CHAMPION Principal gets leeway to pass 4th-graders

CHAMPION -- The school board voted Monday to allow the principal of Central Elementary School discretion to pass fourth-graders who fail the state proficiency reading tests by no more than seven points.
The decision was reached after board president Jack Mahan investigated the standards being used by neighboring districts Southington, Newton Falls and Maplewood.
"Our policy has been much stiffer," Mahan said. "We wanted to be more in line with the other schools that surround us."
Elementary Principal Cheryl Kirk could not be reached.
Media center repairs
The board announced it is accepting bids to repair the foundation in the media center.
This is the third set of repairs needed to solve problems that have plagued the school since it was built.
The problems were traced to the type of fill that was used under the building.
The board estimates this phase of foundation repairs will cost $200,000.
Fred Kunar, former principal of Columbiana High School, has been hired as Champion High School principal. He'll begin his duties in August.