SCHOOLS Boardman board approves raises for 5 staff members

The new contracts run through 2008.
BOARDMAN -- School board members have unanimously approved new pacts with five members of the district's administrative and supervisory staff.
The new three-year deals mean a roughly 2.9 percent pay increase for the 2005-06 school year for Anthony Alvino, Glenwood Middle School principal; Donald Robinson, West Boulevard Elementary principal; Timothy Saxton, high school principal; David Smercansky, athletics director; Robert Wright, supervisor of technology; and Jack Zocolo, coordinator of special education and student services.
The pay for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years has not been determined.
"All of these people have been evaluated twice this year," said Superintendent Frank Lazzeri at a board meeting Tuesday.
The contracts run through the 2008 school year.
Alvino, who will earn $81,627 in the 2004-05 school year, will earn about $83,995 next school year. Robinson, who earns $70,258 this year, will earn $72,295 next year; and Saxton, who earns $76,472 this year, will earn $78,689 in the 2005-06 school year.
Smercansky earns $66,913, which will increase to $68,853 next year. Wright earns $66,978 and will earn $68,921 in the first year of the new contract. Zocolo earns $70,258 and will make $72,295 next year.
Retirement approved
Board members also approved the retirement, effective June 30, of Jane Howells, principal at Robinwood Lane Elementary School since 1996.
Before becoming principal, Howells taught at West Boulevard Elementary and was assistant principal at Boardman Center Middle School.
"She will be sorely missed," Lazzeri said. "She brought Robinwood Lane to some of the best proficiency scores in the district. I did try to talk her out of retiring, but to no avail."
Board members also plan to discuss with legal counsel a request by the Little Spartans football organization to construct a building on school property.
The proposed 40-by-60-foot building would replace a trailer. The organization of 6- to-12-year-old football players would raise the money for the building and pay the utility bills, said Dave Matz, organization president.
The building would house a concession facility and store equipment.
Matz said the organization hopes to have it completed within a year.