WELLSVILLE — Wellsville Schools Superintendent David Cappuzzello told the school board Monday that the district’s staff impresses him — they are good at what they do, and they know what they are doing. He said in 36 years this is the best he has had, and he trusts them completely.

He also thanked the substitutes in each building.

“The applications we have had for almost every position is just unbelievable right now,” Cappuzzello said. “People want to be here and people want to be working for us, and that is really good stuff.”

The district is in the process of getting another bus driver due to one driver not being able to pass the vision test.

Cappuzzello also addressed House Bill 96 (HB96), noting that the district has to change attendance again since the state has changed it a bit. He also noted that the no phone policy might be changed by the state to restrict all students from having phones in school. Right now, the district allows older students to have their phones before school and during lunch.

Cappuzzello will be holding a staff meeting on Wednesday to discuss these possible changes and more.

There is a meeting on Thursday with the builders from the high school to see what options are available moving forward and a meeting on Friday they will have a follow up with a team of committees made up of grant writers that specialize in Appalachia. Capuzzello said these three days are going to be big for the district.

He handed a letter signed by the county school superintendents and treasurers to go out to the communities to show what impacts taxation has on the district in the county.

Garfield Principal Shelbie Householder recognized kindergarten students Kyle Dixon and Journee Bailey as the October students of the month.

She noted that there are a lot of great things happening at Garfield including a well-attended parent-teacher conference, an appearance by the Wellsville Volunteer Fire Department (WVFD) with a presentation about fire safety during Fire Safety Week. WVFD firefighters brought a fire truck with them which the students got to see.

September’s attendance rates were good at Garfield, with Pre-K and third grade at 92% and first and second grade at 93% attendance. There were 59 students with perfect attendance who received certificates during September.

Householder also said the teachers are doing a phenomenal job implementing the second year of the adopted HMH Into Reading Curriculum.

Garfield test in the 61st percentile for proficiency based on the NWEA MAP English Language Arts Assessment during recent testing. The building was ranked in the 53rd percentile during the spring assessment.

Daw principal Erin Clemmer told the board members that the Tiger’s Den Reading Program has had a full house every day with students enjoying reading books of their choice with adults and that the fifth- and sixth-grade student councils are campaigning and voting.

She also said the attendance challenge is back in full swing with classes competing against each other for best attendance.

Daw students of the month for September are Jaxyn Harris, sixth grade; Eddie Wilson, fifth grade; William Debray, fourth grade; and Rylie Holt, third grade.

Wellsville Jr. Sr. High School students of the month are Brantley Orr, Jr. High, and Beautiful Jones-Bradley, Sr. High. Clayten Kersey was selected as the Care and Share Community Club Senior of the Month.

Jr. Sr. High School principal Allison Scott told board members the seventh and eighth grade intervention teachers have been trained on a high-quality literacy intervention for students who will have reading intervention four days a week and students have had many opportunities to explore career and college readiness with visits from Malone, Walsh Youngstown State Kent State universities and University of Akron as well as the Army, and the National Guard.

There have been 21 students who passed Microsoft Certifications exams with three students passing additional certification in Word Expert.

The Jr. Sr. High School is still holding above 90% in attendance and for each grade level with the seventh grade continuing to be the leader at 95%.

There were 39 students recognized for perfect attendance during September.

Scott noted that breakfast and lunch are outperforming expectations, which was not the case last year, but there have been added choices for students this year which seems to have sparked their interest in the food program.

During the new business portion of the meeting, board members approved the acceptance of a donation in the amount of $250 from Vitalant for the Y-Teens Scholarship, a field trip for the Ancient World History students to Carnegie National History Museum on Oct. 23 and a motion to approve the Gifted Identification and Service Plan for the 2025-2026 school year.

Cappuzzello explained that schools are not only required to identify gifted students but also have a plan to service them.

During the finance portion of the meeting, board members approved the financial report including transfers and modifications of funds and then and now certificates as presented to them.

They also approved the sale of old band uniforms that are passed their useful life; the student affiliation agreement with Kent State University’s nursing program; Columbiana County Board of Development Disabilities (CCBDD) to provide educational services to students from the district; an agreement with Franciscan University Nursing Department to collaborate planning and providing clinical education and practice for nursing students; S.A. Comunale fire system inspections contract from November 2025 to October 2026; the excess costs for students at Beaver Local School District for the school year; a contract with Wills Mobility and Vision Services LLC for the school year; a transfer by the treasurer in the amount of $299,536.05 payment from Southfield Energy from the General Fund to the Permanent Improvement Fund, the fiscal year 2026 five-year forecast as presented and the resolution requiring the continuation of a five year financial forecast.

During the personnel portion of the meeting, board members approved multiple coaches, a supplemental contract for yearbook, a short hour employee, and substitutes.

They also approved the resignations of Tammy Muschweck, intervention specialist, and Cynthia Earich, science teacher, both for retirement purposes and both effective May 22,2026 and Breann Napierkowski, competition cheer coach, effective Sept. 30.

Householder was approved for competition cheer coach.

Board Member Dale Palmer said he was impressed with the attendance numbers and was glad to see the students receiving certificates and was happy with the involvement of community and communication with the community.

Board Member Shauna Scott said she was pleased to see the students named student of the month getting recognized and receiving certificates at the board meetings. She noted that she thinks it’s a phenomenal program and that she has children at the school who are always excited to say who got the award each month and that test scores are high.

Board Member Chris Amato commented on the attendance being good questioned if teacher attendance was tracked along with student attendance. High School Principal Allison Scott said assistant principal Kyli Exline tracks teacher attendance.

Board President Gary Althiser said he was at the Trunk-or-Treat held over the weekend at the Jr. Sr. High School and that there is so much going on in the town that people don’t get enough credit for.

The Wellsville Board of Education meets the third Monday of each month at 5 p.m. in the media center at the Jr. Sr. High School. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Nov. 17.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com