Yellow Springs schools treasurer on leave, contract not renewed

Yellow Springs schools Treasurer Dawn Bennett has been put on paid administrative leave in the latest of several changes in the district’s administration.

School board members voted Thursday to not renew Bennett’s contract and to place her on paid administrative leave until her contract expires July 31.

The board has approved a contract with Cedar Cliff Local Schools Treasurer Joy Kitzmiller to do the treasurer’s job until July 31, School Board President Steve Conn confirmed.

Conn said the plan is to fill the role permanently before the next school year.

No reason was given for the decisions to put Bennett on leave and to not renew her contract. Conn said the decision to remove Bennett from the treasurer’s role was made in executive session, which the board entered following the public portion of Thursday’s meeting.

Before the board entered executive session, Bennett presented her five-year financial forecast for the district to submit to the state, which the board unanimously approved.

Conn declined to comment about the decision to remove Bennett, citing the district’s policy not to publicly discuss personnel decisions. Conn said there is no investigation pending involving Bennett.

The move to part ways with Bennett comes as the board is in the process of replacing Superintendent Mario Basora, who will be serving as the top administrator in Huber Heights schools next school year.

Conn said the school board is negotiating with one of the three finalists: Terri Holden, executive director of teaching and learning at Winton Woods City Schools; Northwest Local Schools Superintendent Michael Schreffler; and Maura Horgan, director of curriculum and staff development for Newark City Schools.

Other recent administrative changes include Jack Hatert being named principal of McKinney Middle School/Yellow Springs High School, and teacher Cameron McCoy taking on Hatert’s former role as assistant principal of the middle and high schools.

In light of all the administrative changes, Conn said the board has done a lot of searches recently, but the transitions have been smooth.

“There’s quite a lot of continuity,” Conn said of Hatert and McCoy, who are familiar to students from their previous roles.

About the Author