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EAST PALESTINE -- East Palestine High School stepped into the spotlight at the East Palestine City Schools Board of Education on Monday. High School Principal Tony DelBoccio gave the board an update of where the high school stands at this point in the year and new things on tap for next year.
The new things include two new science electives -- active physics and a general robotics class (separate from an advanced robotics)
Superintendent Chris Neifer expanded on the decision to add the classes for next year.
"Active physics is basically a conceptual physics class. What Dan (Kibler) is seeing is he's getting some kids in general physics that struggle with the math. They understand the conceptual pieces. This class gives them the access to curriculum without the barrier of the uplevel math that you typically would need in a physics class," Neifer said. "It's a similar thing that we are doing with the robotics program up there. We have such an interest in robotics right now from middle school up to high school. With some many kids involved we are starting to see a pretty clear delineation between those kids who have physics and math skills to understand those advanced things and kids who just don't."
The interest in robotics is reflected by the numbers of the robotics club that jumped from 20 to over 60 students.
In other announcements, Neifer reported a steering committee to discuss the possibility of a wellness center on the school campus will meet Feb. 20 at 5:30 p.m. He also announced the Back to School Bash has been set for Aug 18. Neifer also announces that the school, in collaboration with village council, has resurrected a resolution from 2020 setting a Dog Days committee of three community members and four representatives of the school to oversee, organize and plan the annual day of volunteerism in the village. A possible change in the preschool program making it five days a week instead of four and an increase in tuition was also announced, as was the school schedule for the solar eclipse in April. As of right now, there is no intention to alter the schedule on that day.
In personnel matters, the board approved the hiring of two custodians, supplemental contracts for advisors and the high school golf coach.
A field trip to the New Castle School of Trades was approved as were the chaperones for the Disney trip. Memorandums of Understanding were approved with Kent State and Youngstown State for the college-plus program. The board also approved the high school course of study for the 2024-25 school year and one open enrollment student.
The board will next meet March 6 at 6 p.m. in the elementary library.