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LISBON -- The Columbiana County Educational Service Center (ESC) Governing Board approved the hiring of several employees and a conditional contract for a future year for teacher assistant Sarah Blakeman on Tuesday. Blakeman has decided to take the next school year off to reflect on if she wants to continue in education or pursue another career, Superintendent Marie Williams said.
"She asked if we could do a conditional contract with her where if she agrees to come back … that we would bring her back as a teacher assistant, same salary scale," Williams said. "She has been a great employee for us for a long time."
The board approved the hiring of Laura Straight as academic leader for the afterschool program at LaCroft Elementary; Kali Wigley, Brandon Rosado, Chloe Pugh, and Crystal Kaiser as opportunities for Ohioans with disabilities workers; Jessica Beaver, Erin Briceland, and Darcy Smith as paraeducators; and Amanda Hulett as a dispatcher/bus driver, all for the current school year.
The board also accepted the resignations of Mya Emmerling, Crystal Boso, and Kelsie Hutton.
In other business, the board approved a memorandum of understanding between South Central Ohio Educational Service Center and the Columbiana County Educational Service Center for training consultants on student attendance who will then provide training to the district, Williams said.
The cost of training is $3,500 but the ESC will be reimbursed by the South Central Ohio Educational Service Center, she said.
Williams recognized Production Lab Consultant Jeff Gill for all the "hard work" he put into the robotics program. The ESC had two leagues with more than 75 teams competing and have had discussions about increasing to three leagues next year, one for elementary, one for middle school, and one for high school, Williams said.
"It's really fantastic to see all the kids that are participating in this," she said.
The Columbiana County Career and Technical Center hosted all of the robotics events and livestreamed them online.
Upcoming events were announced at the meeting. The Columbiana County Art Show will be held at the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center at 6 p.m. Feb. 27. The Columbiana County Spelling Bee will be held at the Beaver Local Schools Auditorium 9:30 a.m. March 2.
"We have 48 students participating and one of those will move on to the national spelling bee," Williams said.
In other business, the board approved new vendors for ESC's Reach for the Stars consignment store in Salem-- Rust Belt Soapwerks LLC, The Starfish Candle Company, Whispering Pines Creations LLC, Deanna Lowings, and Deer Path Designs.
"Basically we ask local vendors to sell their goods," Williams said after the meeting. She also said students with disabilities help run the store and it is always looking for new vendors to add.
The board will next meet at 5 p.m. March 19.