Columbiana school board tackles long list of agenda items

The Columbiana Envirothon team from Colleen Campbell’s Conservation Science will represent Columbiana High School at the state competition at Hocking College June 3-5. Team members are, from left, Daniel Goehring, Katie Campbell, Donovan Waselich, Dylan Hogan, and Anthony Gaglione. (Courtesy of Columbiana Schools)

COLUMBIANA — The Columbiana Board of Education congratulated the spring sports teams and student participation in an outdoor regional science competition and tackled several agenda items during Tuesday’s school board meeting.

In April, students making up two teams from Colleen Campbell’s Conservation Science class traveled to Kidron to compete in the Area 2 Envirothon — an environmental and natural resources conservation problem-solving leadership experience and academic competition for high school students. The students took tests that focused on soils, forestry, aquatics, wildlife, and current environmental issues. One team — Daniel Goehring, Katie Campbell, Donovan Waselich, Dylan Hogan, and Anthony Gaglione — placed fourth out of 43 and advanced to state Envirothon where they will represent Columbiana at Hocking College June 3-5.

The team of Noah Benner, Santino Gaglione, Alaina Johnston, Maria Malcomson, and Adalyn Quigley placed 15th overall.

The students told the board that the challenge gave them the opportunity to take tests in a different environment while putting their problem-solving skills and teamwork abilities to work.

The district’s high school and junior high spring athletic teams (baseball, softball and boys and girls track) made history by winning all spring EOAC championships.

“Looking back, no one can recall a clean sweep by the high school and the junior high teams,” Superintendent Donald Mook said. “And it was in thrilling fashion. It came down to the last races. Both track teams had to win the 4×400 relay events and they pulled it out. It was a clean sweep for the Clips and just a great accomplishment.”

In agenda matters, the board considered 21 items. Among them were several personnel items. The items included the approval of Anthony Grega as head boys soccer coach, additions to the custodial staff, one year contracts for 26 certified employees, nine pupil activity program volunteers, a continual teaching contract for Jofran Graham, Brie Little as an administrative assistant two long-term substitutes and a $500 stipend for the school nurse Leslie Costal and the district’s wellness and health activities. Five resignations were accepted.

In finance and contract matters, contracts with the Columbiana County Educational Service Center and for student accident insurance through Mills-Holloway Insurance were approved. The 5-year forecast and assumptions was submitted and approved as was a contract with the Ohio State Auditor to provide annual financial statements for the fiscal year 2024-25.

The board also approved an addendum to the superintendent’s contract and held the first reading to new policies and procedures. The new polices changed or clarified 33 current bylaws.

selverd@mojonews.com