EAST LIVERPOOL — During Thursday’s meeting of the East Liverpool Board of Education, board members unanimously approved the high school class of 2025 graduation list which included the names of 138 students.

The list is of the prospective graduating class and can be subject to change based upon completion of the requirements of the board of education and the Ohio Department of Education.

In his report to the board, Superintendent Jonathan Ludwig said state testing was underway in the buildings and spring sports season was in full swing.

He noted the ELHS tennis team currently holds a 6-1 record, boys track and field athletes are breaking school records at nearly every meet and the softball team is preparing to honor their seniors with an Under the Lights presentation at Patterson Field.

Prom will be held tonight.

Ludwig recapped the end-of-year field trips which include the high school students attending Youngstown State University English Festival, the fifth-grade students who are set to attend the Carnegie Science Center and the Potterbots plan to celebrate a successful season by attending a Pittsburgh Pirates game.

Ludwig noted student achievements and academic excellence will be recognized with the Heads Above the Rest Breakfast and the Merit and Scholar of the month luncheons.

And for community engagement, he spoke on the preschool Luau fostering family involvement in early childhood literacy and the Annual Bridge the Gap event and how it continues to be a meaningful connection between the senior students and staff at the junior/senior high school.

Teacher Jennifer Ganlanis spoke to the board on the district’s after-school program, The Brainery, and what a success it has been this year. She spoke on the students’ favorite activities and field trips and how the students were learning valuable life skills by participating in the program which is in its third year of a five-year grant.

The board members each spoke positively on the after-school program and the good work it was doing with the students.

Audrey Dimmerling, OSU Extension, spoke to the board on the different programs the OSU Extension Office offers and invited the board members to contact her if they had any interest in any of the programs.

Shoshana Fineman, teacher, provided an agenda for the Costa Rica trip some students will be going on and offered to answer any questions regarding the trip.

The board, based on the treasurer’s recommendations, approved the treasurer’s report including the financial reports, appropriations resolutions, cash summary and cash received report, disbursement and receipt report and amended certificates.

They also approved the renewal of the ACCESS contract for voice and application services, the establishment of an Esports student activity club account, and the contract with Julian and Grube to prepare their annual GAAP/Financial statement.

For personnel, the board approved resignations for Karen Kelly, paraprofessional, and Debbie Callen Fickes, Teacher (LaCroft), both for retirement purposes. Kelly’s resignation is effective June 30 and Fickes’s on May 30. Fickes retires after 35 years of service.

Resignations were also accepted for Michael Pridemore, crossing guard, effective April 1 and Kayla Martin, custodian, effective May 2.

The board also approved a number of certified appointments, supplemental personal, classified appointments, classified substitutes, volunteers, and classified employees for summer and seasonal/casual.

Additional approvals include the annual fifth-grade trip to Camp Fitch, the Summer School Plan 2025, the senior trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, May 8-11 and the Costa Rica trip.

The board voted to enter into an executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters and return to the open meeting with no action taken.

The East Liverpool City Schools Board of Education meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the district administration office. The next regular meeting is scheduled for May 22.