Rick Reed has been hired as the next parks superintendent for the Bellefontaine Joint Recreation District, filling the role left vacant following the unexpected death of longtime superintendent Kris Myers on Dec. 1.
Reed’s hiring was announced during the regular Bellefontaine City Council meeting Tuesday, Jan. 27, by Bellefontaine Service-Safety Director Wes Dodds.
The new superintendent was ultimately selected from a pool of 14 applicants, Dodds noted.
Dodds said Reed is “enthusiastic and compassionate about the community,” adding that he “has big shoes to fill” as he succeeds Myers.
Myers served the Bellefontaine Joint Recreation District for more than two decades and was widely respected for his hands-on leadership, deep commitment to community recreation and passion for creating welcoming parks and programs. A career parks professional and a close personal friend of Reed, Myers helped shape Bellefontaine’s parks system into a model for communities of similar size, touching generations of families through programs, facilities and events.
Reed told the Examiner Wednesday morning that he will step down from his position on the Bellefontaine City Schools Board of Education due to conflict-of-interest concerns associated with serving in both roles.
“Unfortunately, my acceptance of the parks job does compromise my elected office with the Bellefontaine City Schools Board of Education,” Reed said.
“Upon interviewing for the position, I reached out to Superintendent (Brad) Hall and School Board President (Colin) Yoder regarding the conflict. They were both supportive and contacted the school district’s attorney for a ruling. The district’s attorney referred us to a similar ruling by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office regarding public board conflicts. It was the attorney’s opinion that I would need to resign from the school board upon selection to the parks position,” he said.
Reed said the decision was not made lightly.
“I want to apologize to our community. I can’t express enough how appreciative I am that our voters believed in me enough to place me in a position on the Bellefontaine City Schools board,” Reed said. “I do not take this choice lightly, but the opportunity for my family and to serve this community in such a profound manner is one I feel I cannot pass up.”
Reed also expressed gratitude to district leadership and fellow board members.
“I want to thank Superintendent (Brad) Hall, President (Colin) Yoder and the rest of the board for accepting me over the last couple of months. I felt my voice was valued, and I encourage our citizens to be involved as our district moves through some trying financial times ahead,” he said.
Reed and his wife, Joliece, have two children, Finley, a fifth grader, and Jamo, a first grader.
A longtime educator and coach, Reed spent 18 years teaching at Bellefontaine High School before spending the past year at Resilient Heights Alternative School in Kenton. His coaching background includes five years as head wrestling coach at BHS and 16 years as an assistant football coach and offensive coordinator. Over the past two years, he has also coached multiple youth sports including wrestling, baseball and flag football through the Bellefontaine Parks and Recreation Department.
Reed said his starting salary as parks superintendent will be $84,000.
“I’m incredibly honored to be selected as the Bellefontaine Parks and Recreation Superintendent,” Reed said. “Kris Myers, the Park Board and our citizens have spent the last two decades making our parks system a model for communities our size.
Reed said he does not intend to make any significant changes in the near future and plans to continue the thorough and thoughtful work and plans put in place by his predecessor.
“I’m extremely humbled to be given the opportunity to continue the mission Kris was implementing. The Parks and Recreation Master Plan gives us a clear roadmap to follow as we move forward.”
Check back at examiner.org for a complete Bellefontaine City Council story later Wednesday.
