ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont-Harrison Vocational School District Superintendent Richard Schoene announced plans to retire after 31 years in the district and 38 years in education.

He also served as president of the Ohio Association of Career-Technical Superintendents Association.

Schoene formally announced his retirement plans at the March 17 school board meeting and informed the board that his retirement will be effective Aug. 15.

“Mr. Schoene and I go back a long time in education,” school board President Michael Fador said. “We met at Wheeling Park High School, and we both met up again at the Belmont and Harrison career centers. Besides his duties as superintendent, he is responsible for all the physical construction and improvements to the career centers that will last for years to come.”

Fador added that Schoene’s tenure has been highlighted by many facility and technology upgrades at both career centers. Schoene is also responsible for creating a plan to reverse the deficit spending of the district and for keeping the Harrison Career Center open to continue offering career-technical programming.

During his time with the district, it has also been able to expand satellite programs to the local school districts.

In 2023, the district added an in-house health clinic at Belmont Career Center. The Ohio Hills Health Center now provides a nurse practitioner and medical assistant five days per week and a dentist who is available one or two days a week.

The school board will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. April 7 to begin the process of finding the district’s next superintendent. During the meeting, the board will enter a closed-door session to discuss the best fit to replace Schoene.

​​The Belmont-Harrison Vocational School District serves students from Barnesville, Bellaire, Bridgeport, Harrison Central, Martins Ferry, Shadyside, St. Clairsville and Union Local school districts.