LISBON - The Columbiana County Educational Service Center Governing Board welcomed a new member Monday.

Laura Nappi, who resides in the Crestview School District, attended her first board meeting as the replacement for former ESC board member Lynda Dickson, who resigned this summer to take a position as Crestview High School principal this school year.

Nappi was selected by county Probate Court Judge Thomas Baronzzi to fill Dickson's unexpired term, which ends Dec. 31. She also filed petitions to run this November for the new four-year term which begins Jan. 1. Two current board members filed for re-election, making the slate unopposed on the ballot for the three open seats.

Nappi teaches high school math in the Leetonia school district where she's been teaching for 11 years.

The board also had to elect a new vice president since Dickson had been in the position, selecting Paul Taylor, a resident of the United school district.

ESC board member Adam Booth, who works as deputy director of the county Board of Elections, said he's decided to remain until his term expires in 2011. He had originally planned to resign after taking the position with the board of elections earlier this year, but said no conflict had been determined and since his fellow board members will be unopposed, he saw no need to step down.

During the meeting, the board agreed to enter a lease to purchase agreement with Daimler Financial for a 2010 school bus at an overall cost of $78,000. ESC Superintendent Anna Marie Vaughn explained they used to receive 100 percent reimbursement from the state for bus purchases, but that's not the case anymore. They have to shoulder 100 percent of the cost themselves. With the lease to purchase option, they can make monthly payments.

The board also entered several agreements and contracts for services with employees, including an agreement with Ashland University in conjunction with the Ohio Historical Society for the teaching American history grant which will aid in the professional development of the area's history teachers.

Some of the other agreements, purchases and contracts included:

interpreting services from the Youngstown Hearing & Speech Center for $33 per hour

equipment service for $755 per year with Gardiner Trane for closed hot water system

lease a portion of the Juvenile Court Center from the Columbiana County Commissioners for $26,100 (this is where the opportunity school is housed)

lease one classroom at the Salem Kent State City Center from Kent State University for $1,800 for one year

enter a contract to provide undergraduate education courses and the Early Childhood Education Program to Kent State University Salem campus for $48,967

enter service contracts to provide services to East Liverpool city school district of $111,722 for elementary literacy coaches and $241,221 for district date facilitator, math coach and literacy coach; Columbiana school district for $11,015 for technology services and $76,081 for speech and language services; Minerva school district for $4,000 for professional development consultant services; and East Liverpool Christian School for $13,736 for intervention teacher, $14, 476 for auxiliary teacher, $17,868 for technology coordinator, $1,294 for support services, $8,840 for guidance services, $5,916 for nursing services and $400 per evaluation for psychological services.

employ Colleen Gregorino as a literacy coach, Angela Morris as life skills facilitator, and Jeannette Berger, Rita Heim and Jeff Vrabel Sr. as on-bus instructors; employ several paraeducators and substitutes.

Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net