EDISON LEADERS — The Edison Local Board of Education regrouped for 2026 but returned some familiar faces to lead the panel as Aaron Richardson and Ron Smyth were respectively re-elected as board president and vice president. On hand for the meering were, from left, front, Superintendent Bill Beattie, board President Aaron Richardson, Vice President Ron Smyth, and Assistant Superintendent Julie Kireta; back, board members Anna Ault, Matt Bordash and Josh McConnell, and district Treasurer Amanda Gump. -- Contributed

HAMMONDSVILLE — The Edison Local Board of Education regrouped for 2026 and returned some familiar faces to lead the panel.

Aaron Richardson and Ron Smyth will continue as board president and vice president, respectively, following their election at the organizational session on Jan. 14. They were sworn in by district Treasurer Amanda Gump and officials approved a series of operational items for the year. In addition, Smyth named legislative liaison and delegate for the Ohio School Boards Association annual conference in the fall.

During the subsequent regular session, Superintendent Bill Beattie discussed stipends for school administrators who oversaw responsibilities for attendance following the recent resignation of truancy officer Anthony Pierro. The board had accepted Pierro’s resignation, which included his supplemental coaching duties, and Beattie said building leaders had taken on tasks such as submitting letters and making phone calls to notify parents and the juvenile court in cases of chronic absences.

“I don’t think the time is right to fill the position now, but it will be valuable moving forward,” Beattie continued.

The proposals were placed on the February meeting agenda for the board’s consideration.

In other matters, the board:

• Approved the resignation of longtime Edison High School band director Marc Sansone, who plans to retire at the end of the school year, while Laura Maple was hired as a non-certified substitute at Stanton Elementary;

• Approved memorandums of understanding with Youngstown State University, Kent State University and Belmont College for the College Credit Plus Dual Enrollment Program for the 2026-2027 school year;

• Approved R.A.R. Engineering Group Inc. for professional service for water and soil monitoring required by the Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations;

• Permitted the Edison Junior High Wrestling team to host a tournament Sunday in the school gym;

• Approved the purchase of two new school buses for the district’s fleet;

• Was honored for School Board Recognition Month for January with certificates provided by the superintendent;

• Set a planning session for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the EHS fieldhouse with the next regular meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 19 at Stanton Elementary.