BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      The Boardman Board of Education voted unanimously to replace the scoreboard and related equipment at Spartan Stadium at a cost of some $285,000 during their regular, monthly meeting held on Tuesday at Boardman High School.
      Replacement costs will likely be funded from the system’s permanent improvement levy, Board President Vickie Davis told The Boardman News.
      “Video panels were becoming obsolete and more expensive to repair,” Ms. Davis added.
      Over the past several years, the current stadium scoreboard has malfunctioned with regularity.
      In approving the project, the school board accepted quotes from a Danville, Ill. firm, Watchfire; as well as a $25,575 proposal from Ruff Neon Signs and Lighting Maintenance, of Painesville, Oh. to install the new scoreboard.
      School District Policies
      Acting upon the recommendation of Supt. Chris Neifer, the school board approved first readings on policies concerning “Single Gender Classes and Activities” and “Special Education.”
      According to the board’s agenda, the policy on single gender classes and activities was last revised on Dec. 16, 2024.
      The policy states “The District will generally not provide or otherwise carry out any of its educational programs or activities separately on the basis of sex, or require or refuse participation in such programs or activities by any student on the basis of sex. These general prohibitions do not apply to the following:
      “Separation of students by sex within physical education classes or activities during participation in wrestling, boxing, rugby, ice hockey, football, basketball, and any other sport of which the major activity involves bodily contact.
      “The District may offer single-gender programs when needed to achieve an important objective, and the single-gender nature of the class is substantially related to that objective. Only two objectives are allowed: 1) Improving achievement through providing diverse educational opportunities; or 2) Meeting a particular, identified educational need.”
      The current policy on special education, according to the school board, was adopted on Oct. 26, 2020. states “The Board of Education is committed to providing a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to children with disabilities identified in accordance with applicable State and Federal laws, rules, and regulations. This includes students who are confined to community corrections facilities or juvenile detention centers. The District shall provide students with disabilities the services to which they are entitled pursuant to their individualized education programs (IEPs) and in accordance with the Operating Standards for Ohio Educational Agencies Serving Children with Disabilities, including Child Find and Evaluation requirements. Students with disabilities who are in adult county jails shall continue to receive FAPE during incarceration subject to their continued eligibility for services and subject to exceptions related to security and safety.”
      Special Meeting
      The Boardman Local School Board met in a special session on Feb. 10 for discussions on the development of a strategic plan.
      In addition to board members, a representative from the Impact Group, of Hudson, Oh. was in attendance. The Impact Group has been hired at a cost of some $29,500 to help and formulate the plan.
      A ‘Project Overview’ provided to the school board by The Impact Group says “Boardman Local Schools has a desire to plan, develop and implement a new strategic plan while aligning stakeholders with their mission and core values.”
      Topics of discussion included construction of a new school building (to replace the current Center Intermediate School) as well as growing enrollment in the district that has been steadily declining for more than 40 years.
      “We have not yet made a decision on the specifics of a new school, cost or funding. Hiring a new superintendent (last year), placed that discussion on a temporary hold,” Board President Davis told The Boardman News.
      Another item of discussion involved issues with the transportation system that has been hampered with manpower shortages.