EAST LIVERPOOL — The East Liverpool City Schools Board of Education announced during Thursday’s meeting it will be holding a special board meeting on Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Westgate Administration Building to discuss the district’s five-year forecast.

According to board President David Hamilton, the finance committee will meet prior to the board meeting to discuss the forecast. He added the district could be in the red by the third year.

Superintendent Jonathan Ludwig told the board members that it has been a busy but strong start to the school year and that some of the items he wanted to highlight was the improvements on the state report card for the district.

Ludwig noted that the district increased to three stars on the report card.

“We are happy that we had growth, but we are not going to continue to be status quo,” Ludwig said. “We are going to continue to do what we can do to get better, and that is very important. We have outlined how we are going to do that and now it’s sticking to the plan and doing what we said we are going to do and being persistent and insistent with what we expect.”

Ludwig also noted in a media release at the board meeting that the district is continuing to drive improvement forward by continuing the MyView Curriculum, partnering with Read Ohio Coach and Eastern ESC, new ninth through 12th grade curriculum obtained through a CLSD grant, CLSD funded literacy coaches in fifth through 12th grade, high dosage tutoring, extended through sixth grade, strengthened K-12 interventions, after-school Potter Tutoring Network support, leveraging IXL and MAP growth for personalized instruction, expanding early warning systems for graduation readiness, ParentSquare/social media spotlights, growing STEM and robotics at the elementary schools and more.

Ludwig also said that 90 fifth graders attended Camp Fitch and congratulated Career Technical Education (CTE) noting that East Liverpool’s CTE programs are rated among the best in Ohio earning an overall five-star rating on the 2024-2025 report card with 88% technical skills obtained; 98.7% graduation rate; 50% of students earning a 12-point industry credential and 100% status known rate.

He also noted expanding the Westgate student exposure to the CTE programs.

During the finance portion of the meeting, board members approved the financial reports, appropriations resolutions, amended certificate, the cash summary/cash received report and disbursement and receipt report as presented to them.

Board members also approved a resolution for the district to advertise for and receive bids for the purchase of up to four school bus chassis and bodies. The district is requesting to participate and authorize the Ohio Schools Council to advertise and receive bids on behalf of the board per the specifications submitted for the cooperative purchase of the school bus chassis and bodies.

During the personnel portion of the meeting board members approved the resignation of Allison Zanders, food service at LaCroft, effective Aug. 22; Kobe Allen, bus aid effective Sept. 5, and Mikayla Reed, basketball (8th grade girls).

Board members approved the hiring of multiple classified substitutes, classified personnel, supplemental employees, classified appointments, administrative appointments and volunteers.

There was no old or new business.

The athletic and personnel committees will meet on Nov. 20.

Board Member Mario Hernandez noted the Fawcett Foundation did not have its September meeting and anticipates one being held in October and possibly the announcement of scholarships in November.

The East Liverpool Board of Education typically meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Westgate Administration Building. The board will hold a special meeting on Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. to discuss the district’s five-year forecast and a regular meeting Oct. 23.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com