Tuesday, January 11, 2005
A Frank Ohl music instructor received a $2,000 grant.
AUSTINTOWN -- The township board of education approved a commendation for Fitch High School teacher Greg Wilson and saluted Frank Ohl vocal music instructor Cherie Stebner at its regular meeting Monday at Watson Elementary School.
Atty. Brad Gessner, who was elected board president during the organizational meeting preceding the regular meeting, presented Wilson, an industrial technology teacher, with a resolution selecting him by the International Technology Education Association as the Outstanding High School Technology Teacher in the state. Wilson also will receive the Teacher Excellence Award at the ITEA annual conference in Kansas City, Mo., on April 4.
Stebner, who is a volunteer at Frank Ohl and is the school's hand bell coordinator, was presented a $2,000 grant from Johnson Controls Corp. to be used to buy music equipment for her classes.
"Every quarter, our company gives away a quarter of a million dollars," said Edward Dunkerley Jr., Johnson Controls Austintown branch manager. "A lot of people we tell to apply for the grants, but a lot don't take the time to actually follow up. Cheri took the time and effort to apply for a grant and wrote a very excellent piece. We're located in Austintown, and we like to be part of the community, and this was a great way for us to be part of it."
The board also accepted the resignation of Frank Ohl vocal music teacher Garry Adair.
"We're very proud of the things he's done and accomplished in his 30 years with the music department," said Superintendent Stanley Watson.
Q & amp;A session
A question-and-answer session followed the agenda, with students and parents voicing concerns on several topics.
Two Fitch students and concerned parents questioned the board about the possibility of the district's eliminating certain academic classes, including German and other foreign languages at the high school. The students said teachers and administration told them that two languages would be cut. Gessner and Director of Instruction Ann Marie Hiznay emphasized that the board has not been informed of any such measures.
Cindy Smaldino, who addressed the board as a representative of the varsity and junior varsity volleyball players' parents, said she as concerned about the coaching staff and the program's direction. Board member Michael Creatore said the board would address these concerns during executive session at the next meeting, at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at Davis Elementary.
Watson Elementary Principal James Carchedi told the board that pupils are donating money to be sent to younger tsunami victims in South Asia. He said that the school hopes to raise $500 to $700.
Earlier during the organizational meeting, the board elected Dr. David Ritchie as vice president, appointed Creatore as the legislative liaison with the Ohio School Board Association and named board member Joyce Pogany as student achievement liaison.
What else
In other business, the board:
UAccepted resignations from Nancy Colantone, Fitch custodian; Kenneth Kilpatrick, Fitch girls assistant track coach; Neal Kopp, Fitch boys assistant track coach; and John Williams, freshman girls basketball coach.
UAppointed Debra Infante as a two-hour playground paraprofessional at Lynn Kirk Elementary School.
UApproved the employment of Carrie Lewis as special education tutor.
UApproved one-year supplemental contracts for Tracy Mackovick, Frank Ohl lead teacher, and Andrea Dixon as boys assistant tennis coach for the 2004-05 school year.
UApproved Elementary Enrichment program coordinators Andrew Bakes (Davis and Lloyd); Stephanie Hahlen (Lynn Kirk); James Carchedi (Watson); and Adam Leskanic (Woodside).