Southern Local Board of Education added two new members during the Jan. 13 session with Jeremiah Cole and Liz Weston joining the panel, while Scott Hart and Frank Shagnot were respectively named board president and vice president. Pictured are, front from left, Jeremiah Cole, Liz Weston, Scott Hart, Frank Shagnot, Jean Pastore, Superintendent Tom Cunningham, and district Treasurer Greg Sabbato. (Submitted photo)

SALINEVILLE — The Southern Local Board of Education welcomed its newest members while also organizing for the new year.

Scott Hart and Frank Shagnot were elected president and vice president, respectively, while Jeremiah Cole and Liz Weston took the oath of office during the board’s organizational meeting on Jan. 13. Cole and Weston both said they were eager to serve the district and its students.

Cole was born and raised in Salineville but now resides in Highlandtown with his family, which includes wife Kailee and children, Kolton and Kori. He has ties to Southern Local as an alumnus and is a familiar face in the area as chief of the Highlandtown Volunteer Fire Department. After graduating from Southern Local High School in 1995, he received his paramedic certification from Eastern Gateway Community College and currently serves as general manager of LifeTeam EMS in East Liverpool. He has been involved with the fire department since 1998 and has acted as chief for the past eight years. In addition, he is president of the Columbiana County Fire Chiefs Association and chairperson of the Local Emergency Planning Committee.

He said his connection to the district inspired him to take an active role on the board.

“As a Southern Local alumnus, I wanted to step up and help lead the district on a path to success,” Cole added. “I feel that the district could do a better job communicating with our community and keep them informed on how it is performing academically, along with being good stewards of the taxpayers’ money. The goal is to produce well-rounded, level-headed, educated graduates that are prepared for life after high school. I feel optimistic about being elected and hope to help implement some change along with building on the programs already in place.”

Cole also encouraged district residents to attend school board sessions and get involved in the district.

Weston, of Wellsville, said she also wanted to give back to her alma mater and her community.

She graduated from Southern Local in 1996 and holds a degree in physical therapy, and she is currently employed at an outpatient clinic at East Liverpool City Hospital. Her family includes her husband and two children–all of whom are tied to Southern Local Schools as past and current students–and said joining the board was a new experience.

“This is my first time holding a political office,” Weston added. “I wanted to represent the parents of Southern Local. I’m excited about representing my community to the best of my ability.”

Among other matters:

— The board approved operational matters for 2026;

— The board conducted a tax budget meeting, where district Treasurer Greg Sabbato said voters recently approved a 7.84-mill operational levy while old and new collections for permanent improvement levy funds and Classroom Facilities funding would help finance upcoming projects including a new playground surface for the first-and second-grade classes at the elementary school, the replacement of a section of flat roofing, and a parking lot paving project with lighting that are eyed for this summer;

— Officials held a record retention session to keep records for a three-year period from the date of the final financial report;

— Board member Jean Pastore was named legislative liaison to the Ohio School Boards Association Annual Conference and student achievement liaison for 2026;

— Leaders heard a series of reports from administrators, including a report of a brief fiber outage which affected internet service following the holiday break, projects set around the school property, and new software equipment for the special education classes;

— Indian Academy Director Eric Sampson said the online school included 89 students;

— Director of Student Services Kristy Sampson said a YOU Matter Here brainstorming session for stakeholders was set for Jan. 29 at 1 p.m. in the high school media center;

— Superintendent Tom Cunningham said the Columbiana County Educational Service Center’s Principal’s Collaborative wanted to coordinate with the national program Junior Achievement to offer career-based events for students at Eastwood Mall that would begin next year;

— Cunningham honored officials during School Board Recognition Month for January;

— The next regular session was scheduled for Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. at SLHS.