Trending
LISBON -- Juniors and seniors at David Anderson High School will be able to end a turbulent school year on a high note. During its Thursday meeting, the Lisbon school board approved several in-person events -- prom and its parade of fashions, an after-prom event and graduation to round it all off.
Last year, prom at Drake's Landing banquet center in Canfield was canceled due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds from the event were saved and put toward this year's prom, set for 7 p.m. April 30 also at Drake's Landing. The parade of fashions will start the day off at 6:30 p.m. at the DAHS gym.
Superintendent Joe Siefke said that attendance and viewing will be limited but they will have a streaming option available.
Siefke said there will be adaptations to prom in order to keep the students safe, such as mandatory masks and a non-buffet style dinner, but the district is determined to make the event, and all the other events, happen for the students after a tough year. "All of those dates are subject to some flexibility as to how we do things, but we sure want to give our kids the opportunities that they missed out on last year," Siefke said.
The after-prom event, which is usually held the day after prom, will be held a month later at Cedar Point on May 28. Siefke said they decided to push the date later to ensure that Cedar Point will be open, but they have a couple of back-up plans just in case.
Siefke said that graduation will be the easiest event to pull off and will only be postponed if the weather calls for it, but as of now it's set for 3 p.m. May 30 in War Memorial Stadium.
In another effort to keep students and staff safe, the first round of COVID-19 Moderna vaccines were administered to district employees Thursday afternoon by the county health department. Siefke said 104 vaccines were administered, which makes up 74 percent of the staff. The next dose will be administered on March 11 at the high school.
Even with the vaccine, Siefke said employees and students will continue to wear masks and practice social distancing.
In other business, Siefke mentioned that standarized state testing will still be held this spring for students in the district. He said that the scores will be used as a diagnostic tool to gauge where the students are at material-wise after such an non-traditional school year.
The board also:
-- Approved the first reading of a NEOLA policy.
--Authorized participation in inter district open enrollment for the 2021-22 school year.
-- Approved members as board liaisons to the Ohio School Boards Association.
-- Approved the Lisbon Baseball/Softball Association agreement starting March 10.
-- Authorized membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
-- Approved high school activity dates and times.
-- Renewed the contract with Sarah Underwood for $800 for athletic training services for the spring sports season.
-- Approved Debbie Ehrhart as the substitute for pre school teacher Sarah Harris while she is on maternity leave from Feb. 22 to May 14.
-- Accepted the following donations: $500 for books for the McKinley Elementary library in honor of former teacher Kelly Nold from Melinda Belaney, Kelli Rose, Janet Padurean, Cathi Friend, Laurie McClester and Marilyn McCullough; $500 from the village of Lisbon for use of the auditorium during the pandemic; and $500 from Leader's Edge Inc. to Making a Difference Everyday Fund for high school students.
lnickel@mojonews.com