Official honored for her service

CHAMPION -- School board member Peigi Tracey became one of only two board officials state-wide to receive the Ohio Educational Service Centers Board Member Leadership Award on Monday night at the Champion Board of Education meeting.
Tracey was nominated by Champion schools superintendent Pamela Hood for outstanding service to their school and community. Hood said sometimes there are as many as 25 awards given to Ohio board members, but this year there were only two.
She went on to explain that the award is not based on a competition, and any board member can receive the award if he or she is nominated.
"They are the sort of unsung heroes of the community," Hood said. "They do a lot of work, and there aren't many avenues to honor them."
Hood said Tracey was nominated because of work she has done with 4H and with school fund-raising efforts.
In other business, the board approved a nine-hour assault leave for high school English teacher Jennifer Skowron in connection with an episode with a student in mid-November. The student was disciplined, and the teacher suffered a minor injury from which she had to seek help at the doctor's office, school officials explained.
The board also approved the appropriation of a State Student Intervention grant in the amount of $35,489.79.
Treasurer Brian Gillespie said the grant is used to obtain additional help for pupils, so they are better prepared for proficiency tests.