The Madison-Plains Local School District (MPLSD) continued making headway in its work to fill vacant positions on Thursday evening, June 24, at a special Board of Education meeting. Hiring was the main focus of the meeting, as the Board took action on several positions within the school district, but a few other items of business were also part of the meeting.
The District made one administrative hire at the meeting, that being Mr. Thomas Dinuoscio for the position of assistant principal for the junior/senior high school. Dinuoscio joins the district after having been at Northeastern Local Schools for the last six years, where he has served as the instrumental music director at Northeastern High/Middle School, as well as South Vienna Elementary School. Prior to his time at Northeastern, Dinuoscio taught at Springfield City for a year. He also taught at Mt. Gilead and Cardington Lincoln.
Dinuoscio earned his bachelor’s degree in music at Wright State University in 2006. He is currently finishing up coursework towards his master’s degree at the University of Dayton.
He is also a three-time recipient of the Larry K. Zerkle Excellence in Education Award, which is an award that is given to educators in Clark County. The award winners are selected by students who attend Clark County schools and earn the designation of valedictorian or salutatorian. The students pick the teacher who was most inspirational to them. Dinuoscio was a recipient in 2017, 2018, and 2020.
MPLSD Superintendent Chad Eisler said, “We are very pleased to have Mr. Dinuoscio become a part of Eagle Nation. He is well thought of in the district where he currently works, and he has seen success. He has served in a number of leadership-type roles, and his experience with the work will be a benefit to our district.”
Dinuoscio stated, “I am very excited to get started at Madison-Plains Junior/Senior High School and help the district accomplish its goals.”
The District also hired two third grade teachers, a school guidance counselor, a bus driver, and it approved a list of supplemental positions for the coming school year. Of the hiring that has been done, Eisler said, “We are making nice progress in filling the open positions we have within the buildings. We remain in need of bus drivers, though. If there are community members who are interested, I encourage them to reach out to District Transportation Supervisor Kim Rogers and inquire about the positions we have. We are very much in need of drivers for the coming year.”
During the meeting, Eisler also made mention to the Board of the District’s “Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan.” Districts are required to have this plan in order to receive some of the federal funding that is available to schools. The District has posted the plan on the school district’s website and will be soliciting feedback on it in the coming days.
Treasurer Todd Mustain also asked the Board of Education to approve amended appropriations, which will permit the district to begin to utilize grant funds available through pandemic relief programs.
The district’s next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. in the District Meeting Room.
