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DILLONVALE -- Superintendent Coy Sudvary held his first official meeting with the Buckeye Local Board of Education on Aug. 21, and a new board member was added following the appointment longtime educator Melissa Supanik.
A Tiltonsville resudent, Supanik was named to fill the remaining term of Greg Glover, who was absent from the session but cited personal reasons for his resignation. Following a brief executive session, the board accepted his resignation and appointed Supanik to complete the term that ends Dec. 31.
Board President Ashley West said it was only fitting since Supanik was running for Glover's vacant seat in the Nov. 7 general election
"We decided it was in the best interest of the district to appoint Supanik to occupy the seat for the remainder of the term," West said. "We're excited about having her expertise on the board. She was running in the fall and it made sense to bring her on. She'll be sworn in at the next meeting."
West thanked Glover, who served for one term on the school board, for his service and wished him well.
Supanik retired after more than three decades as a teacher and administrator for Buckeye Local Schools and said she was excited to serve in a different capacity.
"I have spent 35 years in the district and this is a continuation of my background," she said. "I retired in May. All my life, I've been in Buckeye Local."
She attended district schools and served as a handicapped preschool, Title I reading and technology teacher at Buckeye North, South and West elementaries, plus she was principal at West for three years and South for one year between 2007-12. Supanik has lived in the area with her husband, Bob, and two stepchildren, Charlie and Bobby, and enjoys time with her grandson, Kade. But she also sees returning to the district as a thrilling opportunity to bring her experience to the table.
"I felt I could bring my experience to the board from the other side as a teacher. I just want to make sure Buckeye Local is the best it can be. I feel under the leadership we have, we can go places."
Supanik is expected to be sworn in prior to the next school board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at the district office in Dillonvale. Her name remains on the fall ballot along with incumbent Teresa George, who is running unopposed for her board seat, to fill a four-year term starting Jan. 1.
Among other matters:
≤ The board addressed concerns with a dilapidated structure at the Buckeye North campus that was part of property that has been acquired by Wells Township. District Treasurer Merri Matthews said the township had plans to utilize a former bus garage that has fallen into disrepair, although the sales contract included the removal of the structure. She, Sudvary and North Elementary Principal Susan Nolan all agreed it was in poor condition and should be razed. Matthews said she had spoken with township officials and the district's attorney would reach out to the township's counsel about enforcing the contract with the board's approval. The board later agreed to proceed;
≤ Matthews announced a negotiating team meeting with the Buckeye Local Classroom Teachers Association on Wednesday at the district office;
≤ Personnel matters were approved with the resignations of teacher Miranda Wesley and bus driver and supplemental bus coordinator Lori Vinci, the latter who became district transportation supervisor; the re-employment of Stephanie Waggoner and Angelee Kokosinski; the employment Karen Barcus, Cheryl DeYarmon, Brooklynn Miller, Hailee Nelson, Allison Trekal and Greta Gazda-Roe as long-term substitute teachers, bus driver Gary Lucas and Beth Petrosino as district supplemental bus coordinator; the continuing contract of custodian Danny McComb; cooks Angela Taylor and Brian Young, custodians Dustin Jarvis, Mark Olenar, Dominic Panepucci and Leroy Strupe, educational aides Emily Beck, Danielle DaGrava and Kelly Sutphin and educational aide/secretary Caryn Porter as returning substitutes; cook and educational aides Rachel Blower and Rene Fields, cooks Paula Brown, Stephanie Lindsay, Heather Mullins, Carol Nestor and Michelle Steffik and cook, educational aide and secretary Jordan Brookins; and supplemental duties for Donald Yeager for head girls track coach at BLHS, Lucas Fabry as assistant bowling coach at BLHS and Bowling Club co-adviser at BLJHS, Katie Beeman as assistant girls basketball coach at BLHS, Stephanie Sliva as volunteer girls basketball coach and Alonna Morrison as National Honor Society adviser at BLHS; and Jackson Otto as assistant wrestling coach at BLHS, Joe Soos as assistant boys' basketball coach at BLHS and Richard Bolock II as volunteer football coach at BLJHS;
≤ Officials also approved the retirement of cook Toni Fillippi, with Sudvary thanking her for her many years of service to the students and staff of Buckeye Local Schools;
≤ The board named West as a delegate and Brooke Stingle as alternate to serve the district at the annual Ohio School Boards Association meeting in November; and
≤ Board members congratulated Susan Nolan for the successful Back-to-School Bash, recognized Kaitlyn Merkel as the Jefferson County Fair Queen, lauded students involved in the fair program and wished everyone good luck in the new school year.