TORONTO — Not long after Toronto school teachers were awarded three grants by the Jefferson County Educational Service Center, the school district’s board of education has awarded three grants of its own for other school projects.

Superintendent Maureen Taggart said in recent years, the board was inspired by the center’s Best Practice Grants, which are awarded in several local school districts, to provide its own grants for similar endeavors.

Each of the three are in the amount of $700.

Grace Huddleston, a science teacher at Toronto Elementary School, received one to engage about 140 pupils in hydroponics, a manner of growing plants in water containing nutrients instead of soil.

Huddleston said they will use concepts of science and math while engaged in the activity.

Eric Frey, an environmental science teacher at the junior high school, received another to involve about 130 seventh- and eighth-graders in fishing at a local private pond.

Frey said the pupils will learn about local species of fish as well as the basics of fishing, including proper catch-and-release techniques, and will hear about ecosystems from local conservationists and wildlife officers.

And Katie Mitchell, a kindergarten teacher at the elementary school, will use the third grant to organize a series of Family Fun Days, in which family members will be invited to participate in games, crafts and other activities with the children.

Mitchell hopes the events will help to strengthen the connection between the school and pupils’ families, encouraging parents’ and other family members’ interest and support of the children’s education.

The board also heard from Kelli Naylor, head cheering coach at Toronto High School, who sought permission for the competition cheering squad to participate in the Universal Cheerleaders Association National Championship at Disney World in January 2027.

Naylor said the squad must host a UCA cheering camp, which it may do next summer, and qualify for the national competition at a regional event, with the closest being held in Columbus in October.

She said pending that and the board’s approval, the squad will raise funds for the trip and lodging at the amusement park.

Prior to the meeting, Naylor said the current competition squad has done quite well at a handful of cheering competitions this year, placing first in its division at events held in Uhrichsville and Mineral City, with others to come.

She noted the current squad includes six juniors and three freshman.

The board is expected to consider the request at its next meeting on Jan. 15. Scheduled to be held in the Toronto Junior-Senior High School library, the meeting will start at 4:45 p.m. and include the board’s re-organization for the new year.

Board member Randy Henry noted the Toronto High School varsity basketball team will be competing next week in a national tournament held at Universal Studios Florida.

In other business, the board:

• Agreed to employ Kelly Excavating for snow removal services this winter, with the local business to receive $450 to plow snow from the school campus’ parking lot and $550 to spread salt, with a minimum of three trucks to be used.

The board also agreed to use local media and the school system’s automated phone system to alert parents and guardians of school delays or cancelations.

• Approved the replacement of 19 light fixtures in the elementary school’s gym by TS Electric at a cost of $6,618.

• Agreed to renew contracts for Naylor, Jaret Aubiel as head high school football coach, Hunter Sistilli as head golf coach, Shannon Bahen as head volleyball coach, Courtney Hatcher as head track/cross country coach, Jessica Maynard as junior high head cheering coach and Nate Stewart as junior high head football coach.

It also approved physical education contracts for Aubiel, Bahen, Stewart and Trevor Host.

• Agreed to provide about $1,550 toward the cost of students’ participation in the Close-Up program in Washington, D.C., supplementing students’ fundraising efforts as it has done in the past.