Wright gains contract extension at Southern Local
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SALINEVILLE -- Southern Local High School Principal Rich Wright will remain in his post even longer after receiving a three-year contract extension during the regular school board meeting on Feb. 11.
Board members approved the administrative contract, which will extend Wright's tenure through 2028. He has been part of the district for 10 years and was appreciative of leaders' support.
"I've had a lot of roles and Southern has always been good to me," Wright said.
He has served as head football coach for the past 10 years and also acted as an assistant high school principal, elementary principal and current high school principal, plus he previously led the Utica Shale Academy. Overall, he has coached for 22 years with prior stints at Beaver Local and Wellsville.
In other matters, the high school is looking to offer students opportunities to obtain industrial credentials. Assistant Principal Jess Krulik and intervention specialist Jessica Coleman shared a plan that would not only help students earn points to graduate, but it will also give them an advantage in the workforce.
"We would provide career-technical education (CTE) credentials for grades 7-10 and at that time they should have six points," said Krulik. "They would need six more to get 12 points for graduation."
He said the last six points would provide three different pathways to choose from, including education and training; business, marketing and finance; and hospitality and tourism. The pathways are based on results of surveyed alumni and the credentialing would be done through career-based intervention (CBI) led by Coleman. Krulik said online and in-person lessons could be offered to help students obtain the points plus the credentials to benefit them when they seek jobs.
"The advantage is it gives our students alternate pathway toward graduation," Coleman said. "It's designed for grades 7-12, and by the end of their sophomore year they would only need six points."
Krulik said the CBIs were embedded within the system and were self-grading with a pass-fail method. The first six credentials were general while the remainder were more geared toward a determined pathway. He also suggested connecting with local businesses to conduct field trips and help students seek the field they want. If all goes according to plan, it will be implemented over the next school year.
Meanwhile, Superintendent Tom Cunningham recognized the school board and bus drivers for their support of the students and district. Officials were lauded for School Board Appreciation Month, which was held in January, with a belated dinner at the high school cafeteria while members received certificates from the Ohio School Boards Association. Cunningham also heralded the bus drivers for Love the Bus Month for February, saying the drivers would receive certificates for their dedication. Southern Local's transportation department includes 13 drivers and 10 routes which span 106 square miles, plus it buses 85 percent of the student population. Between recent heavy weather conditions and bouts of illness, he said the department has managed to keep students moving.
"I wanted to recognize them since February is Love the Bus Month," Cunningham said. "It is national and recognizes their yearlong commitment."
Among other business:
-- Southern Local Elementary Principal Emily Smith reported a Teacher-Based Team (TBT) session was completed with a literacy coach while morning interventions will be held with selected students in grades 3-5 prior for four weeks prior to state testing. She added that the school's annual American Heart Association fundraiser was underway and has already met most of its $2,000 goal, plus students were receiving CARES cards for attendance, responsibility and other positive behaviors;
-- Wright reported that juniors would undergo ACT testing on Feb. 25 at 8 a.m. while comedian/singer David McClary would be visiting the school in March. He added that the Youth Coalition was conducting Kindness Week activities and 58 sophomores toured the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center, plus he recognized Hunter Nixon for heading to the districts in bowling;
-- The board was updated on matters in buildings and grounds, including heater repairs in the wrestling room as well as needed improvements for a roof leak, while Transportation Director Rob Marra discussed challenges with staff illnesses and weather conditions and mentioned possibly seeking seasonal drivers. Safety Officer Jeff Haugh also highlighted security matters such as repositioning cameras within the school building and conducting in-service learning with teachers in March;
-- Cunningham recognized district spelling bee winner Sylus Bryan and runners-up Riley Parrish and Eliana Forbes, who will head to the Columbiana County Spelling Bee on March 1; touted seven high school students who qualified for the county Student Art Show on Feb. 27; and thanked school teachers Heidi McIntosh and Ashley Dowling for their work;
-- The board approved a series of personnel matters with Terri Jarvis as a three-hour elementary cafeteria worker; a two-year contract for Carla Phenicie as a cafeteria worker; and substitute staff including Elizabeth McKinnon, paraprofessional; Lindsay Ingledue, cafeteria; Mikaela Bentley, bus driver; Abigail Patterson, teacher, paraprofessional and secretary; Aleah Bach, elementary teacher; Jordan Carroll, cafeteria worker, paraprofessional and teacher; Amber Engle, cafeteria worker, custodian and secretary; Amanda Ketchum, cafeteria worker; and Kristen Walter, cafeteria worker and secretary;
-- The next regular meeting was set for March 11 at 6 p.m. in the SLHS Media Center.