SALINEVILLE — The Southern Local Board of Education took action on Sept. 9 and approved its latest agreement with the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE) as well as a resolution to benefit retiring employees.

During the session at Southern Local High School, leaders greenlighted a negotiated agreement with OAPSE Chapter No. 287 which impacts about 50 classified employees. Superintendent Tom Cunningham said changes included giving the workers an annual increase over the next three years and adding a group of classroom behavioral specialists who were initially contracted through the Jefferson County Educational Service Center to the union.

“I believe this is a fair deal for both the school district and OAPSE employees,” District Treasurer Greg Sabbato said. “We worked hard to give everyone the best agreement possible.”

The board also approved a resolution establishing a tax deferral program known as the Southern Local School District Retirement Plan. Under the plan, school members from administration to classified staff receive pay upon retirement and a special employer nonelective contribution would provide for the deferral of unused accumulated sick and for certain eligible employees. The contributions would be made beginning following the affected employee’s retirement.

Sabbato explained that it was a vehicle to support retirees to reduce tax burdens and help them keep more of the money they earned.

“When employees retire, they receive severance packages that include payment for unused sick or vacation days,” Sabbato said. “By placing those funds into a 403(b) account, retirees gain tax advantages and more flexibility in deciding how to use the money. It’s a non-pension payout, so it won’t impact their pension benefits at all.”

Under personnel matters, officials approved substitutes for the 2025-26 school year, including teachers Tiffany McDevitt, John Bryan and Cameren Grodhaus, teacher and paraprofessional Emily McCaulley, paraprofessional and secretary Tina Smith and custodian, cafeteria worker and secretary Amber Engle; named Gary Bowling as volunteer drumline instructor and Jesse Liggitt as assistant band director; named Brian Spahlinger and Cameren Grodhaus as assistant football coaches; granted a one-year teaching contract for Brian Eastham as an intervention specialist at Southern Local Jr./Sr. High School; approved one-year contracts for Mikaela Bentley as a bus driver and Diane Callehan and Brittanv Homewood as four-hour cafeteria workers; approved one-year limited contracts for paraprofessionals Tiffany McDevitt and Diane Meister and bus mechanic helper/bus driver Leonard McKenzie; approved the resignations of cafeteria worker Brenda Stewart and paraprofessional Sue Grace, wishing them well in their future endeavors; approved Virtual Learning Academy (VLA) grading stipends to teachers Shannon Rodgers, Gerard Grimm, Todd Walters, Lisa Houck, Kathy Randolph, Alyssa Lockhart and Nikki Lewis; approved VLA grading positions for the Indiana Academy online school to Alyssa Lockhart, Tiffany Scheel, Shannon Rodgers, Gerard Grimm, Amanda Wrobleski, Todd Walters, George Whittaker and Brenda Kekel; approved class behavioral specialists Jessica Buzzard, Jackie Giovenco, Rachael Hopper, Brenda McCulley, Kya McCulley, Scott McNeil, Kristen Smith, Kristina Sosack, Amanda Vernon, Dawn Spooner, Kristen Walter, Richard Haught and Brittany Crow; and approved the resignation of physical education teacher Eric Sampson, who was then named online administrator for the Indian Academy. A full-time substitute will be on staff until a permanent P.E. teacher could be selected.

Among other action, the board:

— Approved permanent appropriations for Fiscal Year 2026,

— Heard from Cunningham that school began on a positive note and a curriculum council meeting will be set up in October to discuss ideas for improvement. He added that enrollment has been rising but suggested that people apply early to accommodate scheduling, while Sabbato added that elementary classes have grown for the first time in years;

— Learned that a new plow truck was onsite for the winter while preventative maintenance was completed on the boiler system, plus several cooling units will be replaced on the roof in October;

— Approved the annual membership with Family and Children First Council;

— Accepted a cost quote from Arrow Electric Inc. to replace the existing Simplex Fire Panel;

— Set the next regular meeting for Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. at the SLHS Media Center.