Toronto school board bids farewell to treasurer

TORONTO -- The Toronto Board of Education bid farewell on Thursday to Coleen Wickham, who has retired after 30 years of applying her accounting skills to local school districts.

Board President Jay Foster thanked Wickham for her 10 years of service to Toronto City Schools, noting she served as the district's treasurer through the construction of the new elementary school, the challenges brought on by the pandemic and other changes and challenges.

"We just appreciate your time here. It's been a good 10 years here," he told her, adding, "There's a lot to be said for people who dedicate their lives to the greater good of public education."

A Richmond native, Wickham is a graduate of Jefferson Union High School and the former Jefferson Technical College, where she earned a degree in accounting.

Wickham said she started as an assistant to Linda Molinaro, treasurer of the Wellsville City School District, who encouraged her to obtain a license as a school treasurer.

After serving the Wellsville district for six and a half years, she served as treasurer for the Edison Local School District for 13 years.

Wickham said she looks forward to spending more time with her family, several of whom were present.

She added she won't be a stranger to Toronto because she has grandchildren who are students and plans to attend school events in which they are involved.

Thursday's meeting also was the first for Kayla Whitlatch, who was hired earlier this year to fill Wickham's position.

A 2009 graduate of Toronto High School, Whitlatch was elected Toronto's city auditor earlier this year.

She also served as Steubenville City Schools' treasurer for several years.

Having worked as an assistant to Wickham from 2013 to 2015, Whitlatch said, "It's like I've come full circle."

She is a graduate of Mount Union University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in accounting, and Franciscan University of Steubenville, where she received a master's degree in business.

In other business, the board:

≤ Approved the $19,999 purchase of a rider burnisher to clean school floors and a $900 contract with Kelly Excavating to plow snow from and spread salt on parking areas.

≤ Renewed contracts for the following athletic personnel: Josh Franke, senior high head football coach; Jaret Aubiel, Darrick Phillips, Dan Shaffer, Rick Daugherty and Mike Conlon, senior high assistant football coaches; Joe Chadwick, junior high head football coach; Ted Kinsey, junior high assistant head football coach; Lori-Lynn Jackson, senior high head volleyball coach; Chelsey Stockdale, senior high assistant volleyball coach; and Amy Barcus, junior high head volleyball coach; Natalie Mousourakis, senior high head cheering coach; Kelli Naylor, senior high assistant cheering coach; Jessica Maynard, junior high head cheering coach; and Erle Heaton, equipment manager.

The votes were unanimous except in the case of Franke, with board member J.J. Liddick abstaining because he is a relative.

The board also accepted the resignation of varsity golf coach Rob Suffoletta, who is stepping down from that role after more than 20 years.

≤ Made plans to meet next at 4:45 p.m. Jan. 11 at the high school's library. Foster said the meeting was moved from the third Thursday of the month, its usual meeting date, because the state requires organizational meetings for the year to be held before Jan. 15.

The board will name a president and vice president and committee members at that time.