EAST LIVERPOOL — East Liverpool High School French and Spanish teachers Amy Smith and Shoshana Fineman requested the board’s approval during Thursday’s meeting to meet and discuss with travel agencies plans for students to travel abroad to France and Costa Rica in 2025. The cost of the trips will average between $3,000 and $3,500 per student and the students will fundraise to earn the money.

Board members gave their approval for the teachers to hold meetings to further discuss the trips.

Superintendent Jonathan Ludwig addressed the district’s attendance and noted that there has been an increase of over 3 percent in attendance and the district will continue working to increase that even more.

The board with an all-in favor vote accepted the treasurer’s report including financial reports & appropriations resolution and amended certificate, cash summary, cash received reports for September 2023 and approved disbursement & receipt report for September 2023, along with certificate and final appropriations.

The board also approved the treasurer’s recommendations to approve the Electric Audit Project Agreement with Yankel and Associates Inc. and Ohio Schools Council, the renewal of the partnership with Jefferson Health Plan as the third-party administrator for the Self Insurance Fund, and the renewal of Planned Service Agreement with Johnson Controls to provide fire protection maintenance at each building.

Under personnel the board approved the resignation of Marsha Pridemore, two-hour cafe aide at Westgate.

New hires approved include Alicia Pot, 3.5-hour food service staff at LaCroft at a salary of $13.77 per hour; Becky Tice, 2-hour food service staff at North at $13.77 per hour; Crista Collins, 2-hour food service staff at LaCroft at $13.77 per hour; Charles Higgins, custodian at North at $15.41 per hour; Amanda Estell, 1:1 paraprofessional for winter sport athlete at $15.08 per hour.

Substitutes approved include Paula Miller, substitute paraprofessional; Melissa Ollis and Judith Hall, food service/ custodian/crossing guard/ secretary; approved as volunteers were Jan Stover and Pat Will as a volunteer Jr/Sr high choir/spring musical.

Additional hires approved were Mary Davis, softball varsity assistant at a salary of $2,344.84; Jennifer Ludwig, equipment manager spring at a salary of $2,287.86; Jonathan Ludwig, baseball reserve at a salary of $1,788.47; Ryan Burso, softball varsity at a salary of $3,661.43; William Miller, track varsity boys at a salary of $3,661.43; Denver Chisom, track varsity assistant boys at a salary of $2,344.84; Derek Drinnon, track (MS) boy at a salary of $2,205.72; Elizabeth Connor, track (MS) assistant boys at a salary of $2,066.58; Brian Grant, track (MS) girls at a salary of $2,039.50; Jennifer Ludwig, STEM North Elementary advisor at a salary of $466.01; Brian May, baseball (varsity) at a salary of $3,661.43; Mikayla Reed, basketball (7th grade girls) at a salary of $2,795.65; Patricia Reynolds, basketball (8th grade girls) at a salary of $2,767.98; Ralph Galeoti, basketball (7th grade boys) at a salary of $2,767.98 and Brian Beverly, basketball ( 8th grade boys) at a salary of $3,023.50.

During the public portion of the meeting, parents of children in Little Potters Football requested that the team be brought under the boosters. The request will be discussed at the athletic committee meeting. Chef Ray Stephens along with his daughter requested the board members’ approval to paint Potter Pete on a wall inside their new restaurant Chef Ray’s Diamond Grill which recently opened in the downtown area. They were granted full approval from the board members. A representative of Austin’s Army requested that the board allow him to organize a suicide awareness/prevention speaker for at the jr. high and high school for students which would also include community organizations present for informational purposes. The cost would be $3,000 for the speaker and asked the Board if the district could pay half. There is currently discussion happening between the organization and the high school on this.

The East Liverpool Board of Education meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the district administration building. The next regular meeting will be held on Nov. 16 due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.

kgarabrandt@mojonewsnews.com