BLHS adds student representatives | News, sports, jobs

DILLONVALE – Students at Buckeye Local High School will have the opportunity to interact with the school board as a new initiative involving student representatives gets underway.

At the Oct. 21 meeting in Dillonvale, the board approved an initiative to create student representatives who will receive input from their peers and share it with the district panel. Vice President of the Board Teresa George said she and BLHS Principal Luke Parsons have been working on the plan and that it would ultimately include two representatives for each of the high school grades and give students the opportunity to participate in the school board and decision-making processes . The program would incorporate student perspectives into board discussions and promote leadership skills among the students.

“Luke and I discussed how we would get this implemented,” George said. “We have considered involving the juniors and seniors in the first year. The second year there would be two seniors, two juniors, two sophomores and two freshmen.”

Providing copies of application forms, she said eligibility requirements include demonstrating strong academic performance, consistent school attendance and displaying a positive attitude, good behavior and strong character. Applicants must complete forms stating their qualifications and three signatures from teachers are required to guarantee their eligibility. Applications are then reviewed by the principal, assistant principal and school counselors and the chosen applicants are interviewed by members of the school board.

Once selected, each term lasts one year and students must reapply each year to continue their service. They would be responsible for attending school board meetings; representing student interests and concerns; participate in discussions about school policies and initiatives; and reporting board discussions and decisions to the student body. To remain representative, students must maintain satisfactory performance in academics, attendance and attitude. George said the program will provide students with hands-on experience in governance and leadership; ensure that this is taken into account in board decisions; promoting communication between the student body and the school board; and developing skills for public speaking, critical thinking, and advocacy. The school board would also establish an evaluation process on the effectiveness of the program and feedback would be gathered from student representatives, board members, school staff and the general student body to continually improve the program.

‘I think it would be good if students were present at meetings’ George added. “I would also like them to go to the primary schools and attend student council meetings and get input into the school board.”

The board approved the move and George planned to work with Parsons to get the process started.

Officials also approved several personnel matters, including the retirement of Suzanne Stoker, a longtime teacher at Buckeye North Elementary, effective May 31. Stoker will be leaving after 35 years with the district and Principal Susan Nolan said she has done a fantastic job with her students. and will be missed. The board also approved the resignation of assistant Aivri Rettencutter, effective Friday; hiring chef Nancy Carpenter for a six-month trial period; the employment of 21st Century Grant Extended Learning Center program co-location coordinators Nicole Billingsley and Amy McCutcheon at North Elementary, Lindsey Farmer and Kelley Novak at South Elementary and Ashley Krzys and Julie Packer at West Elementary; the addition of alternates Shannon Flaherty as teaching assistant and Kimberly Hawthorne-Burek as cook, custodian and teaching assistant; additional duties for Charles Sempkowski as head boys track coach and Lucas Fabry as assistant softball coach at BLHS; and student activity contracts for Hank Kendjorsky as assistant wrestling coach at BLHS; Gary Dulkowski as assistant softball coach at BLHS; Jimmy Colabelli as volunteer girls basketball coach at BLHS; Mark Crowe as seventh-grade wrestling coach, Jarrell Bailey as eighth-grade boys’ basketball coach and Ryder Kindberg-Colabelli as seventh-grade girls’ basketball coach at BLJHS; and an agreement with the Jefferson County Educational Service Center Governing Board for Title I teacher services to tutor non-public students. Superintendent Coy Sudvary noted that additional positions would be added for elementary student council, yearbook and Destination Imagination advisors, as well as creative writing, eSports, Envirothon and FFA at the high school.

Among other things:

• Maintenance supervisor Tony Panepucci said concrete was being replaced outside the common area at BLHS to allow wheelchair access and officials were working on the HVAC unit in the Panther Gym. In his safety report, he said a virtual safety meeting was scheduled to review district policy and that he planned to meet with school staff and also conduct a CPR course for staff;

• District Program Manager Susan Bachmann said the ELC program is underway in the elementary schools and is the second of the five-year 21st Century Learning Grant program. Before- and after-school programs were available between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., the latter including dinner, math and reading intervention, homework help, computers, arts and crafts, and other activities. She added that the grant provided 40 laptops for each elementary building and a Clevertouch touchscreen program for South Elementary;

• Buckeye Local Classroom Teachers Association President General Varkony said the organization’s Oct. 12 tailgate event was successful;

• Sudvary said construction of the two new classrooms at BLJHS was nearing completion as he waited for comment from architects on moving forward with work at the World War II Memorial Stadium. There are plans to replace the field surface and fencing, while moving the small bleachers from the end zone to the visitors’ side. Leaders will also look at railings and other site priorities;

• Nolan, president of the Alpha Delta Kappa Chapter and state president-elect, discussed ADK Month for October. ADK is an international organization of women educators, founded in 1947 and has more than 125,000 members worldwide. Nolan said 30 of her chapter members are retired or currently Buckeye Local educators;

• Sudvary announced upcoming events including no school on Nov. 6 for professional development and Veterans Day programs on Nov. 8 at North Elementary at 9:30 a.m. and South at 2 p.m., as well as Nov. 11 at BLJHS at 9 a.m. and West Elementary at 1:30 p.m.;

• Officials recognized BLHS Homecoming King and Queen Chris Ebright and Avah Williams, thanked Luke Parsons for a successful homecoming week and congratulated the seventh-grade girls volleyball team for winning the BMC Championship;

• Leaders approved approximately $1,700 in donations for the new Panther mascot uniform;

• The board set the next meeting for Nov. 18 at 5:30 p.m. at South Elementary in Tiltonsville.

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