LISBON — The Lisbon school board recently hired Emily Long as the new Special Education Coordinator to replace longtime Special Education Coordinator Lynne Beech, who’s retiring at the end of this school year.

“Emily was our choice. She knows the district,” Superintendent Joe Siefke said.

Long is a graduate of Lisbon David Anderson High School and resides in Lisbon with her husband Barry and their three children. Their oldest already graduated from Lisbon DAHS.

Long has eight years with the district, where she’s been serving as a special education teacher in grades K-2 at McKinley Elementary School, and has 21 years of total experience.

Siefke said she’s working now with Beech, saying he wanted her to spend some time with her before school’s out. He said she’s very familiar with the staff and the kids and said “she’ll do a wonderful job.”

Earlier this year, Beech’s pending retirement was approved by the board. He said she did a wonderful job. With her husband, Andy, already retired, she’s ready to retire now, too. Siefke said she was part of the interview process for her replacement. The job was advertised both inside and outside the district and there were five or six candidates. She oversaw 14 special education teachers in the district.

“She’s leaving the department in great shape,” Siefke said.

Long’s teaching position has been posted internally. The board approved a three-year administrative contract for Long that takes effect Aug. 1, 2026 and goes through July 31, 2029.

In other business, the board approved contracts for open enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year with multiple districts for six students from Beaver Local, three students from Salem City, two students each from United Local, Southern Local, Leetonia and East Palestine and one student each from Columbiana, East Liverpool and Brunswick.

The board accepted several generous donations from the community, including $525 from the Lisbon VFW to support the DAHS sixth grade field trip to the McKinley National Memorial in Canton, and the following donations to support the McKinley Elementary fifth grade students attending Camp-Kon-O -Kwee, with $300 from Almost Perfect Foundation, $150 from Cantina 70; and $600 each from Lisbon VFW and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Siefke said the district appreciated the donations.

The board also: approved an addendum to the one-year contract for cafeteria meal service to the Board of Developmental Disabilities for the 2025-2026 school year; approved a contract with LLA Therapy beginning July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027; approved second and third readings of NEOLA policies; approved the high school Honors Buildings Club trip through Century Tours, Inc. to New York City for Grades 6-8 on May 18-20; approved the Holloway Insurance Agency to provide Student Accident Insurance for the 2026-2027 school year; and approved a contract between Lisbon and Leetonia school districts for transportation of a Leetonia student.

In personnel matters, the board: issued one-year limited classified contracts to preschool aides Marcia Lewis and Kayla Barnes; issued two-year limited classified contracts to cafeteria workers Anita Adkins, Brandi Gregg, Erin Latimer and Louella Pezzano, aides Richard Cole, Kristen Kemp and Jill Thompson, secretaries Donna Cook and Katrina Wallace, nurses office Robin Hoperich and custodians Robert Naughton and Austin Urquhart; issued continuing classified contracts to aide Judy Darcy and bus driver Anne May; approved seasonal custodians for the summer of Deona Lange, Erin Latimer, Angela Smith and Marcus Miller; and adjusted the salary schedule due to degree advancement for certificated staff member, Gretchen Kaliay, Masters +15.

There was also a student spotlight for the McKinley First Grade Donut Shop.

The next meeting of the school board will be 5 p.m. May 14.

mgreier@mojonews.com