New app, website planned for Steubenville schools

STEUBENVILLE -- A new website and app linking all Steubenville City Schools to students and parents are in the works.

At its meeting Wednesday, the Steubenville Board of Education got a peek at the website, which is under construction, and learned details about it from Natalie Campana, who heads the high school's career-technical department and handles publicity for the school district.

Superintendent Melinda Young said Campana, Brian D'Aurora and Jeanne Newman, technical coordinators for the district, and others have been working together to streamline the school district's internet presence.

Campana told the board the site will include links to web pages for each of the district's five schools and a district calendar that will be updated each time the schools' principals make a change to their own online calendars.

Found at rollred.org, the site also will include contact information for teachers and other staff, menus for the district's breakfasts and lunches, student handbooks for all grade levels, information about the health clinics operated by CHANGE Inc. at each of the schools and a link to ProgressBook, through which students and parents may access information about current grades and attendance.

But Campana and other school officials said perhaps most significant will be a single new app through which timely information may be conveyed to smartphones and other electronic devices.

She noted that in the past, schools have employed various platforms to offer their own apps.

It was noted the app may be used to send announcements of cancellations, delays or early dismissals as well as upcoming school events.

Young confirmed she will continue to use local media to announce weather-related cancellations or delays.

It was noted a chat function will allow teachers to communicate electronically with students and parents, with the schools' principals able to monitor such exchanges.

Upon seeing the new website displayed on a touchscreen computer in the board's meeting room, Board Vice President Matt Davis said, "That's very good. I like that all of the information is together."

In other business, the board:

– Approved continuation in the federal school breakfast and lunch program.

Young confirmed the school district again is able to provide the meals at no cost to any student because it meets eligibility requirements tied to household income and public assistance received by local families.

She said continued eligibility also depends on the number of students consuming the meals, so that's counted to qualify for future involvement.

Young said free lunches have been provided to Steubenville students for more than a dozen years while the school district was one of the first in Ohio to offer free breakfasts under former Superintendent Rich Ranallo.

– Approved a resolution honoring the life and service of Pete Barren, a former school board member and longtime supporter of Steubenville City Schools, who died Saturday, Aug. 15.

"He was really a solid supporter of Steubenville City Schools," said Young.

The resolution noted Barren, a 1959 graduate of Steubenville High School, served on the board from 1981 to 1997 and later on the Steubenville Schools Foundation board, through which he was involved in raising scholarship funds for local students.

It states, "Pete was a man of integrity, kindness, loyalty and genuine concern for others, whose commitment to Steubenville City Schools was never about recognition or personal gain, but rather about doing what he believed was right for the students and school district he loved."

It adds, "Pete was a trusted friend and adviser to many, always willing to listen, offer thoughtful and honest advice, and share his experience and wisdom without a personal agenda."

Noting he often saw Barren at Steubenville High School football games, Davis said, "It's going to be a little strange walking into the stadium and not seeing him. He was such a staple."

"He was a huge supporter and had a wealth of knowledge," Davis added.

Bobby Lamantia, the district's treasurer, agreed, saying, "He was full of knowledge of Steubenville."

– Renewed an agreement with Catholic Central Schools allowing a special education teacher from the public school district to serve there as has been done, as needed, for several years.

Funding for the position is provided by both school systems, with Steubenville City Schools' portion covered by federal money allocated for special education.

– Named Board President William Hendrix and Davis as its representative and alternate, respectively, to the Ohio School Board Association's annual conference in Columbus in November.