COLUMBIANA CO. SCHOOLS Officials to renew pact involving lice program

County employees who use their personal vehicles for business will be reimbursed at a higher rate.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- A program intended to reduce and treat lice in Columbiana County schools will continue.
Commissioners agreed Wednesday to renew a contract between the county job and family services department and the health department to provide lice screening, treatment and education.
The program targets pupils in kindergarten through sixth grade.
School districts typically send pupils with lice home until the infestation is over. County officials were unable to immediately say how many school days are missed.
Contract's cost: The one-year contract has a cost ceiling of $30,000, all of which will be federally funded. It replaces a six-month contract from January.
Commissioners approved a 3-percent pay raise for Jay Carter, director of the county's emergency management agency. They noted that Carter, who earned about $34,000 annually before the increase, had not had a raise in about three years. County employees who use their personal vehicles for county business will be reimbursed more for that usage.
Commissioners agreed to increase the mileage rate from 22 to 29 cents a mile. The increase is the first in years, commissioners said, and is intended to reflect higher gasoline prices.
Commissioner Dave Cranmer estimated that the county spends less than $5,000 annually in mileage costs. The increase is expected to add a few hundred dollars to that amount, he said.