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Senators laud Austintown schools
By Kristine Gill
AUSTINTOWN
School board members, administrators and teachers posed for photos with special guests at the first board meeting of the new year.
State Sen. Joseph Schiavoni, D-33rd, and state Rep. Ronald Gerberry, D-59th, attended the meeting to congratulate the district for receiving an “Excellent” rating from the state this year, for the first time.
“I went to Boardman, so don’t get mad at me off the bat,” said Schiavoni, of Canfield, “but you guys are really doing it right here ... It gives me hope in our area.”
Gerberry, of Austintown, is a Fitch High School graduate. He served on the school board 29 years ago.
“You know, and I understand what a great accomplishment this is,” he said. “I thank you for the good job that you do and the good job you will continue to do.”
Superintendent Vince Colaluca said the real work will be maintaining that status and thanked his staff for its work so far.
“We just wanted to let the community know what an unbelievable accomplishment we’ve achieved ... It’s a team effort and everyone together deserves this recognition.” Colaluca said.
Banners and plaques were presented to each school and the board of education. Michael Gbury, a senior at Fitch High School, made the plaques out of old desktops in his industrial technology class headed by Sean Irwin.
Also at the meeting, school board member Kathy Mock was named president of the board. She taught for 30 years in Lordstown before coming to Austintown. She is beginning her second year on the board.
She takes the place of David Ritchie who has served as school board president for 15 years, though not consecutively.
“Kathy will do a great job, and we’re looking forward to a great year,” Ritchie said.
Louis Chine was re-elected school board vice president.
The next board meeting is 6 p.m. Feb. 15 at Austintown Middle School.