HANOVERTON — Work on United Local’s new school campus is on track, board member Ruth Ann Rinto reported during Wednesday’s United Local Board of Education meeting.

Rinto was able to tour the site of the $50 million project which was funded through $28,970,346 in state funding approved by the Ohio Facilities Commission.

The other $20,131,935 came from revenue generated by the Nexus gas pipeline and compression station in the district. Construction began this summer and the new building is slated to open with the 2025-26 school year.

Rinto gave the board a detailed description of the progress and said she was impressed with the entire process and the high-quality material being used to construct the new building.

“The concrete being used in the building is a very, very good quality,” Rinto said. “They took a sample of the concrete and put it in a test tube and in just three days, the concrete had 99 percent strength. It usually takes 28 days to get to 99 so to get to it in three days is pretty impressive. These buildings will not fall down.”

The board approved the installation of a book vending machine program to be run by Jennifer Russo and Denise Ward and announced that $2,000 from library late fees will be used to buy books for the project.

A total of 190 open enrollment students were accepted into the district and the board approved the open enrollment of 87 students within the district to other districts.

In other news, the board approved activity budgets for the 2023-24 school year, 27 fundraisers, the Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio Business Advisory Council plan, a proposal from SHP for services in the new connector building, the implementation of curriculum in accordance with Ohio House Bill 123, a memorandum of understanding with the Ohio Association of Public School Employees and to the local professional development committee and the first reading of board policies.

The board also approved a $11,916 donation for the varsity cheerleaders trip to the Citrus Bowl from the Parents of United Varsity Cheerleaders and a $409 for the Backpack Program from the New Garden Methodist Church as well as $53.50 from two other donations.

The transportation and September financial reports were accepted and approved.

In personnel matters, the board approved 14 supplemental sport and activity contracts, to employ 36 Positive Behavior Support and Student Assistance Program team members, hired Misty Eichler as elementary physical education teacher, Sonya Minard as a certified substitute, three Saturday school monitors and four volunteers (Michelle Cain, Tabitha Colian, Rachel Conway and Jennifer Koons).

The board also agreed to hire a varsity girls wrestling coach if a team is formed in the winter season and accepted the retirement resignations of Brenda and Todd Sarchet as well as the resignation of Susan Laughlin as the Community Education Coordinator.

selverd@mojonews.com