Board discusses new school year, introduces newest varsity sport

Staff report

AUSTINTOWN

A new varsity sports team and a call for hiring more nonteaching staff were topics in the first board of education meeting of the 2017-18 school year.

“This has been the best start we’ve had at Austintown schools,” Superintendent Vince Colaluca told the board Wednesday night.

The district is a month into a new school year, after last week’s reports of improvements in 16 areas on the 2016-2017 State Report Card issued by the Ohio Department of Education.

Jeremy Batchelor, assistant superintendent, said the grades show students are proficient and maintaining continual growth.

The board approved a motion to recognize the Boys and Girls Swimming and Diving club as a varsity sport. Colaluca said the motion was discussed years ago, and upon meeting the required number of members, the board would approve the club to become a varsity sport.

School administration made a call to hire more bus drivers for the district. Colaluca said there is a bus-driver shortage in school districts across the state.

Seth Welch, a Fitch High School senior, was recognized by the board for receiving the Veteran’s 2017 Citizen of the Year Award.