Howland schools forms new panel to reach out to community

Staff report

WARREN

A superintendent’s council of 34 parents of Howland students, parents of former Howland students and other community members has signed on to help the school district reach out to the community.

Superintendent Kevin Spicher said the group will serve as “ambassadors” to communicate changes and changes considered in the district.

“When a levy comes down the pike, we don’t want to quickly assemble a committee,” Spicher said. “We will always have a committee.”

Spicher said the school district wants to move forward on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; robotics and other changes, and it needs people to provide “two-way communication” with the community.

Putting information in a newsletter or on the school website isn’t enough, he said.

Committee members Vivian McGarrity, a 1985 Howland graduate who taught in Boardman schools for 20 years, said she sees the committee’s goal as “creating the best school district possible. How can you not want to get involved in that?”

Tina Cook, who is participating with her husband, Chris, said the committee is part of a new “open-door” attitude in the school district that has occurred since Spicher became superintendent at the start of the year. Spicher is a 1986 Howland graduate.

“We are good, but we want to be so much better,” said Maria Krispinsky, former Howland High School principal and wife of former district Treasurer Tom Krispinsky.