Fairless Board of Education reviews their staff survey
Julie Weyandt, director of curriculum for Fairless Local Schools, presented the results of a recent staff satisfaction survey during the board of education’s May 21 meeting. She said staff were asked 13 questions to rate, with a score of five representing strong agreement and the lowest score indicating disagreement.
Weyandt said 86% of staff reported feeling they had the tools and resources needed to teach effectively, and most other questions also received high satisfaction ratings.
Superintendent Michael Hearn reported 20 staff positions — both certified and classified — will not be replaced following retirements or reassignments. The board approved the reduction plan, which includes the elimination of a high school Spanish teaching position, one middle school and one elementary school teaching position, a high school tutorial role, two part-time coaching roles, six paraprofessional positions, a part-time technology support and curriculum support roles, summer programming and credit recovery, and reductions in district technology and curriculum supplemental services.
A revised agreement for library services also was included in the plan. These changes are expected to save the district approximately $652,000.
In other business the board approved the transfer of two unused baseball fields to their respective municipalities. The 1.39-acre field located on Third Avenue Southwest in Beach City and the 3.3-acre field on Lincoln Avenue Southwest in Brewster will be transferred for $1 each, as they are no longer needed for school purposes.
The board also approved a memorandum of agreement with the Massillon Public Library to provide library services at no cost to the district. While the district will cover utility costs and cleaning, the services themselves will be offered without additional fees.
In curriculum decisions, the board entered into an agreement with Savvas Learning Company to supply English/language arts curriculum for kindergarten through fifth grade at a cost of $171,000. It also approved an agreement with CPM to provide math curriculum for ninth grade through 12th grade at a cost of $17,417.
The board entered into two agreements with Pour Rite Concrete, one to repair piers at Brideweser Stadium at a cost of $2,745 and another to replace a failed sidewalk at the middle school at a cost of $37,800. In addition, it approved an agreement with Joe Little Excavating Inc. to repair and replace catch basins at the elementary school, Brideweser Stadium and the event parking lot at a cost of $17,875.
Personnel actions included the resignation of bus driver Tracy Hodge, effective May 31. Hodge was then rehired as a substitute bus driver, effective Aug. 19. The board granted one-year supplemental contracts to 34 certified employees and adopted a resolution to abolish two aide positions. Ten classified employees were given continuing contracts including instructional aides, cooks, a bus driver and a custodian.
A summer services contract was approved with the Stark County Educational Service Center June 3 to Aug. 9 at no cost to the district. One-year certified contracts were granted to 37 employees while continuing contracts were issued to Chad Pfeiffer, a high school intervention specialist; Kari Miller, a fifth grade English/language arts teacher; and Kristine Twigg, a middle school intervention specialist. The board also granted 26 one-year probationary classified contracts for the 2025-26 school year.
The board recognized Brewster Moose Lodge #1102, Kraus’ Pizza of Navarre, Shanklin Heating and Cooling, and Chevrolet GMC of Millersburg with Ohio School Boards Association Business Honor Roll awards for their support of local education.
The next regular board meeting will be held June 18 at 6:15 p.m. at the high school. A special meeting is scheduled for June 27 at 7:30 a.m. at the board office, 800 Seventh St., Brewster.