The Edison Local Board of Education regrouped for 2019, naming new leaders and approving business to operate in the new year.

  The board elected Aaron Richardson president and Ron Smyth as vice president during a brief organizational session on Jan. 10 and approved a series of measures to aid district operations.

  During the subsequent regular meeting, leaders granted a five-year contract to district treasurer Lisa Bruzzese following an executive session. Bruzzese has served the district since 2016 and her contract was due to expire June 30 of this year, but Superintendent Bill Beattie said officials granted the extension which starts this July.

  “She’s come into the district and has done a lot of good things and brought a lot of financial stability to it,” Beattie said. “We’re glad to have her here in the district.”

   Bruzzese was excited to continue working with the district.

  “It’s been a pleasure working here and I look forward to serving our students, staff and the communities of the Edison Local School District.  I appreciate the board’s support and confidence in me,” she said.

   Meanwhile, the board approved an updated policy that defines harassment, intimidation and bullying in schools. It was set for a first reading but the board passed an emergency resolution in order to forego the two additional readings. Superintendent Bill Beattie said the measure has been under consideration for several months.

  “When we attended the Ohio School Board Association Conference in November, we attended several safety conferences and one had this policy,” he explained. “We saw that it was a lot stronger and was what we needed.”

  He said the district’s current policy was vague but the revamped version pinpoints key areas for more clarity.   Beattie added that it would be posted on the district website under the board policy tab and he will seek other avenues to inform parents.

  In other action, officials:

–Heard from Beattie that heating issues in the newly renovated guidance area were being rectified at Edison High School while gym windows and auditorium flooring work were also wrapping up and everything could conclude next week;

–Learned from Joe DeBold, district buildings and grounds and transportation supervisor, that timeline for bus inspections has been revamped and he had some concerns about the rotations of vehicles, saying some buses could be running for 18 months without an inspection. DeBold was also looking into the possibility of acquiring some used school buses from between 2016-2018 and was gathering information on available vehicles and possible pricing;

–Heard from Assistant Superintendent Julie Kireta that students and faculty were taking advantage of the E-CAT online program and the L.Y.N.D.A. program through the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County. She and District Administrative Assistant Fatima Smuck added that they were writing grants for programs;

–Learned from Smuck noted that preschool was getting fuller and officials will have to look at matters for next year;

–Approved personnel matters with Annalee Mehling added as a substitute teacher and supplemental contracts granted to Mario Sinicropi as weight room volunteer, Keely Drabick as a track assistant, Dawn Cable and Amy Bordash for

junior high track, Nolan Marcus for freshman baseball, Lynsey Morrison as softball assistant and Mikayla Tice as a softball volunteer;

–Heard from Paul Baker, Close Up advisor at Edison High School, who requested a donation to take three seniors to Washington, D.C., this year. Officials agreed to contribute $300 per student;

–Proclaimed January as School Board Recognition Month;

–Passed a resolution to accept a memorandum of understanding for College Credit Plus with Kent State University for the 2019-20 school year;

–Accepted a $250 donation by the Chaffin Luhana Foundation for the Paws Pantry;

–Thanked DeNoon Lumber for providing a canopy to shelter faculty and students at John Gregg Elementary. Both Smyth and Beattie thanked the company for donating materials and labor for the project;

–Set a planning committee meeting for Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. at the board office with the next regular scheduled for Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. at that site.