HCS Board of Education plans Dec. 18 reception for Rick Earley

The Highland County Press

The Hillsboro City Schools Board of Education is planning a reception for Superintendent Rick Earley immediately following his last board meeting Wednesday, Dec. 18.

The event is by invitation only.

The board meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the high school library, then the reception will begin at 7 in the high school auditeria. It will begin with the fifth-grade Honors Choir performing, followed by Daniel Jacky playing a medley of Christmas songs while the crowd lines up for sandwiches and snacks while enjoying a slideshow of Mr. Earley.

Guest speakers will include Fred Yochum, Tony Long and Fred Compton.

After taking over for former superintendent Art Reiber in the fall of 2009, Hillsboro City Schools Superintendent Rick Earley announced his retirement, effective January 2014, in June of this year.

Earley has been with the district for almost three decades.

He has been a teacher, varsity basketball coach, varsity baseball coach, assistant football coach, director of athletics, high school principal and superintendent.

Former Bethel-Tate Local School District Superintendent James Smith has been named the interim superintendent for Hillsboro City Schools.

In a letter to the board, Earley wrote: "I want to take this time to thank the Board of Education of Hillsboro City Schools for the opportunity to have worked in the district for 30 years.

"I have served the students and staff of Hillsboro City Schools in a variety of positions, and they were each rewarding in their own ways. For the last three years, I have had the privilege of serving as the leader of this great district and believe that we have made substantial progress during that time.

"I would also like to thank the many students, parents, teachers, aides, custodians, food service workers, bus drivers, coaches and administrators that I have had the pleasure of working with to make Hillsboro City Schools a better place for students.

"I would like to thank my family for the sacrifices they have made. I am proud of the work I have done in this district and will always appreciate the opportunities I have had to help kids of all ages."