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Contract shines light on school building

EAST LIVERPOOL — A contract was approved Monday by the city school board that will shed some light on the junior-senior high school building.

The board voted 4-0, with member Patricia Persohn absent, for a contract with Protech Electric at a cost of $24,700 which Principal Randy Taylor said will provide illumination for both sides of the building’s exterior as well as low voltage lighting along the sidewalks.

Some of the work will be done in-house by the maintenance staff and the landscaping class, Taylor said.

Although he supported the measure, board member Richard Wolf expressed some concern, saying many experts contend that lighting school buildings actually invites vandalism.

He agreed the district has a beautiful facility and this is a good opportunity to highlight it.

In another building-related matter, Wolf responded to comments made by member Larry Walton, who expressed his sadness about another school-related death of a student in another district.

Wolf pointed out there was a time when the district “wanded” students but that it has “gotten away from that,” even though it is “highly possible one of our students or someone else entering a building can bring a weapon.”

Noting that most school incidents have not involved outsiders, Wolf said, “We ought to look at things. We now have an armed policeman on duty, but I don’t know if that’s sufficient.”

Offering some areas of the buildings he sees as more vulnerable, Wolf voiced his concerns about needing heightened security, and Taylor said that was an issue to be discussed “more privately.”

A public body is permitted to discuss some security issues in executive session.

During his report, Taylor told the board that junior Nikyah Beckwith took sixth place among 40 competitors during debate competition at Liberty High School, saying the speech and debate team was re-started last year after a hiatus of at least 15 years.

This Saturday, East Liverpool will host a regional debate tournament that is expected to draw 200 high school students, Taylor reported.

In personnel matters, the board approved:

— The resignation of Nikayla Edgell as eighth grade girls basketball coach

— The appointment of Brian May, varsity baseball coach and Nate Conley, reserve baseball coach

— The appointment of Shelby Stowers, crossing guard at LaCroft Elementary

— Moving third grade teacher Kristina Moff on the salary schedule from Step BB-3 to A-3 to $42,150.75, effective with the second semester of the school year

— The school calendar for the 2017-2018 school year, with any required make up of calamity days at the end of the school year.

Board President Sara Porter named committees for the year (chairman first): Athletic: Porter, Wolf; Audit/Finance/Legal/Policy: Walton, Porter; Buildings and Grounds/Transportation: Bill Cowan, Wolf; Personnel: Persohn, Cowan; Curriculum & Technology: Porter, Persohn.

Persohn was named as representative to the East Liverpool High School Alumni Association City Schools Education and Scholarship Fund; Cowan was named representative to the Fawcett Foundation; and Walton was named legislative liaison/Ohio School Board Association delegate.

Porter named a committee to handle negotiations that consists of Taylor, Treasurer Kathy Jo Laughlin, Cowan, Principal Jack Cunningham and Porter.

Taylor said he expects contract negotiations to begin in the spring.

No action was taken following a brief executive session to discuss personnel/compensation.

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