Trending
SALINEVILLE -- The Southern Local School District has obtained $20,000 to help at-risk students bolster their learning skills.
During the Feb. 13 regular school board session, officials announced that Southern Local Elementary and Southern Local Jr./Sr. High Schools each gained $10,000 allocations from the Acellus online program to focus on students in grades K-12 in need of intervention.
SLES Principal Emily Brinker said she and Assistant Principal Jordan Wrask will work with teachers in their building to decide who can benefit from the program.
"We received a $10,000 grant for intervention through this online instructional program and we will add 12 students once we discuss more with staff," Brinker said. "It's online and geared toward an intervention instructional plan."
She and Wrask took part in a Zoom meeting to learn more about it and said they will speak with teachers about which students would qualify. Wrask said it is based on an algorithm and elementary students will work on core subjects, but plans are still in their infancy.
"Each of the kids take an assessment and it's geared toward their level of learning," he added.
"We hope to implement it soon and will work to identify the kids," Brinker continued. "Once we do that, we can [start the program] as quickly as possible."
Brinker hoped to begin by the end of this month.
Superintendent Tom Cunningham said the junior-senior high school earned the same amount to assist some of its students so they can thrive.
"We received a $10,000 grant for the elementary school and the high school also received it to help grades 7-12," he added. "Hopefully it goes well. It is computer-based and students need intervention at certain levels. They will be assigned work to do at their own pace."
In other grant news, Cunningham said the Jefferson County Educational Service Center obtained a driver's education grant which would place an instructor and also a potential vehicle at SLHS. He added that the Columbiana County ESC was also seeking grant funds help students cover driver's ed costs.
Among other matters:
-- Southern Local Teachers Association President Ryan Smith thanked the board for contributing an extra $200 to the employees' health savings accounts to assist with rising insurance costs;
-- The board approved two-year calendars for 2024-25 and 2025-26. Cunningham explained officials worked with the SLTA and OAPSE members to finalize the calendars and it also assisted the Ohio Department of Transportation so projects would not impact school terms;
-- Brinker said four fifth-graders participated in the district spelling bee on Feb. 7 including Brooke Akers, Brooklyn Glosser, Patricia Smith and Sophia Pierson. She added that her building was also implementing new Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) rewards by connecting the school building with transportation. Students who show positive character traits receive pom-pom balls to fill their classroom jars and earn a reward. Other SLES news included an Easter candy sale which produced a $4,000 profit increase for classroom activities, rewards and field trips; another visit from educational consultant Carri Meek to discuss strategies targeting issues that impact student learning; and a Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser to benefit the American Heart Association. A $2,500 goal has been set and if met, students will enjoy a picnic this spring while officials will dress as characters from the movie "Monsters, Inc.";
-- SLHS Principal Rich Wright said junior high science teacher Amanda Wrobleski obtained a grant through King Arthur Baking Co. for a springtime project. Each student will receive flour and other supplies to bake a loaf of bread that will be given to someone as a gesture of kindness. He added that Wrobleski's hydroponics program is also successfully growing lettuce and should be ready in a few months. Other high school news included an upcoming PBIS event, SAT testing on Feb. 27 and students with entries in the Columbiana County Art Show on Feb. 27;
-- The board also approved a series of personnel matters, including the resignation of Kyler Woodward as a paraprofessional; the hiring of substitutes Natasha Grim as teacher and secretary, Melissa Dugan as cafeteria, secretary, paraprofessional and teacher, Ernanie Black and Patty Bailey as cafeteria and custodians and Jennifer Timms as teacher; a one-year contract for Carla Phenicie as a three-hour cafeteria worker; the hiring of Brent Boyle as a softball coach for the 2023-24 school year; and the approval of Jan Palmer as a three-hour student monitor;
-- Cunningham said he reached out to the county Veterans Service Office to do signup days for seniors planning to enlist in the military while social media personality Jordan Toma was speaking at SLHS on March 21;
-- Athletic Director Bob Shansky said there was a move to create seven divisions in each sport next year, which may put volleyball in Division VI;
-- Leaders approved a $1,634 contribution to the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding;
-- The next regular meeting was set for March 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the SLHS Media Center.