Construction work at Edison High School is nearing an end and could wrap up over the next few weeks.
The Edison Local Board of Education held its regular session at John Gregg Elementary School on Dec. 20 and Superintendent Bill Beattie updated leaders on the latest upgrades at EHS. Beattie said the last piece of the puzzle was the installation of windows and that could occur soon. Windows were being replaced in the gymnasium and the school addition dating back to 1962 and officials said the latter portion was incomplete from a previous phase of renovations.
“We’re in the final phase of it. The windows need to be installed and we’re hopeful that it could happen by the end of this year,” he said, adding that he was pleased to see the project coming to a close. “They have finished the front entrance and the new railing has been installed. We’re really happy and looking forward to winding up in the next couple of weeks.”
Brewer-Garrett Company of Cleveland was contracted as the design-and-build firm for the projects, which entailed expanding the music room area, moving the Vo-Ag classroom into the organization’s on-site building and renovating the woodshop to create a classroom, plus creating new woodshop and welding shop areas. Further upgrades occurred in the chemistry lab, which features new storage and work areas, while the assistant principal and guidance offices switched places and the handicapped-accessible entry leads to a secure vestibule area. Other work included updating the auditorium and additional wing with LED lighting and the projects were financed with general funding from both the current 5.9-mill operational levy and a 2.1-mill emergency measure passed around 2015. An estimated $6.2 million has been spent to improve EHS, John Gregg and Stanton Elementary while the latest phase at the high school was priced at more than $1.76 million.
In other action, the board:
–Approved additions to the substitute teacher’s list including Eric Hayden, Marie Highfield and Alexis Sheets;
–Approved supplemental contracts for Alicia Hartman and Kris Turk as first-year mentors; Kari Byers, Susan LoPrete, Darlene Mason and Angela Smith, second-year mentors; James Evans, Dani Carroll, Monica Potenzini and Tiffani Roush, fourth-year mentors; Angela Smith, Tammy Burchfield, Josh Leasure, Donna Dawson, Monica Potenzini, Caitlin Schultz and Matt Shepherd, LPDC Committee; Debbie Bickar, Miguel Brun, Amber Crawford, Julie Cronin, Donna Dawson, Hannah Eckley, Nicole Fidak, Heather Grimes, Emily Henry, Summer Householder, Nate Kline, Suzy LoPrete, Jody McCafferty, Barbara Mohnacky, Lynsey Morrison, Michelle O’Karma, Mikayla Tice, Jan Keeder and Stephanie Thornley, LETRS; Takota Haggerty, junior high wrestling; and Josh Waggoner, junior high wrestling volunteer;
–Approved additions to the classified substitute list, including April Holland as an aide/secretary/cook/custodian/NBC and James Mossor, custodian/NBC;
–Approved a resignation letter from Mycaela Ensell as head volleyball coach;
–Approved the hiring of two five-hour paraprofessional aides;
–Agreed to participate in the Ohio School Boards Association and the OSBA Legal Assistance Fund;
–Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Columbiana County Head Start
–Approved a $150 donation from Karen McKinney to John Gregg Elementary;
–Appointed current board President Aaron Richardson as president pro tem for the reorganizational meeting on Jan. 10 at 6:30 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 7 p.m. at Stanton Elementary School.