Beech Tree News Network

The shifting of personnel and positions within the Butler County School District continued this week as Ryan Emmick was hired as the Director of Transportation, Maintenance and Safety.  His hiring was official on July 1.  Emmick has been the head teacher at the Butler County Learning Center for the past six years  and was head football coach and athletics’ director at Butler County High School.  

His position at the learning center will be filled as soon has possible.    

There were four applicants for the position and an 8-person hiring committee conducted interviews with two candidates on Tuesday, June 30.  Emmick was hired following that process.  

This hiring process has been used by Superintendent Robert Tuck as he has moved forward with filling multiple positions.  

“In our interview process for all of our central office staff, we have set committees with the goal of being transparent and building trust among our district and community.  The committees all had stakeholder involvement and was a team effort in making the final decision,” said Tuck.  “Through all of the interviews, I first sought to listen to the stakeholders before I spoke.  Each committee member scored each candidate based on the questions asked.  From there, the committee used those score sheets for discussion and made the committee's decision to hire each candidate.”  

“I am honored and proud to have accepted the position of Director of Transportation, Maintenance, and School Safety with our Butler County School System,” said Emmick.  “I am excited to embark upon this new endeavor with the support of a truly wonderful staff of bus drivers and monitors, bus maintenance staff,  school maintenance staff, and school leaders working together to provide for the health, safety, and well-being of our students as they strive for academic excellence.”  

Tuck feels confident that Emmick is a good fit for the position.

“Mr. Emmick brings a wealth of knowledge to this job.  He has served as an exceptional education teacher, led our Learning Center for the last 6 years, and has been our district's safe crisis management coordinator for the last 10 years, all of which will serve him well as he moves into this new position,” said Tuck.  “He believes in the team approach to tackling problems.  This will also serve him well as he assists in leading operational areas of our 

district.”

In pursuing the position, Emmick said he was drawn to it in part due to the challenges it represents and its importance. 

“The position of Director of Transportation, Facilities, and School Safety is one which is far reaching and extremely challenging.  I enjoy a good challenge and I along with all of our other staff members and leadership team will face some challenges this year,” said Emmick.  “I believe that this position is one of utmost importance to our students because without the proper facilities, safe schools, and a wonderful transportation system we cannot expect our students to learn and achieve academically as they should be able to.  I feel by being in this position, I can help continue to create a climate of success within our schools.”

Emmick, well-read and a fan of research, spoke about the importance of ensuring a safe environment for students.   

“If one is to look to the teachings of Piaget and his theory of Cognitive Development, you quickly realize the importance of this position.  In order for a student to reach a level of self actualization, that student must first have his or her physiological needs met, they must be sheltered and in a comfortable building and classroom.  Then each student must have a feeling of safety and belonging,” said Emmick.  “These are the basal needs for each and every person, not just a student.  In order for anyone to succeed, you must first feel safe, secure, sheltered, fed, and have a feeling of belonging before you can achieve at a higher plane.  I feel this position gives me the opportunity to help provide some of those things to our students, hopefully allowing them to achieve and excel to greater heights.”

Emmick continued, “This is an exciting time within our school system as we take major steps toward creating new and improved pathways to success for our students.  While we face many challenges ahead, I am excited to know that through the leadership of Superintendent Robert Tuck and the entire leadership team, we will collaboratively overcome these obstacles and forge ahead to a better tomorrow.  I am blessed to have received this opportunity and thank all involved in placing their faith and trust in me to step into the role of Director of Transportation, Maintenance, and School Safety.”  

Ryan is married to Angela Emmick.  He is a 20-year resident of Butler County.  

“I spent the last 6 years as the Head Teacher at the Butler County Learning Center where we expanded from a totally behavior based school to a true alternative school offering multiple educational pathways including our highly successful Virtual Program,” said Emmick.  Before that I was a Special Education Teacher for 14 years at various schools in the county.  I have been the Safe Crisis Management Instructor for the past decade for our district and have served as both assistant and head football coach and as athletic director.” 

Below is additional information about the position of Director of Transportation, Maintenance and Safety:

BASIC FUNCTION:

To provide services for Butler County Schools necessary to ensure a safe, healthy, well-maintained learning and physical work environment which supports the educational process and facilitates student achievement. These services include: facility construction and renovation, building and building system maintenance, grounds and paving maintenance, custodial services, and transportation services.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:

--Work closely with school building principals on facility matters.

--Supervise all aspects of major renovations and new construction of schools and facilities to include budget information, design consultant selection, design reviews, plans and specification reviews, Board approval of project, solicitation of KDE approvals, requests for bids, contract awards, and construction management.

--Supervise the District’s Pupil Transportation Program that includes fleet scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, vehicle replacement, operator training, establishment of routes and stops, and pick-up/drop-off times.

--Personally inspect buildings for cleanliness, quality assurance, and safety compliance.

--Conduct custodial training to ensure standardization of performance at each facility.

--Conduct custodial equipment inspections and determine/approve equipment needs.

--Supervise usage of campus storage facilities.

--Assist in the enforcement of all safety rules and safety programs.

--Plan, organize efficient maintenance and repair of District building and facilities, coordinate and oversee day-to-day maintenance activities.

--Supervise the training and evaluate the performance of assigned maintenance and skilled trade staff; assign and review work and participate in the selection of new personnel as assigned.

--Supervise the District’s Risk Management and Safety Program that includes protection of District assets, emergency/disaster preparedness, safety in the workplace, hazardous material handling, accident prevention, and indoor air quality and personal protective training against health risks.

--Develop and prepare work schedules; review maintenance reports and work orders; prioritize and coordinate duties and assignments to assure effective workflow and facilitate operations; coordinate responses to emergency calls.

--Conduct inspections of buildings and facilities to determine maintenance and repair needs and quality of work performed: recommend removal of fire, safety or health hazards including asbestos-related issues; instruct staff in safe work practices.

--Participate in the establishment and implementation of a systematic preventive maintenance program; investigate vandalism as necessary.

--Perform assessments for needed equipment, materials and supplies for the district maintenance operations; requisitions a wide variety of supplies, maintenance tools and equipment.

--Communicate with vendors, contractors, and inspectors regarding maintenance, construction operations and activities, materials, specifications, scheduling, and district policies and procedures.

--Supervise the transportation program to meet all the requirements of the daily instructional program and extracurricular activities.

--Maintain transportation reports in Infinite Campus.

--Maintain all district-owned equipment and develop plans for preventive maintenance.

--Conform to all state laws and regulations regarding school transportation.

--Maintain and submit all reports to KDE.

             --Demonstrate regular attendance and punctuality.

             -- Adhere to the appropriate code of ethics. 

             -- Perform other duties consistent with the position as assigned and/or requested by the Superintendent.

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Story by John Embry, Beech Tree News

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