Falcon sculpture moved to new school
Fairless Board of Education recognized several individuals for service to the district during the Aug. 20 meeting held in the high school. They were Connie Horton, executive secretary, 30 years; Melissa Evans-Knop, Jennifer Holland-Natoli, Carol Tressel, Tim Vick and Jayne Wall, certified staff, 25 years; and teacher Jennifer Best, secretary Cheryl Haswell and bus driver Gail Indorf, 20 years. All received certificates and will be recognized on the Belloni Wall of Excellence in the high school.
According to Fairless Superintendent Michael Hearn, a soaring falcon sculpture that was mounted on the front of the former high school was moved to the main hall of the new high school. The metal sculpture was constructed in 2013 in the welding class at RG Drage Technical School by former students Scott Burdge and Philip Lautzenheiser. The Fairless High School letters were original to the former high school and manufactured in 1966 and are located below the soaring falcon.
In another matter the board approved a resolution to expand employment of substitute teachers to include substitute teachers who do not hold a post-secondary degree but must be of good moral character, have completed all required criminal background checks, and obtained a valid temporary nonbachelor’s degree substitute teaching license or preservice teacher permit issued by the Ohio Department of Education and workforce to serve in the district.
The board also did the following:
—Accepted the resignations of Janice Messenheimer-Courtney, teacher and supplemental contracts, effective June 1, 2024, for retirement; Tammy Miller, paraprofessional, and Ashley Skelton, cook, both effective Aug. 1; Chris Jones, fall drama assistant; and Lindsie Newtz, second-grade team leader.
—Recognized Shaun Banks for his Eagle Scout project at the school. He built benches for the picnic area at the new high school.
—Accepted a donation of $500 for food service needs.
—Appointed board member Ken Killian as the Ohio School Boards Association delegate at the capital conference in November.
—Entered into an agreement between ArtsinStark and the district for the Sm Arts partnership grant.
—Gave approval to transportation routes and bus routes for the 2024-25 school year.
—Entered into an agreement with Silco Fire and Security for fire monitoring and security at a cost not to exceed $1,320 per building.
—Gave approval to a set rate of pay for approved certified substitute teachers at $100 per day for the 2024-25 school year.
—Approved an agreement with Savvas for McGruder government curriculum for freshman at a cost not to exceed $20,000.
—Agreed to additional training for Jamie Webb, math teacher, for discrete math/computer science and algebra II for the 2024-25 school year.
—Approved Luke Gill and Erin Moir as temporary certified substitute teachers and Mary Hammel as a permanent certified substitute and part-time teacher as needed for the 2024-25 school year.
—Gave approval to six one-year probationary contracts for classified staff.
—Approved one-year certified contracts for Chase Jeffries and Curtis Tinlin, certified tutors, and Amelia White, permanent certified teacher.
—Issued a one-year certified contract for Jayla Seery, elementary physical education teacher, for the 2024-25 school year.
—Granted one-year supplemental contracts to Christine Giauque and Adam Amato, both resident educator mentors; Leah Byers, team leader, special education; Kassidy Swiger, second-grade lead teacher; Ashley Schott, reserve girls basketball; Joshua Witting, assistant golf boys and girls; Stone Scott, assistant varsity boys basketball; and Chad Butcher, media department chair.
—Granted one-year supplemental contracts to nonteachers Jordan Jennings, volunteer boys basketball; Austin Wright, assistant boys soccer coach; and Mary Hammel and Janice Messenheimer-Courtney, high school year book advisers.
The next meeting will be held Sept. 17 at 6:15 p.m. at 800 Seventh St. in Brewster.