HANOVERTON — The newly introduced Student Initiative Club (SIC) members updated board members on their progress during Wednesday’s United Local monthly meeting.

During the superintendent’s report, Lance Hostetler reported that the SIC club recently held a student movie night, which allowed them to raise $200 for the new club, which had been created of a March trip to the Student Power Summit near Columbus.

Participants formed the club, as they had been empowered to encourage student engagement.

After board member Justin Medure inquired about the number of students participating in the new club, it was reported they regularly draw around 30 students to meetings.

The club plans to develop a school store and has secured grant funding to purchase a heat press and other items needed to launch the store..

In response to Lenny VonFeldt, the newest board member, students indicated that they wrote grant applications themselves.

Board members discussed two possible school calendars for next school year. The first draft would propose a start date before Labor Day, while the second proposes to start after Labor Day. Since the district has to get 167 instructional student days in, the second draft would extend the school year further into June 2027.

Hostetler said both students and teachers were consulted.

Board members expressed interest in starting after Labor Day, and potentially one board member expressed a preference for making spring break earlier as well.

Board member Wendy Doyle provided an update regarding the new building project. She said that there have been minimal changes as of late, with landscaping postponed until March.

Currently the district is waiting for materials and pricing before making further decisions.

The agriculture lab project is pending permits and the bidding process, she added.

Doyle asked about finding an alternate location for graduation in the case of inclement weather and expressed interest in publishing a community newsletter at least annually.

During the organizational portion of the meeting, RuthAnn Rinto was elected board president and Heather Mercer vice president.

Lenny VonFeldt was welcomed as a new board member and sworn in with the recently re-elected Wendy Doyle and Rinto.

New meeting nights were decided for 2026: 7 a.m. first Thursday and 5:30 p.m. second Wednesday of the month.

The board will meet twice a month.

Alternate meeting dates also were established if needed for the evening meeting: 5:30 p.m. the following Tuesday.

The February board meetings were announced as 7 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, and 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, in the high school media center.

In other action during both sessions, members approved:

— Retention of board legal counsel Peppel and Waggoner.

— Renewal of their Ohio School Board Association membership and join the Ohio Education Policy Institute..

— Donations totaling more than $11,000, including to Community Outreach, Food Pantry, boys basketball and Academic Challenge programs.

— The district’s agreement with Youngstown State University for participation in the College Credit Plus program for the upcoming school year.

— Allowing Key Club senior members to wear special cords at graduation if they successfully complete requirements.

— The retirement of Janet Duvall, attendance/guidance/athletic secretary effective Jan. 31.

— The rehire of retired teacher Todd Sarchet on a one-year limited contract, effective Dec. 15.

— Employment of bus driver Carrie Pierson to an one-year contract, effective Dec. 11.

— The addition of teacher Courtney For and custodian Jeffery Beck to the substitute roster.

— Supplemental contracts for the upcoming school year to the following individuals: head soccer coach Nikki Blazer, head volleyball coach Troy Brunner, head soccer coach Curtis Jones, head cheerleading coach Sarah Jones, head cross country coach Jake Marshall, head football coach David Ogilvie, head boys golf coach Jason Thompson and head girls golf coach Stacey Zines.

— New athletic workers Stephanie Graham, Carrie Bartholomew and Samantha Cope as well as new volunteer bowling coach Travis Bailey.