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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022
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SCHOLASTICS
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New Buffalo school board approves hiring of Tracy Ripley as high school principal
former teacher – and student – has come home to New Buffalo. At their Monday, May 9, New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education meeting, board members approved the hiring of Tracy Ripley, pending background approval, as new high school principal. She will be replacing Wayne Butler, who announced his retirement in March. Ripley is a graduate of New Buffalo Area Schools. For 17 years, she taught in the high school’s social studies department. She was also a volleyball coach, a class advisor and on several different committees, such as the Curriculum Leadership Committee. Ripley has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Central Michigan University, as well as a master’s in liberal studies from Valparaiso University and a post master’s in Ed. S. in educational leadership and administration from Central Michigan University. She first taught at Barker Middle School in Michigan City before being hired by then New Buffalo Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Lindley. Ripley has spent the last three years at Eau Claire, where she was the principal for the middle/high school for two years before moving onto a district level position as the director of teaching and learning for kindergarten through 12th grade. While being at Eau Claire was a rewarding experience, she said she’s happy to be “home.” “I’ve spent 17 years of my educational career at New Buffalo, and this is home…I’m very excited to come back and I’m very appreciative to the board
BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
Fun activities and to Dr. Leslie also made a for trusting me return, such and putting their as ones during faith in me and Homecoming I’m very honored and Winterfest to be back at New – activities that Buffalo,” she said, Butler said bring adding that she the students “joy also lives here. and make them Superintendent want to come to Dr. Jeff Leslie school.” said that they had The school also three applicants hosted assemblies for the position. again, such as “It’s kind of the Hey U.G.L.Y passing of the (which featured torch…Out of the antibullying three people we speaker Victor interviewed, Tracy Vargas) and the was head and annual talent shoulders the best Tracy Ripley with outgoing principal show. of the bunch, she’s Wayne Butler In March, the the best person school had its for the job and first play since the we’re excited to beginning of the pandemic, “Matilda.” have her here, and I believe she’s excited Butler said the performing arts about joining us,” he said. program was “split” this year, with Butler presented on the high school’s elementary music teacher Chris 2021-2022 school year. Beushausen stepping in earlier in the He said they started the year year to direct band when band director anticipating it being “a bit of a Christina Baumann was on maternity challenge” and was grateful that they leave. could “bring things back to normalcy” Students earned Division 1 ratings after two years of Covid. at the Michigan High School Band and “That’s been kind of the theme we’ve Orchestra Association’s annual festival been working with this year,” he said, in Paw Paw. adding that they’ve been “trying to get back to the culture we had prior to nother accomplishment March 13, 2020.” from the year was when Students have been taking trips again SADD (Students Against – whether they be nearby, such as to Destructive Decisions), Ferris State University, or overseas, donated water bottles to the such as to Spain (which included 20 Boys and Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor students and five chaperones). when the city experienced elevated
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levels of lead in their municipality supplied drinking water. Students also help students in their school, such as through the Peer to Peer program. According to teacher Jennifer Bauer, the program had had 133 students participate since its inception in 2016. Most of all, Butler wanted to thank the teaching staff for “working together to make a positive experience for the kids” at school. “Teachers come together like a big old team supporting each other and making it work for the kids,” he said, adding that there’s been “external pressures on educators from everywhere” but teachers have been “steadfastly supported by the school board and the superintendent.” Board members also approved hiring Leanne Lamport as sixth grade teacher. Leslie said that he appreciates the “vast experiences” she’s had and all the “different things she can teach.” “I think she’s going to fit in great with our sixth-grade team and we’re very, very excited to have you with us,” he said. Board members approved the extended Contract of Employment for Leslie from July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2027. Board members accepted, with regret, the letter of retirement from Tina Brewster, effective June 30, and also accepted the letter of resignation from Noah Sharum, effective immediately. Leslie said that he’s meeting with the administration at River Valley Schools this Thursday to finalize the middle school sports cooperative proposal and that he’ll be bringing that to the board at their next meeting.
