Warren BOE thanks Brackenridge at final meeting

VINCENT -- The Warren Local Board of Education bid farewell to longtime member Sid Brackenridge on Thursday during a brief meeting to close out 2023.

After three four-year terms on the board, Brackenridge, who also served as the district's treasurer for 10 years, decided not to run for reelection this year. Although he was the board's vice president this year, President Bob Crum ceded his duties to Brackenridge Thursday night.

That involved presiding over a handful of votes, including the unanimous selection of Crum as president pro tem for the organizational meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, in room 1710-1711 at Warren High School, prior to the first regular meeting of 2024.

Brackenridge said walking through the school reminds him of how far the district's come since they were looking toward funding its construction, something finally realized with the passage of a bond issue in 2017.

"I can't say how pleased I am with it," he said. "It's the educational environment our kids need."

Crum said after the meeting that the board will miss Brackenridge.

"Not only is he a strong community member but he has been just an invaluable member of the board," he said.

"You're not going to find somebody that's more embedded in our community than Sid," Superintendent Kyle Newton said.

Brackenridge's seat will be filled in January by Jesse Roush, a Warren High School graduate who serves as executive director of the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority economic development agency.

Newton said the board is fortunate to have someone with that knowledge and experience stepping in as a member as so much institutional knowledge departs.

"We are very blessed in that sense," he said. "His whole goal is to make the greater community even better."

Roush, who was at Thursday's meeting, said he met with Brackenridge before declaring his candidacy.

"I valued his opinion and perspective over the years," he said.

Among the items passed on Thursday's light agenda was the board's approval of three volunteers to serve as coaches for indoor track. Newton said the high school has multiple outstanding track athletes who would like to compete in indoor events to get a jump on their season.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association requires coaches to be approved before a team is recognized. The volunteers will not cost the district any additional money, he said.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.