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South Range board celebrates life of late superintendent

CANFIELD — The South Range school board this week paid tribute to the late former superintendent James Alexander Hall.

The board approved a resolution recognizing the life and service of Hall, who passed away Feb. 18.

Hall served as superintendent of South Range schools from 1986 to 2006. During his time as superintendent, the district was one of only a few to achieve the state’s “excellent” rating every year from its inception in 1999 to his retirement in 2006.

Of his 41 years as an educator, Hall spent 20 years with South Range. The resolution recognized the district’s “academic excellence, great success in the arts, and athletic team successes statewide all enjoyed under his tenure and with his guidance.” The resolution also honored his “innate ability to find excellent teachers, support staff, coaches and advisors; he wanted his legacy to be the people he hired, and this is indeed his legacy as many of his hires still serve our students today.”

Board President Ralph Wince noted truth of what the resolution states, saying Hall never looked for any glory, but always sought the best for students, staff and community.

“Personally, as a new board member (during Hall’s tenure), I valued his opinion, valued his leadership and was very happy and fortunate to work along his side for so many years,” Wince said.

In other business, the board accepted the resignation of John Cullen as head boys varsity basketball coach. Cullen has been the varsity boys basketball coach the past eight years but has coached basketball since 1973. His career record is 597-295, with a league record of 290-113, 14 league championships, 26 sectional titles and five district titles. He has been inducted into the Mahoning County Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame.

The board also accepted the resignation of Heather Livesay as part-time instructional aide, Alfred Davidson as a custodial assistant, Dawna Maine as office aide and Daniel Yeagley as high school math educator, who spent the past 29 years of his 36-year career as an educator with South Range.

Also at the meeting, the board granted a continuing classified contract to George McDowell as custodial assistant.

The board also granted supplemental coaching contracts to Matt Brooks and Delaney Less for co-head boys middle school track for the 2020-2021 school year; and supplemental coaching contracts for the 2021-2022 school year to Daniel Yeagly for varsity football, Kelsey Malenic for varsity girls soccer and Zachary Stamp for varsity boys soccer.

The board also rescinded the supplemental coaching contract for Josh Smith for assistant girls basketball for the 2020-2021 school year due to his not being able to help because his job and adjusted the compensation for the other coaches.

Additionally the board approved supplemental contracts for the 2021-2022 school year to Katie Adams for junior class advisor, Wayne Allegretto for assistant football coach, Clyde Beaver III for middle school cross country school, Ericka Burkey for Academic Challenge, Ericka Burkey for senior class advisor, Keith Drewnoski for weightlifting, Laura Elder for assistant high school band director, Laura Elder for majorettes/flagline high school, Laura Elder for yearbook advisor, Don Feren for athletic director 7-12, Sarah Fishel for ticket manager 7-12, Sarah Fishel for National Honor Society, Anthony Foster for event/principal replacement dean, Mark Geisy for Saturday morning detention, Mark Geisy for web page manager, James Hanek for varsity baseball, James Hanek for high school golf, Todd Irons for varsity volleyball, Sam Landry for event/principal replacement dean, Brock Miller for assistant athletic director 7-12, Brenda Petit for middle school student council, Brenda Petit for middle school yearbook advisor, Angela Rosen for Key Club advisor, Angela Rosen for Saturday morning detention, Kristen Scott for event/principal replacement dean, Kristen Scott for high school student council, Michael Sobota for dram coach, Michael Sobota for facility coordinator, Michael Sobota for middle school drama, Laurel Sobota for assistant high school drama, Deborah Staffeld for Power of the Pen, Lisa Toy for English Festival, Lisa Toy for Future Teachers of America advisor, John Venesky for middle school band, John Venesky for assistant high school band director, Jacklyn Walters (Racketa) for English Festival and Jacklyn Walters (Racketa) for Power of the Pen.

khowell@salemnews.net

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