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EAST PALESTINE -- The East Palestine Board of Education met Tuesday and passed several personnel matters.
The board hired Michael Dempster as a community liaison and as a part-time physical education teacher. Mark Fabian was hired to teach social studies at the high school, while Heidi Paparella and Pam Figley were hired as classified employees. The board also approved several supplemental contracts and volunteers.
In other news, the board approved open enrollment students attending East Palestine for the 2023-24 school year, to pay transportation costs for private-school students residing in the district, a participation agreement with Jefferson County Educational Service Center/Virtual Learning Academy and a memorandum of understanding for police services utilized in the district.
The board also approved a resolution calling for emergency repairs and replacements to the parking lot on the west side of the elementary school.
In finance matters, the board approved a transfer of $100,000 from the general fund for textbooks and other materials, the financial report for July 2023 and $,7000 in donations to the athletic department, including $6,500 from Norfolk Southern.
Superintendent Chris Neifer announced that all 35 mentor positions have been filled in the district and that the program will begin this month when mentors are assigned to students. He also announced that the school resource officer Michael Brindisi, which is now fully employed by the district, has been a welcomed addition to help combat absenteeism which has risen from 19 to 38 percent following the COVID pandemic. Brindisi has already made contact with students reported for truancy. Niefer also reported the position for a reading specialist, which satisfies state requirements, has been filled , and that the district is still trying to fill the position of athletic trainer.
Neifer also announced that first responders will be honored at Friday's home football game. The game has also been designated to raise awareness and provide resources for suicide prevention. Youth players and cheerleaders will also be recognized that night with free admission.
selverd@mojonews.com