SALEM — The Salem school district recently joined the list of area schools signing an agreement for the Counseling Center of Columbiana County to provide suicide prevention education to students.

The memorandum of understanding between the two entities, which was approved by the school board, provides for a program on suicide prevention for students in grades 6-12, fulfilling a requirement for such programming to be implemented this school year, per the Safety and Violence Education (SAVE) Students Act passed by the state legislature a few years ago.

The board also approved the Unlocking Potential Mentorship Program with the United Way Services of Northern Columbiana County at Southeast School and the Quaker Club After School program at the junior high on Tuesday and Thursdays. Teachers approved for the program included Kathy Zurbrugg, Brooke Skiba, Amy Emerick, Jen Brammer, Ashley Kekel, Amie Cochran and Nicole Rothbauer.

During his report, Superintendent Sean Kirkland talked about the transition the girls volleyball team is going through this year, with a tough season for the players, the parents and the coaches. Twice this year, though, he said he received a report from the state about the sportsmanship displayed by the Quaker players, how the coaching staff treated the officials with respect and the players shook their hands and thanked them personally for officiating their game.

“I thought that was something to celebrate,” he said.

Kirkland also honored the late Bob Citino, who previously taught machine trades at the high school and recently passed away. He said he was one of the most genuine instructors anyone would want to meet and noted that Citino placed 100 percent of his students in jobs after graduation for 17 years straight.

In personnel matters, the board: hired Chelsey Reynolds as a bus driver; approved the list of classified and certified substitutes; approved Megan Ellis, Amber Waller, Brooke Skiba, Kay Piero, Timothy Taafe, Amy Emerick and Ashley Taafe as teachers for the OPTIONS after school program at the junior high and high school; approved Jeff Andres for AM detention and Will Klucenic and Timothy Taafe for Saturday detention; approved Ashley Kekel, Jeff Andres, Jen Brammer, Lauren Dodge, Samantha Renforth, Mary Clark and Pam Jay as trained mentors for the resident educator program; approved Vickie Brewer for the Alliance Career Center bus route; approved Mark Schmidt for bus routes to preschool, mid-day and special education; hired Matthew Yanek to tutor a homebound student at a rate of $30 per hour; approved the resignation of Willi Colbert as computer club advisor; and approved the resignation of Cooper Gottschling as junior high football coach.

Athletic coaching supplementals approved included: Nico Drayer, eighth grade football assistant; Bill Cowgill, seventh grade football assistant; boys basketball varsity head coach Jeff Andres; boys basketball JV coach Matt Mowery; boys basketball varsity assistant coaches Vince Nittoli and George Spack; boys eighth grade basketball coach Dave Warren; boys ninth grade basketball coach Ryan Powell; competition cheer, Jordan Archer; head varsity wrestling coach Drew Hart; junior high head wrestling coach Patrick Simpson; high school assistant wrestling coach Caiden Hart; junior high assistant wrestling coach Tyler Almy.