The Rich School District Board of Education met in Randolph on May 20, 2026, to finalize several administrative and academic decisions. Key actions included the appointment of Jesse Calder as the new Superintendent effective July 1, 2026, and the approval of an E-sports program for Rich High School.
During the meeting, the board approved the hiring of Jesse Calder to succeed Superintendent Dale Lamborn. Zack McKee noted that the selection process was conducted nationwide and involved a committee of board members, teachers, and administrators. Calder expressed gratitude for the board's trust in his new role.
In addition to leadership changes, the board voted to expand extracurricular opportunities by adding E-sports to Rich High School. The program, which is UHSAA sponsored, involves an estimated equipment cost of $1,239.81. The board approved the motion to include the activity, which requires students to maintain a 2.0 GPA and undergo drug testing.
The board also addressed transportation and facility needs. A motion passed to purchase two buses for the 2026-2027 school year, with one scheduled for July and another for December. This decision was made to address fleet requirements and avoid potential faults with new engine models.
Regarding staff compensation, the board approved recommendations from the Interest-Based Facilitation Team for the 2026-2027 school year. The plan includes a 4.5% base salary increase, the maintenance of the existing salary schedule, and the district picking up health insurance increases.
Other items on the agenda included the approval of a streaming agreement with Iron Peak Media for the 2025-2026 school year and the approval of a comprehensive guidance report focused on suicide prevention and school attendance. The board also approved the resignation of Penny Petersen, a Special Education Aide at NRE.
Superintendent Lamborn reported on local successes, noting that the girls track team took state and the boys track team placed second. The district also celebrated a 100% graduation rate, with 11 students graduating with Associates degrees and seven with GE certificates.
