LISBON — A health insurance opt-out stipend offered to Columbiana County Educational Service Center employees is now off the table.

The CCESC Governing Board passed a resolution to terminate the opt-out stipend during the Oct. 21 meeting.

The move was made in response to learning it could not offer the stipend due to being a member of the Stark County Schools Council of Governments (COG).

The board originally offered the $2,000 stipend to eligible employees in October 2024 after passing a resolution.

The stipend, made in two separate $1,000 payments, was for employees who chose not to receive medical, vision and dental insurance coverage.

However, the board has since learned that members of the Stark County Schools Council of Governments are prohibited from offering their eligible employees opt-out insurance stipends.

“After discussion with our insurance COG it was brought to our attention that we can no longer offer the insurance opt-out stipend due to the policies they have in place,” ESC Treasurer Lucas Cooper said, according to minutes of the ESC meeting posted online.

As a result, the board had to rescind the 2024 resolution allowing the stipends.

The new resolution rescinding the stipends takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

In other matters during the meeting, the board approved an updated lease agreement with West Branch School for the additional classroom at Knox for this school year, as well as a handful of personnel matters and a resolution providing for special education services as required by the state.

ESC Superintendent Marie Williams also said during the meeting that the Explore Your Future event held recently was a success.

The event was organized by the Columbiana County Educational Service Center’s Business Advisory Council and Columbiana County Career and Technical Center.

It attracted participation from seven businesses which hosted area students who were able to participate in industry tours and engage in career exploration activities. The event was sponsored by Congressman Michael Rulli and the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center.

Williams thanked the area businesses and sponsors on behalf of the board, in addition to state Rep. Monica Rob Blasdel and Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition Director Alex Hertzer for their continued support of future workforce and the mission of the Business Advisory Council.