$180,000 of the total $450,000
available would remain, about
enough to remodel only ihe first
floor.
The alternative is to replace the
old worn out slate with regular shingles for much less money. Failure to
use slate to retain the building's appearance would mean the loss of the
historical designation.
Fourth ward councilman John
Mishak was among those who felt
the "character" of the building
should not be altered despite the potential savings.
Much like Lorain's historic lighthouse, he said city hall is the symbol of Amherst, one that is continu-
ously drawn, painted and
photographed.
"It's what makes Amherst Amherst," he added.
To lose the historical designation
CONTINUED on page 14
Grandparents
to sail for years;
report to students
via the computer
by GLEN MILLER
Adventurous sailors Don and Lois Babson explain their plans for
an around the world voyage to a class of Powers Elementary School
children. Standing with Lois Babson is her grandson, Nathan Cogh-
lan, a Powers extended first grader.
News-Times reporter
Dozens of children at Powers
Elementary School will soon be
learning about world geography and
culture lhanks to a religious sailing
odyssey by a retired Huron couple
that's taking them around the world.
Beginning in May, teacher Patti
Wegehaupt's extended first grade
class will start following the
voyages and adventures of Don and
Lois Babson as they set sail on the
Millennium Odyssey, an sea adventure that will formally end on Easter
in 2000.   .
In early September, about four
sail boats from countries in North
America, England and Europe will
sail from England to the Canary
Islands.
There, the group will rendezvous
with other small flotillas, including
one carrying a flame from the tomb
of Christ in Jerusalem. From there,
they will sail the flame around the
world and into the next century.
Their final port of call is the Vatican in Rome on Easter Sunday,
2000.
All ihe while, the children will be
following the Babsons' sea adventures visits to cities in countries
along the 15,000 or more mile journey on the Internet.
During their journey, they will
sail through the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans, the Mediterranean, Arabian
and Red seas and the Suez Canal.
Every day, the children will visit
the school's computer lab to see
where the group of boats is and
CONTINUED on pag« 3