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McDONALD -- The McDonald Board of Education Dec. 19 named Wendy Higgins to fill a vacancy on the board left by the resignation last month of Kevin O'Connell.
Higgins, who was selected from six applicants, is a teacher in Salem City School District and will serve through December 2017.
If she chooses to fill the remaining two years of O'Connell's term through December 2019, she will need to run as a candidate in the November 2017 election.
O'Connell had completed the first year of a four-year term after winning re-election in November 2015 and was serving as board president. He did not comment on his resignation, and board members earlier this month said only it was for personal reasons.
A former McDonald teacher, he now is an elementary principal at Maplewood Local Schools.
Higgins said she has two sons in the district and is very interested in students' academics and programs.
''I wanted to be part of the decision-making of the school district for the betterment of the community,'' she said.
Board President John Saganich called Higgins was the best candidate to serve on the board.
This is her first time serving in public office.
In other business, the board approved seeking proposals for professional design services from architectural firms for planned athletic facilities on a 35-acre tract.
Saganich said the board is seeking information as they prepare for the project.
In November, the board approved an agreement with First Baptist Church of McDonald to purchase 35 acres of land for $225,000 near McDonald Avenue Extension and Olive Street between Second and Third streets.
Board members have discussed locating an athletic complex on the site but indicated environmental testing and surveying needs done to determine if the property is suitable for that use.
The proposed $3 million complex would include a football stadium, all-weather track, stadium, fitness center, restrooms and concession stand.
The property has more than 14 lots available if the district wants to proceed with the complex or goes another direction, officials have said.
Officials said the goal is to complete the project by 2018. Voters in the district earlier this month approved a renewal levy to support the new facility.
At the meeting, the board established an athletic facilities fund for project expenditures and approved the transfer of $2.6 million to the fund from the general fund. Officials said the transfer of the funds will be repaid to the general fund via the collection of the levy over 10 years.
Also at the meeting the board:
∫ Hired Michael Hecker at $34,327 as seventh- and eighth-grades language arts teacher for the remainder of the year, filling in for a staff member on sick leave;
∫ Approved a memorandum of understanding with Ohio Association of Public School Employees / American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 4 to no longer withhold premium share payments for vision care for any employee. The board has not required a deduction for vision care for MEA members but has maintained monthly deductions for vision from members at 58 cents a pay for the single plan and $1.48 for the family plan;
∫ Set the organizational meeting for 7 p.m. Jan. 11 in high school media center.