POMEROY - Steve Ohlinger has been hired as principal of Meigs High School by the Meigs Local Board of Education.

Ohlinger, who has been assistant principal of Meigs Middle School for the past seven years, was hired for the position by unanimous vote of the board, effective immediately. He replaces Dennis Eichinger who resigned for retirement purposes a week ago to accept employment at Washington State Community College.

The new principal was hired in a special meeting Thursday night since the board felt filling the position immediately was necessary due to the Aug. 20 beginning of the school year.

Ohlinger is a graduate of Meigs High School and Ohio University, where he received a bachelor's degree in accounting. He received his master of art degree in leadership studies from Marshall University. He holds a principal's certificate.

For 11 years, Ohlinger was at Belpre High School as a business education teacher and assistant principal/athletic director. From there he came to the Meigs Middle School in 2000 to accept the position of assistant principal and athletic director.

He resides in Pomeroy and has two children, Shelby, a sophomore at Meigs High School, and Dillyn, a third grader at the Meigs Intermediate School.

Ohlinger said, when contacted Friday, that he is excited about the new opportunity and is ready to move ahead. He said he will continue the current progressive pace at the high school and is looking forward to opportunities which will come with the new University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College branch currently under construction on the Meigs campus.

The new principal comes in on a three-year contract as a 12-month employee at the appropriate step on the administrative salary schedule with credit for all of his years of administrative experience and applicable benefits as an administrator.

In other action taken at the meeting, Eichinger's resignation received just last week was accepted, Olivia Detamore was hired as a language arts teacher at Meigs Middle School on a one-year contract, Crystal Richmond was hired as a bus driver on a one-year contract, and employed on supplemental contracts were Denise Arnold, high school yearbook, and Lori Carter, Middle School girls volleyball.

Also hired was Carolyn Searls on a purchased services contract to provide assistance to a handicapped student.

Action on entering into an agreement with Farmers Bank relating to the mortgage agreement with the CIC concerning the right of first refusal on the property donated for construction of a building to be used for educational purposes was tabled until the Aug. 14 meeting.

Attending the meeting were Superintendent William Buckley, Treasurer Mark Rhonemus, and Board members, Victor Young, Scott Walton, Roger Abbott, Norman Humphreys and Ron Logan.