The opening half of the May 17 Austintown Board of Education meeting saw board members paying honor to 29 businesses and 16 service organizations that played a part in helping the district move ahead with the construction of two new schools this year. A special pre-meeting luncheon was held for the concerns prior to the meeting, then the entities were honored with a presentation of a certificate that named each entity to the Ohio School Board Association’s 2011 honor roll.
“It shows appreciation for the ongoing support of this community’s public schools,” said board President Kathy Mock. “Your work and contributions have aided this community in focusing on the goals of providing the best public schools that we can for every child who attends them. We thank you.”
Following Mock’s opening speech, each of the honorees were mentioned one at a time and issued a certi?cate. The honorees included, from the business sector: Advanced Marketing, attorney Scott Cochran, Barry Dyngles Restaurant, Brilex Industries, Charley’s Family Restaurant, Coca-Cola Beverage, Coronado Steel, Dr. James Shina, Farmer’s National Bank, GBS Computer Systems, Gorants Yum Yum Tree, Greenwood Chevrolet, Home Savings and Loan, Joe D. Lane Foundation, Lucianna’s Cafe, Mashorda’s Country Garden, O’Donald’s Restaurant, Oslavsky and Jaminet, Pizza Hut, quaker Steak and Lube, R-Ski Ranch, Sunrise Pizza, The Tribune Chronicle, Town Crier, The Vindicator, Wal-Mart, Wedgewood Pizza, Westgate Ford, and York Mahoning. Community service organizations honored included: AMS PTA, Austintown Junior Women’s League, Falcon Forward, Fitch PTA, Frank Ohl PTA, Austintown Kiwanis Club, Austintown Lions Club, Lloyd PTA, Lynn Kirk PTA, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Lariccia, Optimist Club, Austintown Rotary, Austintown Touchdown Club, Watson PTA and Woodside PTA.
On a different matter, Superintendent Vince Colaluca said Austintown schools were going to have class on May 20, which would have been a day off for students. “May 20 was a waiver day, but we are going to hold class,” Colaluca said, explaining that the day makes up for a calamity day that would have had to be served at the end of the school year. The last day of school will be June 3.
In other business:
• Resignations were accepted for Stacy L. Wayland, paraprofessional; Dennis Jasinski, assistant principal retiring after 16 years of service; Phyllis Messuri, teacher retiring after 32 years of service; Debra Blystone, teacher retiring after 35 years of service; and Elaine Moore, teacher retiring after 24 years of service.
• Transfers approved included: Bobbie Jo Smith from two-hour food service at AMS to 2.5-hour food service at Frank Ohl replacing Anne Hannis (10:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.) and to three-hour food service at Lynn Kirk replacing Rose Hartman (10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.)
• Leave of absence was approved for Andrea Lesko.
• Approval was given to employ the following tutors and long-term substitute teachers for the balance of the 2010-2011 school year: long term substitute teacher Brittany Baker; Maureen Miller; Mara Banfield; Elizabeth Walker and Lisa Costello.
• Approval was given for the following supplemental contracts: Stacie Cepin, Fitch head girls basketball; Jeff Wilson, Fitch assistant girls basketball; Brett Powell, Fitch wrestling; John Burd, Fitch assistant wrestling; Tim Walsh, Fitch head boys soccer; Brian Forgac, AMS assistant football (Blue); Andrew Scarmack, Summer School director; Robert Lape, AMS cross country; John Savage, AMS cross country; Richard Kemp, Fitch boys and girls cross country; Amy Diefenderfer, Fitch assistant boys and girls cross country; Carlo Trafficante, Fitch head girls soccer; Allison Jakubec, Fitch head volleyball; Jody Bartlett, AMS eighth-grade volleyball (Red); Dorothy DelBoccio, AMS eighth-grade volleyball (Blue); John Burd, AMS head football (Blue); Christopher Flauto, AMS assistant football (Blue); Seth Steiner, AMS head football (Red); Brad Clyde, AMS assistant football (Red); Tom Koniowsky, Fitch assistant freshman football; Andrew Scarmack, Fitch assistant freshman football; James Jerek, assistant girls basketball; Don Morrison, head girls bowling; Richard Skelton, head boys bowling; James Sullivan, freshman football; Lenoard Gessler, Fitch girls golf, Ed Santor, Fitch boys golf, Christina Farr, Fitch head cheerleading; Samantha Shaffer, freshman cheerleading; Breanna Haupt, AMS seventh-grade cheerleading (Red); Breanna Haupt, AMS eighth-grade cheerleading (Red); Carie Malinky, AMS seventh-grade cheerleading (Blue); Carie Malinky, AMS eighth-grade cheerleading (Blue); Doug Shaffer, Fitch assistant boys soccer; Ernie Yacovone, Fitch assistant boys freshman soccer; Tex Martin, Fitch assistant girls soccer; John Breedlove, Fitch assistant girls freshman soccer; Stephen Mohn, Fitch assistant volleyball; Julia Walker, Fitch assistant freshman volleyball; Lorie Gessler, Fitch drill team advisor; John Elliot, Fitch assistant football; Doug Barnhart, Fitch assistant football; Alan Mikovich, Fitch assistant football; Nico Mancuso, Fitch co-assistant football; Edward Rankin, Fitch co-assistant football; and Jerry Bruff, assistant athletic director (AMS).
