Submitted photo Beaver Local Superintendent Eric Lowe displays his Exemplary Leadership Award from the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA).

Staff Report

LISBON — The Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA) was on hand to honor Beaver Local schools’ superintendent Eric Lowe, who was bestowed with their Exemplary Leadership Award.

During Monday’s board meeting, Dr. David Axner, who is executive director of the organization, presented Lowe with one of 10 peer-selected awards. Criteria for the honor include strong community involvement, active in both their profession and in the school community, a leader of character, and innovative idea. The honoree also must set a strong example of character in their district.

In the case of Lowe, his fellow superintendents nominated him due to his efforts to navigate the district through the pandemic. In addition to Lowe being a team builder, Axner described his ability to reflect when making decisions and not rushing to judgement in tough situations as well as his efforts authoring a book and teaching a daily leadership class for students.

BASA has more than 900 members and works to represent school superintendents throughout the state in a variety of ways.

Lowe’s colleagues shared he is everywhere supporting students in both academic and performing art endeavors along with working with them to give back to their community through activities such as the Back to School Bash, and the many other activities Beaver Local students are involved in.

Axner shared that his colleagues shared that Lowe is humble, intelligent, and is someone that always leads by example putting forth maximum effort.

Also at the meeting, board members agreed to send $20,073 on a new Canon digital copier through the state purchasing program as well as the following field trips: May 20-25 to Wiliamsburg Busch Gardens Amusement Park and Virginia Beach as well as April 10-16 fr the Beaver Local baseball team to the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C., where they will play four varsity baseball games.

Personnel hires were Jessica Lucas, payroll administrator, and Darrah Thurik, bus driver.

Supplmental contracts awarded included head wrestling coach Johnny McComas; assistant wrestling coaches TJ Miller and Mark Emerging; middle school wrestling coach Shane O’Brien (als;o varsity assistant football coach); winter strength coach Nick Sesonsky; middle school girls basketball coach Wynton Rayford; high school Academic Challenge coach Beth Barber, replacing Leslie Gabbert; and History Club adviser Kari Miller, replacing Lori Motry. In other personnel matters, Kathy Beaver, Vicki Bruno and Javan Prix were granted leaves of absence.

Volunteers accepted were Jordan Williams and Doug Hoppel, wrestling; Craig Voorhees, Matthew Kidd and Ted Kinsey, track; Mary Ewing; Andrea Abdalla-Springer; Samantha Starkey; Gregory Eisenhart; Heather Berger; Stacy McNary; Melissa McFadden; Brandy Rayburn; Lora Irving; Amanda Craig; Stephanie Hoover; Jessica Johnston; Kylie Coleman; Shannon Higgins; Janet Christen; Wendy Hoppel; Mikala McCoy; Megan Dow; Lana Marks; Jennifer Clark and Pat O’Hara.

Other meeting highlights included Jonathan McCullough’s Red Cross blood drive; upcoming concerts on Dec. 6 for the middle school choir, Dec. 8 for the high school choir; Dec. 12 for band students (grades six through 12); and Dec. 15 for fifth grade band members. Kari Miller, Lori Motry and the History Club for the virtual veterans’ program they put together for the high school and also Holly Pickens for her work in putting together an elementary program.