SALINEVILLE — The Southern Local Board of Education officially approved the Southern Local Teachers Association Master Agreement, inking a three-year deal with the educators’ union.

The board formally accepted the deal during the regular meeting on April 8 and officials on both sides praised the quick resolution over a five-day period.

“It was a good process,” said Superintendent Tom Cunningham. “I appreciate the SLTA for working with us. We’re happy with everything we did.”

District Treasurer Greg Sabbato added that it was always the school district’s intention to negotiate and it was a “win-win.”

“I want to say how grateful we are,” responded SLTA President Ryan Smith. “I can’t tell you how good a process it was.”

“We want to make sure our teachers are taken care of and so are our students,” Cunningham noted.

Meanwhile, Southern Local Mighty Indians Marching Band Director Emily Forbes Bowling is heading to the Golden State early next year to put her musical talents on display during the 2026 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade.

Bowling shared the good news with the school board and said it was an incredible experience. She will perform on clarinet and join about 400 band directors from all 50 states to make the 5.5-mile trek on Jan. 1, which will be witnessed by thousands in person and millions on television. The band is a project of the Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation and includes members who teach all levels from elementary to high school, colleges and universities, the military and even community bands.

Bowling, who is one of five band directors selected from Columbiana County, added that it was her third time to take part and she was honored to return.

“I had an opportunity to be involved in the Band Directors Marching Band that marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2023. I was invited back to march in the Rose Bowl Parade,” she said. “It’s one of the best professional opportunities I’ve had. I worked with the best arrangers, the best composers and the best directors.”

She noted that Jon Waters, who directs one of the largest college bands in the nation at Bowling Green University, will helm the Band Directors Marching Band this year.

“It’s five days of music and marching rehearsals and performances,” Bowling continued, noting that one venue she previously played was at the 9-11 Memorial in New York as a service project.

She said professional development funds were available to help defray some of the costs, while Cunningham noted that the district has previously provided financial assistance.

“I didn’t know it was an option at the time but we were able to do it for the 2023 trip,” she added, saying she was covering costs for the airfare. Bowling said the experience has also inspired the way she teaches students at Southern.

“It’s such a great opportunity to be surrounded by band directors from all over the country. I work with people fresh out of college to long-time directors. It was literally life-changing and I was so renewed and energized. I made changes to my program right down to the fifth grade.”

The school board also heard a series of reports from school and district administrators. District Director of Special Services Andrew Vulgamore announced applications were being taken to nominate students for the R.A. Horn Award through the Ohio State Support Team until May 10 and awards will be announced mid-month. Transportation Director Rob Marra noted that annual inspections began for the bus fleet while Maintenance Supervisor Charlie Puckett said he was procuring bids to either pave or repair the parking lot, noting that it may be better to pave. Technology Director Josh Manist mentioned that cameras were installed but others needed to be replaced while School Security Officer Jeff Haugh noted the older cameras outlived their usefulness and updates must be made to the school safety plan. Marjorie Hiller, central administration technology services official, added that the window closed for E-Rate, which provides discounts for telecommunications, Internet access and internal connections to eligible schools and libraries, and the district was not in the Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) process for funding. Athletic Director Bob Shansky said the track season was underway and the girls’ team recently won both meets at Indian Creek and Harrison Central, plus the JV baseball team played with a win against Heartland Christian and more games scheduled. Shansky added that the gym was open for volleyball while the weight room was available for training.

Additionally, Southern Local Elementary Principal Emily Smith said state testing was wrapping up and the staff was completing a survey for next year. She also noted the District Showcase was set for April 15 at 5 p.m. with 25 vendors, raffles, FFA petting zoo, fourth-grade concert, a choir concert and instrumental soloists in the high school cafeteria, a spaghetti dinner in the elementary cafeteria and a showcase of students’ work throughout the year; Breakfast with a Loved One on April 23-25; and a visit from the Brightside Project bus on May 7 to distribute food to students in PreK-5. SLHS Principal Rich Wright announced that testing began in the high school and would resume following Easter Break, plus College Credit Plus meetings were set for April 14-15 with representatives of Kent State University and Youngstown State University to discuss course selections. More events included the PBIS reward cookout on April 24, prom on April 25 at Guilford Lake Event Center and After Prom on April 26. Assistant Principal Jess Krulik said he was approached by students seeking permission to wear hats in school.

Among other business:

— Cunningham told the board that legal updates will likely be changing again in July while budgets will be delayed because of a lack of staffing in the state. He also thanked the cafeteria workers for continuing services while being short staffed;

— The board named substitute personnel, including Cameren Grodhaus, teacher; Megan Jenkins, cafeteria worker; Robert Jarvis, custodian; and Stephanie Lang, paraprofessional;

— Leaders approved supplemental staff for 2025-2026 school year, including Jimmy Malone, boys’ golf coach; Alexis Rhodes, junior varsity volleyball coach; Kya McCulley and Rylee Mellott, junior high volleyball coaches; Nikki Kellogg, high school cheerleading coach; Diana Baker, junior high cheerleading coach; Richard Sloan, junior high football coach; Charles McCulley, JV baseball coach; and Lester Scott McNeil, volunteer track coach;

— The board approved a freshman class trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo, Raising Canes and PNC Ballpark on May 22, a PBIS field trip to Kennywood Park on May 27 and a biology class field trip to the National Aviary in Pittsburgh on May 28;

— Officials approved continuing contracts for Ashley Farnsworth, Kenadee Pezzano, Alannah Smith and Fernando DeChellis; approved a limited contract for Taylor Gauntt; employed Morgan Pallo as school psychologist and Christina Dentz as occupational therapist on two-year contracts; and employed Mary Craig as a three-hour cafeteria worker and John Farnsworth as an evening custodian, both at SLHS;

— The board set the next regularly scheduled meeting for May 13 at 6 p.m. in the SLHS Media Center.