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School officials mourn fallen bus driver
By kristine Gill
The Austintown school board observed a moment of silence at its meeting for the substitute bus driver who died last week.
Jack Cabot, 62, of Canfield, died Nov. 12 while driving high school students to the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center in Canfield. Medical examiners said Cabot likely suffered a fatal heart attack.
“It’s always unfortunate to lose a member of our family, and we extend our sympathies to his family,” schools Superintendent Vince Colaluca said at Monday’s session.
Board Vice President Louis Chine commended the students riding Cabot’s bus for their swift action Friday.
“Our students handled the situation like champs,” Chine said, adding that students grabbed the steering wheel to avoid hitting other vehicles and helped each other off the bus.
The Cabot family will have calling hours at Borowski Memorial Home in Newton Falls from 1 to 4 p.m. today.
Also at the meeting, the board approved a motion to research pricing on the possible demolition of the old Austintown Middle School building at 5800 Mahoning Ave. The motion allows Mal Culp, supervisor of facilities and operations, to continue talks with Olsavsky-Jaminet Architects in Youngstown regarding demolition requirements, surveying and obtaining quotes to convert the property to a shovel-ready build site.
Culp said another resolution would have to be passed at a later meeting to finalize and approve demolition plans.
Culp also announced the approval of the Idaho Road project that would extend the road in front of Frank Ohl Intermediate School from Rhode Island Drive to New Road and add a new traffic light. Culp said it will alleviate some of the traffic problems there for the new buildings.
The board also approved the formation of a girls youth basketball camp for seventh- and eighth- graders. Registration for the camp will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Austintown Middle School. The cost is $40 per girl and includes 10 practices, a pizza party and participation in halftime games at the middle and high school.
“I think this is something we’ve been lacking for sometime,” said board President David Ritchie. “I hope there’s interest in it.”