• The following supplemental positions will be filled pending enrollment and participation of a sufficent number of players to field a team or squad: Amanda Fryda, Fitch assistant girls tennis, pending enrollment of at least 14; and Amy Dolsak, Fitch ninth-grade girls basketball, pending enrollment of at least 12.
• The board agreed to employ the following: Gary Ostrander, athletic equipment manager; Ellen Kosa, ticket manager; and Megan Fabis, AMS intramural danceline (Red).
• Approved athletic volunteers included. Marty Sharisky, Boys Bowling; Dino Balkin, girls bowling; and Joseph McMahon, football.
• Approval was given for the Fitch French club to travel to Pittsburgh on the Gateway Clipper on May 25 for an after-school activity. This trip is self-funded and no days of school will be missed.
• Youth camps were approved for the 2011 Falcon Basketball Day Camp to be held June 20 to 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Fitch gymnasium for boys entering grades four to seven at a total cost of $40.
• The list of 2011 summer school teachers pending adequate enrollment numbers, favorable background checks and valid teaching credentials was approved for the following: Ashley Wallace, Stacey Banko, Kari Knight, Amanda Krygowski, Jeff Swavel, Dorothy DelBoccio, Kelli Sylvester, Amanda Fryda, Sandra Thorndike, Nannette Tibolla, Melissa Crump, Allison Jakubec, Amanda Neal, James Fedor, Ashley LeManna, Anthony Parker, Julie Mayer, Carla Collins, Brittany Baker, Christine Davis, Kara Lemke, Kristine Warga, Amanda Nims, Kristin Havaich, Alexis White, Sarah Whitten, LeeAnn Burns, and Carrine Esenwein.
• Approval was given for additional summer hours for the following special education personnel: Peggy Gannoa, Sandra Thorndike, and Cheryl Gennaro.
• The board approved the recommendation to reinstate five teaching positions that were eliminated at the April 25, 2011 board meeting based on student enrollment numbers.
• Approval was given to reinstate four bus driving positions that were eliminated at the April 25, 2011 board meeting based on need.
• The board approved the recommendation to rescind the reduction-in-force of Melissa Janis, art teacher from the April 25, 2011 board meeting based on need.
• The board agreed to award continuing contracts for the following teachers: Jodi Baylor, Seth Steiner, Stephanie Camardese, Antonetta Malvestuto, April King, Jerry Bruff and Paul Farr.
• Approval was given for the recommendation to award the appropriate limited contract to non-teaching employees for which they are entitled according to the adopted negotiated agreement effective with the start of the 2011-12 school year.
• A continued collaboration with the University of Akron College of Education to provide sites for student teaching and other field-based teacher education experiences for students enrolled in the university's College of Education was approved.
• Approval was given to participate in the Power4Schools Electric Program with First Energy, which will enable the district to take advantage of savings on energy costs through fixed price offers when available.
• The board approved the Fitch High School class of 2011 subject to their completion of all requirements. Commencement will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 4 in the Fitch gymnasium.
• Approved was the recommendation authorizing continued membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association for the 2011-12 school year.
• The board agreed to continue the building use contract with Wee Care Day Care to provide before and after school day care at our elementary and intermediate school buildings during the 2011-12 school year.
• The board approved to employ the following part-time school nurses for the 2011-12 school year: Kelly Burns, Woodside; Kelly Kist, Lynn Kirk; Trescia Heacock, Lloyd; and Patricia Baker, Watson.
• Approval was given to employ the following auxiliary staff at St. Joseph/Immaculate Heart of Mary for the 2011-12 school year: Alice Durda, materials clerk; Elaine Konya, Title 1-math; Rosemary Tyrell, Title 1 reading; Barbara Valentine, Title 1 remedial reading; Debra Thomas, therapeutic clerk; and Janice Drabison, school nurse.
• The board approved to employ the following Channel 19 ACTV help for the summer months of June, July, and August 2011: Trevor Mauch, Brandon Good, and Justin Vinkler on as-needed basis.
• Approval was given to re-employ the following retire/rehire personnel for the 2011-12 school year as follows: Carol Poulton, family and consumer science teacher at Austintown Middle School; Anthony Russo, principal at Lynn Kirk Elementary; and Jerry Wecht, head maintenance.
• Approve the 2011 Summer School remedial and intervention programs for Austintown students.
•The board approved the recommendation to participate in the Summer Fun Camp program for Austintown Local School students in first through third grades for summer 2011. The camp will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 1 through 11 at Woodside Elementary. A registration fee of $20 will be charged.
• Approval was given to participate in the pre-kindergarden enhancement program, Success by Six, for summer 2011. The program is funded through a grant from United Way for $18,000. The Success by Six program will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. July 25 to Aug. 11 at Woodside Elementary.
