HANOVERTON — United Local school board members overwhelmingly approved the five-year contract renewal for the district’s treasurer Melissa Baker.

Baker, the district’s treasurer and chief financial officer since July 2015, previously had been employed by Beaver Local and East Liverpool school districts before coming to United Local.

This latest contract, which was approved during Wednesday’s monthly meeting, begins Aug. 1, 2026 and runs through July 31, 2031.

The district also accepted a $5,000 grant award from the Williams Company, which operates a natural gas processing plant in Kensington, that will be used for student needs as well as a $1,000 donation on behalf of the Loudon family for the district’s backpack program.

Board president Denise Rhodes encouraged the funds go for elementary recess items.

The school board approved upcoming fundraisers for Academic Challenge (T-shirt sponsorships), Class of 2026 (costume auction and senior T-shirt sale), Class of 2027 (costume auction, lollipop and apparel sales), Class of 2028 (costume auction), the Student Initiative Club (East Iron Soda Works) and the Key Club (beverage sale, Candy Cane grams, T-Shirts and the Sadie Hawkins and autumn dances.)

Agreements also were struck between the district and the following vendors for the 2025-26 school year: Pitney Bowes, postage meter lease; Asset Control Solutions Inc. for the district’s inventory asset reporting; Laketect Communication, network monitoring maintenance; Columbiana County Board of Developmental Disabilities, undisclosed services; Rhodes Excavating Company, snow removal services –no relation to board president Rhodes.

Also approved was a Memorandum of Understanding with the Family Recovery Center for vaping intervention services for students as well as an out-of-state trip to Indianapolis for FFA members to attention the National FFA Convention and Expo on Oct. 29 through Nov. 1.

Board members accepted the following volunteers for the upcoming school year: Peggy Altenhof, Nathaniel Baker, Gwen Banner, Tiffany Bardo, April Berresford, Jessica Billy, Amanda Casto, Rita Hoffman, Kirk Hofmeister, Rebecca Holmes, Abigail Hruby, Michelle Kosko, Heather Lawhorn, Scott Logan, Kelly Morris, Mary-Marie Paynter, Angela Phelps, Shawna Royea, Heather Ruthrauff, Darcy Smith, Dawn Stock, Dennis Stock, Diane Stock, Zachary Stock, Karen Strong and Michael “Scott” Strong.

Some additional personnel matters also got some board attention Wednesday, as members approved some additional personnel matters, including:

–The retirement of elementary teacher Laurie Shepard, effective June 30, 2026, and computer technician Dennis Klaustermeyer, effective July 31, 2026.

–Employment of the following Saturday school monitors for the 2025-26 school year at the negotiated rate: Beth Baker, Susan Laughlin, Sandy Tedeschi, Alexander Thomas and Luke Williams.

–Employment of the following substitutes for the upcoming school year: Todd Sarchet (certified substitute in general education) and Danielle Allen (secretary and lunchroom).

–The following supplemental contracts to Tom Coffee, freshman boys basketball coach; Scott Cope, assistant girls basketball coach; Joshua Graybeat, assistant wrestling coach; Harli Green, winter middle school cheerleading coach; Steve Gruszecki, seventh-grade head football coach; Craig Herring, middle school assistant wrestling coach; Terry Leek, freshman girls basketball coach; Stephanie Nunzir, assistant winter cheerleading coach; William Paynter, middle school head wrestling coach; David Ogilvie, co-weight lifting coach; Todd Sarchet, eighth-grade girls basketball coach; Danielle Satterfield, volunteer coordinator; Eric Simmons, assistant boys basketball coach; Karrie Varagliotti, TV studio advisor; and Stacey Zines, seventh-grade girls basketball coach and co-weight lifting coach.

–Roger Kelly as a volunteer assistant football coach and Maggie Witmer as a volunteer assistant cross country coach.

–Employment of the following district teachers to meet outside of school hours for PBIS meetings: Ashley Bussard, Misty Eichler, Jenna May, Susan Rickard and Jennifer Spillman.

–Employ as necessary district elementary and high school teachers outside of school hours for MTSS Tier 2/SAP meetings.