Board hires Cole Bonawitt as junior–senior high assistant principal

The Blackford County Schools Board approved Cole Bonawitt as junior–senior high assistant principal by a 4–0 vote Saturday, placing him on a 205-day contract if approved as presented.

The superintendent said Bonawitt brings 10 years of career and technical education experience and is a 2012 graduate of Blackford High School who has returned to the community. A staff member involved in the interview process praised those credentials and Bonawitt's desire to give back to local schools, saying in the meeting that "there's just so much out there for our kids." The board recorded the motion, received a second and voted to carry the motion 4–0.

Discussion during the item covered the assistant principal's responsibilities, including work on discipline and ties to CTE programming the district hopes to grow. The superintendent said the district values pairing a veteran or experienced administrator with a younger, ambitious candidate; Bonawitt was described as the latter. The approval completes the personnel action to place Bonawitt on the assistant principal roster and the superintendent said the district will welcome him back to the schools on Monday.