The Edison Local Board of Education plans to rebid for an outdoor walking trail project after not receiving any submissions during the initial search.

   During the July 21 regular meeting at Edison High School, Superintendent Bill Beattie said submissions had been sought for a 1.5-mile path at the Richmond campus, but none were received. However, Beattie said plans are still in the works and hopes are to do the project this fall.

   “No one bid on the outdoor walking trail, so we are putting it out to rebid and changing the timeline,” Beattie said. “We will try to do it during the fall months and hope we will get people who are interested.”

   During a virtual special session in March, the school board overwhelmingly approved entering into an agreement with Burgettstown, Pa.-based JTSA Sports for architectural and engineering services to create the trail, which would be available for students and the public. The project primarily requires excavation and surfacing work, and once completed the course will wind from the Edison campus into the nearby woods. The path has the ability to reverse, so treks could span a total of 3.1 miles.  Beattie noted that the trail could be used for more than health purposes; other ideas are to utilize the area for science classes and other forms of outdoor education. Federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds are financing the project.

  In other matters, the board:

–Approved series of classified and certified substitute positions;

–Approved supplemental contracts for Karen Crawford as freshman class advisor, Mark Pittman as assistant wrestling coach, George Ash for junior high boys’ basketball, Jimmy Panella for junior high football and Jim McMillian for volunteer volleyball;

–Amended administrative contracts for district Technology Coordinator Rachael Granatir and Assistant Technology Coordinator Tyler Roush;

–Accepted a resignation from EHS teacher Mycaela Ensell;

–Approved Erica Hannan as a substitute van driver;

–Approved a Memorandum of Understanding for school resource officers with Springfield Township and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. SRO’s include Ben Swoyer at EHS, Mark Clark at John Gregg Elementary and Dave Wojtas at Stanton Elementary;

–Approved payment to the Columbiana County ESC for occupational therapy assistant’s expenses totaling $14,792.88;

–Approved an agreement for cortical visually impaired (CVI) services with Fundamentals First, Inc., and Alisha Waugh for the 2022-2023 school year

–Approved a school accident insurance plan through K & K Insurance Group for the 2022-2023 school year;

–Approved inter-agency and transition agreements with HARCATUS Head Start;

–Entered into a distance education agreement with the East Central Ohio ESC for an American Sign Language instructor;

–Approved an agreement with Kendall Behavioral Solutions, LLC, for professional services;

–Set the next meeting for Aug. 23 at 6 p.m. at EHS Fieldhouse.