Meeting on Dec. 18, the Boardman Local School Board acted upon a variety of personnel items; and also approved a second reading of revised board policies.
      Renee Seltzer was granted a one-year limited contract as a district speech pathologist.effective January 12, 2024 at an annual salary of $50,433. She received her bachelor’s degree from Geneva College and her master’s degree from Duquesne University. This is a new position.
      Essential functions of the new speech pathologist are:
       •Serve as consultant to and in collaboration with school personnel in the development and provision of a program for speech, language, and/or general communication improvement.
       •Provide appropriate speech and language therapy to meet student needs.
       •Assist school personnel in the identification and referral of children with suspected speech, language, voice, fluency, and hearing disabilities.
       •Function as a member of the evaluation team to provide a multi-factored evaluation to facilitate the assessment and diagnosis of speech, language, and hearing disabilities.
       •Participate in the decision to deliver speech and language services to a child and assists in development of the Individualized Education Program.
       •Assist building administrators in scheduling and conducting annual reviews and in developing the Individualized Educational Program for students with communication disabilities.
       •May act as a consultant to local personnel in observing procedural safeguards for disabled children.
       •Assist in the referral of children for medical or other professional attention as appropriate for the rehabilitation of speech, language, and hearing disabilities and maintains a directory of such resources.
       •Collaborate with school personnel to develop appropriate classroom activities to reinforce services being provided to children by the speech-language pathologist.
       •Provide information, guidance and counseling to parents, children and other school personnel on matters concerning speech, language, voice, fluency, and hearing disabilities.
       •Maintain appropriate procedural safeguards and records for all students receiving speech and language services.
       •Provide screening services to identify suspected speech, language, voice, fluency, and hearing disabilities as appropriate for the district needs.
       •Provide in-service and serve as a consultant to school personnel, parents, and community on matters concerning speech, language, voice, fluency, and hearing disabilities.
       •Provide information about and secures necessary information concerning the acquisition of and implementation of devices for augmentative and/or alternative forms of communication for those students in need.
       •Attend staff in-service opportunities for professional growth and development.
       •Collaborate and consult with private speech pathologists, private agencies, medical professionals, audiologists as needed in the management of and planning of speech therapy services.
       •Assist in the selection, purchase, and upkeep of materials and equipment necessary for these services.
      Classified staff appointments approved by the school board were the following:
       •Patricia Ambrosini was granted an additional position as a full-contract bus driver, effective December 1, 2023, replacing Kristine Manis.
       •Katherine McFall was granted a one-year limited contract as a cleaner at Boardman High replacing Cyndi Babnic.
       •Samuel Tellish was granted a one-year limited contract as a half-contract bus aide replacing Cindy Hunt.
       •Curtis Wagner was granted a one-year limited contract as a full-contract bus driver effective December 18, 2023, replacing Tom Davis.
      Classified staff resignations were accepted from Karen Freaney, Center Intermediate School noontime monitor; Ron Leone Sr., bus school cleaning (retirement).
      Chris DeFrank was granted an unpaid leave of absence per the OAPSE contract, from September 28, 2023, through March 1, 2024.
      Ashley Lines was approved as an hourly staff member at $22/hour, not to exceed 29.5 hours per week, and not to exceed 1,110 hours per year to be paid out of Title 1 Funds.
      Cheire Covan was approved as a tutor not to exceed 29.5 hours per week effective November 24, 2023.
      Among several revisions to school board policies that went to a second reading was one called “Intra-District Open Enrollment.”
      That policy currently reads as follows:
      The Board of Education shall permit any eligible, elementary or middle school student in the District to apply for enrollment in any District program or school, provided the student’s application meets the requirements of the State and the conditions established in District guidelines.
      The following definitions shall apply:
       •Home School: The school to which the student has been assigned prior to any request for transfer.
       •Open Enrollment: State-mandated options, policies, and regulations concerning the Board’s authority to adopt resolutions regarding intra-district and inter-district enrollment policies and guidelines. Intra-district open enrollment permits the admission of students to any appropriate school or program in the District.
       •Home-School Student: A District student who resides in the home-school attendance area.
       •Nonhome-School Student: A District student who enrolls (seeks to enroll) in a program or school in another attendance area within the District.
       •Program: Any one of the specific course offerings of this District.
       •Program Size: The restrictions on a number of students in a program due to circumstances unique to that specific program, a collectively-bargained, negotiated agreement, or financial or operating conditions of the District.
       •Racial Balance: “Racial” refers to minorities classified as African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic-American, or Native-American students. “Balance” refers to the percentage of “racial” students in a District program, classroom, or school.
       •Racially Isolated Building: A racially isolated building refers to a School District building in which the racial composition of the students varies significantly from the overall racial composition of the School District.
       •Maintaining Appropriate Racial Balance: Given our diverse society and the importance of preparing students for education, work, and citizenship, the Board is committed to providing students with equal educational opportunities, promoting educational diversity in the District, and providing students with the educational benefits of a diverse student body. To that end, the Board/Administration will give individual consideration to each applicant seeking enrollment under this policy, so that all factors that may contribute to student body diversity are meaningfully considered in admissions decisions. It is the intent of the Board to maintain an appropriate racial balance as required by law.
      The Superintendent shall consult with legal counsel to determine the appropriate steps that should be taken, including, but not limited to, any necessary policy revisions and other actions necessary to comply with State and Federal law (i.e., to appropriately apply the requirements of maintaining appropriate racial balance to the racially isolated building(s) in the District). The Superintendent shall then make the appropriate recommendations to the Board.
      The Superintendent shall prepare guidelines for the implementation of this policy in ways that comply with relevant State laws and guidelines and establish procedures that provide for the following:
       •Nondiscrimination on the basis of grade level, including preschool disabled; academic ability; English language proficiency; or any level of artistic, athletic, or extra-curricular skills. A student’s application cannot be denied because of disciplinary action in his/her home school, except for a suspension or expulsion for ten (10) days or more that occurs in the current semester or the semester immediately preceding the application.
       •Application procedures including the criteria by which applications from non home-school students shall be reviewed and prioritized. Home-school students shall be given priority over nonhome-school students. Further, a student shall submit an application only if s/he wishes to attend an alternate school in the District.
       •Maintenance of appropriate racial balance in District schools, classrooms, and programs.
       •Communications with applicants and their parents concerning this policy and the District’s guidelines, including the timelines for application and notification of acceptance or rejection.
       •Athletic eligibility shall comply with State regulations and the provisions set forth by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
       •Any transportation provided by the District for a nonhome-school student takes place within established bus routes and bus stops within the District.
       •Set District capacity limits by grade level, school building and educational program.
      ​ The Superintendent shall annually review the level of diversity existing within the District’s programs, grades and/or schools to assess whether the application of this policy has resulted in an adverse effect on racial balance. As a part of his/her review, the Superintendent will be responsible for determining whether there is a legal basis for the Board to use the “maintenance of appropriate racial balance” language of R.C. 3313.97(C).
      Should this review indicate that the racial balance in one (1) or more of the District’s programs, grades and/or schools has been adversely affected, the Superintendent shall consult with legal counsel to determine what, if any, appropriate steps should be taken, including, but not limited to, policy revisions or other actions necessary to comply with State and Federal law.driver, (retirement); and Carolyn Sewruk, high