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LEETONIA -- Leetonia Board of Education members got an up-close look at the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center (CCCTC) "career exploration mobile unit" during the board's regular board meeting on Wednesday.
The mobile unit -- five wheeled carts loaded with virtual reality hardware and tools for hands-on activities to simulate different programs at CCCTC for prospective students to explore - began traveling to CCCTC's nine partner school districts and other locations to provide students with hands-on career and technical experiences, and Leetonia was the first stop.
The carts focus on welding, agriculture, manufacturing/robotics, transportation, and renewable energy. The CCCTC's other courses will also be added to the career exploration mobile unit in the future. The mobile units were designed and built by Vista AST, of Youngstown, units using 3-D printers and virtual reality technology to give prospective students a chance to experience a chosen career path and participate in challenges on the machines.
The board heard from Vista AST owner Jack Smith.
"They wanted something kids could get exposed to careers that are available that typically don't require a college degree," Smith said. "Half the kids that go to college don't finish. They end up without a diploma and with a big debt and may have trouble getting a job. The idea was to introduce students to careers they maybe weren't aware of and to help focus on career and tech opportunities and what the career center has to offer and a combination of the two."
In announcements, Superintendent Dennis Dunham told the board that the Leetonia received the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Momentum award for recognition of growth and achievement on the 2022-23 state report card and an overall rating of four stars, meaning Leetonia "exceeds state standards" on the grading scale.
The board also tackled several personnel issues for the 2024-25 school year. One-year limited certificated teaching contracts (2024-25) were approved for Tyler Cintron, Brandon Frenger, Kayla Klacik, Madaline Matejka, Mary Rice and Samantha Sacconi. Two-year contracts were approved for Kerri Ackler, Kaitlyn Culp, Jennifer Hartman, Brad Katzman, Carrie Roller, Melanie Stelts and Lauran Woolley. Two-year limited classified contracts were approved for Kimberly Carter Stefanak, Terry Rockwell and Sean Gaffney, while a continuing certificated teaching contract was approved for Laurie Crisan. Nicole Henry was hired as a certificated and classified. The board also hired Derek Bell as an assistant baseball coach.
In financial matters, the board approved the transfers from the general fund to the cafeteria ($50,000) and athletic ($55,000) funds. The board also approved $2,500,050.40 in adjusted appropriations for the following funds: cafeteria ($538,365.11), scholarship ($36,570), classroom facilities maintenance ($32,289.80), district-managed activity ($190,717.98), data communications ($3,995.06), Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief ($1,091,699.34), Idea Part B Grant ($231,557.41), Title I ($312,699.30) and Title II-A ($62,156.40). Also, Sheakley Uniservice was approved as MCO and TPA for Worker's Compensation and Unemployment for FY2025 in the amount of $531.
Donations of $1,420 were presented, approved and accepted from Marie Evans Agency Inc ($1,000) for the Down on Main Scholarship Fund, LASA ($320) for the Class of 2025 and an anonymous donation of $100 to be applied to cafeteria account balances.
selverd@mojonews.com