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LISBON -- The Columbiana County Educational Service Center (ESC) held its first board meeting of 2024 with an old face in a new role and a new addition to the board on Tuesday.
In her first meeting as superintendent, Marie Williams, who replaced long-time and now retired superintendent Anna Marie Vaughn, called her first couple weeks in her new position "fun" and encouraged the board to show their support for several upcoming robotics competitions in her first report. Williams served as the assistant superintendent before stepping into the helm of ESC.
Other changes to the board induced the addition of board member Paul Taylor who replaced Aaron Hinchliffe.
During the meeting, the board approved several treasurer items, including the December 2023 financial statements, bills to be paid totaling $1,375,172.87, the FY 25 Access Application and Voice Services and updated contract with Nutrition Group for the Opportunity School.
The board also tackled several personnel matters, approving Morgan Hovorka as a candidate for preclinical field experience beginning on March 11, severance pay for the balance of remaining sick days for two employees and a family leave for another. In addition, the board approved the hiring of paraeducators Kathy Moore, Julia Varner and Mya Emmerling.
In other matters, Christopher Brock was approved for the ESC consignment store.
A reorganizational meeting was held prior to the regular meeting. Taylor and re-elected board member Marilyn Parkes were sworn in at the start of that meeting.
Richard Stoudt was re-elected as board president and Robert Marra elected vice president. Parkes was elected to serve as legislative liaison with Taylor to serve as her alternate. ESC committees were also decided -- Buildings and Grounds (Marra and Taylor), Finance (Stoudt and Jackie Mercer)
Programs and Services (Taylor and Parkes), Policy (Parkes and Marra) and Audit (Mercer and Stoudt).
The board will next meet Feb. 20 at 5 p.m.