Plans for school-owned land to curb flooding

Two teachers got 500 educational grants from FirstEnergy Corp.
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN -- MS Consultants revealed its plans for water detention systems on two pieces of property owned by Boardman schools.
The plans call for underground systems at both properties. The system, made of connected pipes lined up side by side, temporarily stores water during a rainfall and then drains it down the street, explained Gary Diorio of MS Consultants, Inc.
Using underground systems allows the property above to be used for other purposes, such as play areas, Diorio said at Tuesday's board meeting. This is particularly important for the Market Street School project. The other location is a lot and a half on Westview Drive.
Diorio expects the Westview Drive work to be completed in 30 to 45 days. The Market Street School project will be finished in 60 days.
Approval expected
The board is expected to approve the plan at its next regular meeting on Dec. 18.
"I don't think we have any objection to the project," said Mark Fulks, board president.
The projects are part of the Boardman trustees' plan to curb flooding issues in the township. The school district became involved when the township wanted to work on the two properties owned by the district. The township is using state and local money for flood control projects.
Grants given
Also at Tuesday's meeting, Karen Fox, a First Energy Corp. representative, presented Karen Ferguson and Jeannie Riser each with 500 grants from the company.
"I'm very admiring of the excellent teaching they do in their classrooms," Fox said. "They're excellent educators. Both of them have the students so involved."
Ferguson, a Stadium Drive Elementary School teacher, plans to use the grant for a Study Ohio Species project to promote identification of Ohio wildlife.
The money will enable Riser to build model rollercoasters with her eighth-grade physics students at Center Middle School.
"It's something they have to build, and they enjoy it," Riser said. "It ties in everything I teach all year long."
Both teachers have received the grant several years in a row.