Letter: USV thrived under Rolston's leadership

I am a teacher at Upper Scioto Valley. I am writing in response to the Jan. 6 article “Board fires USV superintendent.”

Upon Rick Rolston's arrival, we had placed six levies on the ballot in five years, and all were voted down. We had cut classified/non-classified staff beyond bare-bones. Technology was as archaic as the square wheel. There were porta-pots (without paper or soap), a concession stand on wheels and no locker rooms out at our “new” athletic complex. We had expunged field trips and gone to pay-to-play for extracurriculars. We had a furnace system that needed to be revamped, a gravel parking lot and on and on. All the while, our previous superintendent was tucked away comfortably in Alger, away from the day-to-day operations of the school.

We have not had one levy on the ballot in Rolston's years. Our entire staff had been increased, until board members decided to make cuts. We have updated and increased technology. We have normal restrooms, a normal concession stand and locker rooms. Field trips were re-instituted and pay-to-play was expunged. We now have a breakfast program, in which every child receives a free breakfast and our free-and-reduced lunch program has doubled. We have a work-study program. We have senior citizen passes and other types of passes for athletic events, an asphalt parking lot and our superintendent's office is in McGuffey.

Our high school received its first excellent rating last year and our elementary, for the second consecutive year, received an outstanding improvement award from the state. And when the windmills finally arrive, we all know who should get the credit.

It's amazing what Rolston has been able to accomplish, especially after he lost the majority of the board's support after his first year. 

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