Area school board member leaves after one of longest tenures in Ohio

The Hamilton County, College Hill native, who earned his degree from the University of Cincinnati before working as a sales manager for an area engineering firm, is modest about his contributions to Ross Schools’ long-record of academic success.

Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, which also threw Ohio’s annual district report card measurements into upheaval, Ross had put together years of consistently leading all other Butler County school districts in a number of major academic areas.

Bosse said the once rural and now largely bedroom, suburban school system “is not glamorous” like some other area, public school districts.

“But we run a high performance district that is very stable and business-like that offers full service learning programs,” he said. “And most importantly,” he added, “we care about people.”

And the people of Ross care back.

In the fall Bosse was honored as the grand marshal of Ross’ homecoming parade.

Ross Superintendent Chad Konkle said Bosse was “an integral role in the Ross Local School district that exists today. “He has been tireless in his desire to make education better for students, staff and families. His fervent dedication will be forever appreciated,” said Konkle.

And his longevity is a rarity among the region and the state’s other school board members, said Rick Lewis, executive director and CEO of the Ohio School Boards Association.

Among the more than 3,000 public school board members in the state, said Lewis, “27 board members with 40 or more years of service. That is about 7/10 of 1% or .007 of those serving. And I found a total of 59 who hit that milestone (four decades) in our system through the years.”

Bosse said what he’ll miss most about the emotional pushes of the publicly elected job — each term last four years — is attending Ross High School graduations.

“I love seeing the families and all the pride on their faces for their children.”