(Left to Right) Amy Hiner, Brett Baxter, Todd Friend, Cathy Sapp, and Heidi Zimmerman

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Ontario Board of Education will take place on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. This meeting will be held in the Ontario High School Library, 467 Shelby-Ontario Road, Ontario, Ohio at 7:00 p.m. 

 

The Role of the Board
The primary responsibility of the board is to establish programs and procedures that will facilitate maximum learning for every student. The board must accomplish this while also being responsible for wise management of resources available to the district. The board must fulfill these responsibilities by functioning primarily as a legislative body to formulate and adopt policy, by selecting an executive officer to implement policy and by evaluating the results; further, it must carry out its functions openly, while seeking the involvement and contributions of the public, students and staff in its decision-making process. 

The Organization of the Board of Education
The president and vice president of the board positions are determined by the election of fellow board members at the Organizational Meeting in January of each year. The president conducts the meetings, acts as spokesperson for the board and performs various legal functions such as signing contracts. The vice-president conducts the meeting and board business in the absence of the president.

Role of the Superintendent
The superintendent of schools is the chief administrative officer of the district and is responsible for the execution of the board's policies and the day-to-day operation of the school district. By delegation, the board provides the superintendent with the freedom to manage the schools within the board's policies, freeing the board to devote its time to policy-making and appraisal functions. The superintendent is not a member of the board, but reports directly to the board. 

Role of the Treasurer
The treasurer serves as the chief financial officer of the school district and is responsible for the receipt, investment, accounting and disbursement of all types of public funds as required by law and in accordance with board policies. The treasurer is not a member of the board, but serves as its secretary at board meetings. 

BoardDocs LT is an internet-based site that will enable staff, board members, and most importantly, the general public access to meeting agendas as well as other board-related files. This site will allow interested parties the opportunity to review information prior to board meetings. All documents will be automatically archived and available for review by meeting date or by using the system's comprehensive search feature.

To use this feature, simply click on the link below or use the link provided on the right side of this page.

Go to the BoardDocs site.

Phone - 419-512-7570

Email - [email protected]

Current Occupation - Part-time Assistant at an Insurance and Financial Services Company

Number of Years of Board Service - 9 years of service

 Though originally from Greencastle, Indiana, Heidi and her family have been in the Mansfield area since 1999 and have made Ontario their home since 2004. She and her husband, Brian, a 1989 Ontario graduate, have three children: Shelby, a first-year zoology major at Miami University , Ben, a junior computer science engineering major at The Ohio State University in Columbus, and Sam, a second-year law student at Case Western University School of Law. All three had a great education through their years at Ontario and felt well prepared academically for their chosen paths.

Heidi became a Board member because she wanted to bring a woman’s point-of-view back to the organization. As a parent, who at the time had three children in the school system, she also wanted to witness more interaction and collaboration among Board members, district employees, and parents. Lastly, Heidi wanted to do her part to enhance communication so parents are aware of all the opportunities and resources available.

Other Activities: President of the Ontario Academic Boosters, Sunday School Superintendent, Youth Group Steering Committee Member, OCF Tag Sale Coordinator, and a member of the Ontario Community Partnership. In her free time, Heidi enjoys reading, watching football, completing crosswords, playing trivia games, and traveling with her family.

 

Phone - 419-529-5598

Email - [email protected]

Current Occupation - Sergeant First Class (SFC) and Senior Instructor for OHARNG Regional Training Institute (RTI)

Number of Years with Board Service - 9 years of service

Brett and his wife are both graduates of Ontario High School and have lived in Ontario the majority of their lives. Two of their three children are Ontario graduates and their third is currently attending Ontario Schools.

Brett chose to be a Board member because the Ontario community has always been a great place to grow up and raise a family. Also, the community helped his family in many ways during his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He wants to give back to the community and school system by bringing a new perspective to the district through his corporate and military experience, along with his education. Brett has a Bachelor’s degree in Technology and a Master’s degree in Emergency and Disaster Management.

Other Activities: Member of the Ontario Youth Sports Board since 2013, Member of Prison Ministry at MANCI, Member of AMVETs and VFW veteran’s organizations.

Amy Hiner  

Phone - 740-974-9133

Email - [email protected]

Current Occupation - Associate Faculty, The Ohio State University Mansfield

Number of Years of Board Service - 5 years of service

 

Amy and her family have lived in Ontario for 10 years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. She’s taught at the elementary and collegiate level in both public and private schools. Currently, she teaches in the Educator Preparation Program at The Ohio State University. 

Amy is passionate about Ontario being the best place in Richland County to raise a family and be educated. She enjoys exploring new places with her husband, Chris, and three active kids, Maeley, Evan, and Beckett. 

Amy chose to become a board member to bring an educator’s perspective to the table. As a board member, she tries to see things through the lens of educator and parent and is an advocate for teachers and students. 

Other Activities:  She also serves in leadership roles on multiple boards throughout the county. Amy is the Chair of the Ontario CIC (Community Improvement Corporation), Chair of the Richland County Foundation Women’s Fund, trustee of the of the Mansfield Richland County Public Library, and member of the Early Head Start Advisory Board. For the Board of Education, she serves on Ontario’s Community and Family Engagement committee, the Permanent Improvement committee, and as the Legislative Liaison. Being involved in the community has always been important to her. 

Email - [email protected]

Current Occupation - RN, Executive Director of Avita Home Health & Hospice

Number of Years of Board Service - First year of service

 

Cathy Sapp is a 2004 graduate of Ontario High School, a 2008 graduate of Ashland University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and a 2023 graduate of Franklin University with a Master of Business Administration (MBA). She has lived in Ontario for most of her life and remains deeply connected to the community. In 2007, Cathy married her high school sweetheart, Troy, and together they have two daughters who are Ontario students.

Their oldest daughter, Kennedy, is 16 and a sophomore. She participates in the golf team, basketball team, FCCLA, leadership activities, and the College Credit Plus program through Ashland University. Their youngest daughter, Molly, is 13 and an eighth grader who is involved in cross country, basketball, and track.

Cathy chose to serve as a board member because she is proud of and grateful for the opportunities Ontario provided her and continues to provide her children. She and her husband wanted their daughters to attend Ontario schools knowing they would receive a high-quality education along with outstanding extracurricular opportunities. Cathy is committed to ensuring that Ontario’s future is as bright as its past. Her great-grandfather served on the very first Ontario School Board in the 1920s, and other family members have served the community in various ways, instilling in her the belief that strong communities are built by people willing to care, serve, and invest in them. She is passionate about ensuring all Ontario students receive the best possible educational experience.

Other Activities: In addition to her role on the school board, Cathy serves as a member of the Richland County Board of Health and the OYS Board. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, watching her daughters’ activities, and reading.