DILLONVALE — Buckeye Local High School pupils will have a chance to connect with the school board as a new initiative gets underway to include student representatives.

During the Oct. 21 meeting in Dillonvale, the board approved a move to establish student representatives who will gain input from their peers and share them with the district panel. Board Vice President Teresa George said she and BLHS Principal Luke Parsons worked on the plan and it would eventually include two representatives for each of the high school grades and provide students with an opportunity to participate in the school governance and decision-making processes. The program would incorporate student perspectives into board discussions and foster leadership skills among the student body.

“Luke and I discussed getting this implemented,” George said. “We considered having the juniors and seniors the first year. The second year, there would be two seniors, two juniors, two sophomores and two freshmen.”

She provided copies of application forms and said eligibility requirements include demonstrating strong academic performance, having consistent school attendance and exhibiting a positive attitude, good behavior and strong character. The applicants must complete forms detailing their qualifications and three teachers’ signatures are required to vouch for their suitability. The applications are then reviewed by the principal, assistant principal and school counselors and the chosen applicants would be interviewed by school board members.

Once selected, each term runs for one year and students must reapply each year to continue their service. They would be responsible for attending school board meetings; representing students’ interests and concerns; participating in discussions on school policies and initiatives; and reporting board discussions and decisions to the student body. To remain a representative, the students must maintain satisfactory performance in academics, attendance and attitude. George said the program will provide students with real-world experience in governance and leadership; ensure they are considered in board decisions; foster communication between the student body and school administration; and develop public speaking, critical thinking and advocacy skills. The school board would also establish an evaluation process on the effectiveness of the program and feedback would be collected from student representatives, board members, school staff and the general student body to continually improve the program.

“I feel it would be good for students to sit in on meetings,” George added. “I’d also like them to go to the elementary schools and sit in on student council meetings and get input to bring to the school board.”

The board approved the move and George planned to work with Parsons to get the process started.

Officials also approved several personnel matters, including the retirement of longtime Buckeye North Elementary teacher Suzanne Stoker, which will be effective on May 31. Stoker will depart after 35 years with the district and Principal Susan Nolan said she has done a fantastic job with her students and will be missed. The board also approved the resignation of aide Aivri Ruttencutter, effective Friday; the hiring of cook Nancy Carpenter on a six-month probationary period; the employment of 21st Century Grant Extended Learning Center program co-site coordinators Nicole Billingsley and Amy McCutcheon at North Elementary, Lindsey Farmer and Kelley Novak at South Elementary and Ashley Krzys and Julie Packer at West Elementary; the addition of substitutes Shannon Flaherty as educational aide and Kimberly Hawthorne-Burek as cook, custodian and educational aide; supplemental duties for Charles Sempkowski as head boys track coach and Lucas Fabry as assistant softball coach at BLHS; and pupil activity contracts for Hank Kendjorsky as assistant wrestling coach at BLHS; Gary Dulkowski as assistant softball coach at BLHS; Jimmy Colabelli as volunteer girls basketball coach at BLHS; Mark Crowe as seventh-grade wrestling coach, Jarrell Bailey as eighth-grade boys’ basketball coach and Ryder Kindberg-Colabelli as seventh-grade girls basketball coach at BLJHS; and an agreement with the Jefferson County Educational Service Center Governing Board for Title I teacher services to provide tutoring to nonpublic students. Superintendent Coy Sudvary noted that supplemental posts would be added for elementary student council, yearbook and Destination Imagination advisers as well as creative writing, eSports, Envirothon and FFA at the high school.

Among other matters:

• Maintenance Supervisor Tony Panepucci said concrete was replaced outside the commons area at BLHS to accommodate wheelchair access and officials were working on the HVAC unit in the Panther Gym. Under his safety report, he said a virtual safety meeting was set to review district policies and he planned to meet with the school resource officers and also conduct a CPR refresher course for staff;

• District Program Manager Susan Bachmann said the ELC program was underway at the elementary schools and it was the second of the five-year 21st Century Learning Grant program. Before- and after-school programs were available between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. with the latter including dinner, math and reading intervention, homework help, computers, arts and crafts and other activities. She added that the grant provided 40 laptops for each elementary building and a Clevertouch touchscreen program for South Elementary;

• Buckeye Local Classroom Teachers Association President Gen Varkony said the organization’s Oct. 12 tailgate event was successful;

• Sudvary said construction on the two new classrooms at BLJHS was nearly complete while he was waiting for language from the architects to move on work at World War II Memorial Stadium. Plans are to replace the field surface and fencing, while the small set of bleachers will be relocated from the endzone to the visitor’s side. Leaders will also look at railings and other priorities at the site;

• Nolan, who serves as Alpha Delta Kappa chapter president and state president-elect, discussed ADK Month for October. ADK is an international organization of women educators founded in 1947 and has more than 125,000 members worldwide. Nolan said 30 of her chapter members are retired or currently Buckeye Local educators;

• Sudvary announced upcoming events including no school on Nov. 6 for professional development and Veteran’s Day programs on Nov. 8 at North Elementary at 9:30 a.m. and South at 2 p.m. as well as Nov. 11 at BLJHS at 9 a.m. and West Elementary at 1:30 p.m.;

• Officials recognized BLHS Homecoming King and Queen Chris Ebright and Avah Williams, thanked Luke Parsons for a successful homecoming week and congratulated the seventh-grade girls volleyball team for winning the BMC Championship;

• Leaders approved about $1,700 in donations for the new Panther mascot uniform;

• The board set the next meeting for 5:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at South Elementary in Tiltonsville.