Clinton-Massie’s newest school administrator addressed the board of education on Thursday night and introduced two new teachers from her staff at the elementary school, who the board approved to hire.

Hella Scott, who will take over as principal of the elementary school following the retirement of longtime principal Mark Wilkie, said she was excited for the upcoming school year and pleased to introduce fifth grade teacher Jennifer D’Amico and kindergarten teacher Heidi Kaneshiro.

“We’re very excited to have both of them,” Scott said. “And I am thrilled to be here. It’s going to be a phenomenal year.”

Scott comes to the district from Jefferson Township in Dayton, where she was formerly the principal of Blairwood Elementary for three years. Originally from Faiborn, Scott said one goal of hers for the 2010-11 school year is to build on the growing success of the school’s students.

“The challenges of raising our scores even more and getting these kids to really hit their potential is going to be amazing,” she said.

Board President Lynn Deatherage said she was grateful for Wilkie’s 21 years of service to the district, and that she was looking forward to seeing Scott take the reins.

“She seems to be a very energetic person. I’ve heard Mrs. [Vickie] Borton say ‘Here’s an administrator I can really learn something from,’” Deatherage said. “I think they have a good dynamic and will work really well together.”

Debbie Keinle, curriculum director for grades K-5, told the board she expects to know the state’s scoring of the district by the first week of August, and she was hopeful the district would earn “Excellent with Distinction,” the highest academic rating in Ohio.

Also at the meeting, Superintendent Michael Sander updated the board on the status of the turf field construction, a $500,000 project which is slated to be completed by August 14. Sander said the base of the field has been laid, and the lettering and painting of lines on the field is scheduled to begin today before the installation of a rubberized sand mix.

“The weather has been fantastic, even though we did have some rain for a while,” he said.

Sander also said there is a possibility the field could be completed ahead of the mid-August completion date.

The board also agreed to purchase Virtual Learning Academy courses for students who are unable to take certain classes due to scheduling issues, and Sander reported that all school buses will be fitted with digital video cameras before the first day of classes on Tuesday, August 17.