The Manchester Local Schools Board of Education will appoint a new member to its ranks this week. According to documents obtained by the Informer, Melinda Horsley, Joel A. Hanson, Troy D. Thatcher, and Edwin Dewayne Rideout submitted applications and were interviewed by the board in a special meeting held on September 4th. According to the district, the appointment will take place at the September 11th meeting.
Horsley, who is the Business Manager for the Adams County Board of Developmental Disabilities, has also been employed by the Senior Citizens and the Village of Manchester as a fiscal officer. Horsley has obtained a Bachelor of Science from Western Governors University.
Hanson, who is a full-time college student, is also a dislocated worker as a result of the closure of DP&L. Hanson’s work history includes being the Power Plant Material Systems Operator at DP&L and Assistant Manager of Carter Lumber.
Thatcher, who is the Superintendent of the Survey Crew Chief/GPS Tech at Evans Landscaping, Inc. Thatcher has also worked as Finish Grade Superintendent at Sauls Construction Company. Thatcher holds a Bachelor of Arts that relates to teaching from Wilmington College.
Rideout, who listed his occupation as retired was employed by Manchester Local School District and Adams County Ohio Valley as a bus driver from 1986 until 2015. Rideout graduated from Manchester High School with a certificate of welding.
According to the Adams County Board of Elections, Thatcher was defeated in a prior election for an open seat on the board. Hanson is listed as a candidate in the 2019 General Election as a candidate for a board seat.
The vacant seat became open when Kathleen Stacy resigned effective August 14th. Stacy, who had been a member of the Board of Education since its creation in 2004, resigned due to health concerns. The board must name a replacement within 30 days of the resignation. The newly appointed member will serve until December 31, 2021. If the appointed member desires to continue serving, he or she must run in the November 2021 general election.
According to Ohio law, people serving on Ohio School Boards must be at least 18 years old, be a U.S. citizen and be both a resident of MLSD and a registered voter. Manchester Local School District serves approximately 800 students Pre-K to grade 12 in two buildings in Manchester, Ohio.
