Austintown school board prepares for school year, reflects on energy savings

Staff report

AUSTINTOWN

Schools Superintendent Vincent Colaluca touted the effectiveness of energy-saving efforts in the district.

An energy-saving effort by the district will save the schools about $1.5 million over five years, board of education members were told during Tuesday’s meeting. The number now exceeds $1 million, Colaluca said.

The savings come from a 2013 deal made with Cenergistic, an energy conservation company based in Dallas.

“We’ve had the support of teachers and staff in making this campus energy efficient in and out of the classroom,” said Rebecca Shrake of Cenergistic.

In other business it was noted that effective July 1, Ohio House Bill 14 enacts a measurement of student truancy, or absence, by hours in schools. This means the Austintown school district will be following this rule in the coming school year.

The district will be required to establish an absence intervention team when a student’s truancy is in excess. This measurement will include tardiness.

Handwritten notes from parents will no longer be considered excused absences. The board asked parents to review the new bill and the rest of the district’s policies in the student handbook.

Austintown schools’ Success by Six summer program saw the highest participation yet, at 105 children enrolled.

The board approved a number of actions in anticipation of the coming school year. Classes resume Aug. 28.