Daw Elementary principal Erin Clemmer announced Monday’s Wellsville BOE meeting that DAW Elementary is the recipient of a $2,000 grant from the CASH Coalition and the Bonnie Hoppel School Health Program. The grant will be used to build raised beds for vegetable gardens.

Clemmer noted they are in the early stages of the project, so she does not have much to report on it or provide a timeline. But she expects to be able to provide more information at the next board meeting.

Daw Elementary had its student council elections with Madison Malone being elected president; Sophia Swogger, vice president; Gianna Mathess, secretary; Juliana Reese, treasurer and Wyatt Putnam, Zoey Show, Eddie Wilson, Brooklyn Ramsey, Jaxyn Harris, Tate Simms, Jules Hoit, Kaleb Wooley, Savanna Keener, Koleigh Foden and Ryan Burkhammer as class representatives.

Fifth- and sixth-grade students are getting news experience, with one student from each grade recording on an alternating basis the Daw Daily News segments which air each day for the school. The students will be taking a field trip to WKBN news station to learn about broadcast journalism.

Attendance rates for October were third grade, 95.21%; fourth grade, 95.76%; fifth grade, 95.30%; and sixth grade, 96.28%

Jr. Sr. High School Principal Allison Scott reported positive academic and attendance numbers to board members during Monday’s Wellsville Board of Education.

For the first quarter, 35 students earned 4.0 honor roll; 25 students earned 3.75-3.99 honor roll and 67 students earned 3.00-3.74 Honor Roll

Scott said the teachers have been working on their TBT to determine standards, exit statements and “I Can” statement for content areas, the school has started using the FLEX Period tutoring students that have test to complete for graduation, the sophomores will complete the Future Plans Assessment and career counseling.

She noted they received feedback that Wellsville students are above typical when it comes to knowledge of careers.

There have been 25 high school students passing the Microsoft Word Certification Exam, with 11 passing the Word Expert Exams. Two students, Dakota Dotson and William Lockhart, have passed the Excel Associate, PowerPoint Associate, and Office Specialist exam. These exams count toward an Ohio Graduation Seal.

The Jr. Sr. High School has a 92% attendance rate with the seventh-grade having the highest percentage at 94% and the seniors having the lowest % at 88%.

The chronic absenteeism rate is at 34.35% with a goal of 26.1%. The rate has decreased three percent since the 2024-2025 school year.

The school did see a 2.3% increase in attendance from the students that were a part of the 2×10 check-in strategy which involves teachers and staff checking in with the same two students every day for a 10 period.

Scott said the school is up to date on all safety drills and is working with the SRO to determine a date for a full-scale lockdown before Christmas break.

The school will host a blood drive on Nov. 24. Anyone aged 15 or older can donate.

Braden English was named Jr. High Student of the Month;. Rylan Podwel was named High School Student of the Month. Noah Board was named the Care and Share Senior of the Month,

Assistant principal and athletic director Kyle Exline spoke on the achievements of many of the student athletes and provided an update on fall and winter sports.

Exline acquired opinions from fall athletes about programs. He will present the findings during the Nov. 20 Coffee & Community Event as well as share the results with staff to uncover strengths and weaknesses.

He said the fall sport banquet was a success and was well-attended at both the junior high and high school levels.

Garfield Elementary School, Principal Shelbie Householder told board members that October’s attendance rates were at 94% for the preschool and second grade and 93% for kindergarten and first-grade.

Intervention groups are in full swing at Garfield. There are 31 first and second-grade students in an extension group focusing on comprehension and above-grade level learning. She noted that throughout the year there would be projects incorporated for students to apply what they are reading in a creative output.

For kindergarten, there is a focus on phonemic awareness and phonics which allows the students “to get a deeper understanding and skillset of rhyme and production syllabification and decoding,” Householder said.

She also said she was grateful for the volunteers who are coming to help with the school’s Scholastic Book Fair and the community members who participated in the “Share the Fair” initiative which allows families and friends to donate money to the book so all students can enjoy a book. Information for Share the Fair can be found on the Garfield Elementary Facebook page.

Garfield Students of the Month for November are Henry Ross and Paisley Bird, both first-grade students.

“I am extremely proud of the progress our students have made during our first term of school,” Householder said. “Our teachers and staff are collectively working above grade levels to ensure that every child is meeting their full potential. I’m excited to see where the rest of the year takes us,” she said.

During the new business portion of the meeting board members approved the acceptance money donations from Care & Share in the amount of $500 for the Principal’s Fund Food Pantry; $1,605 from T-shirt Sales for the and $555.50 from mum sales –both for Garfield Principal Fund –and $357 from the Orange & Black Boosters for the WHS Football account.

They also approved the first reading of the NEOLA Policies.

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 it was presented to them.

Additional approvals include a rental agreement with Pitney Bowes for postage machine; the K12 Licensing plus Wellsville High School Representation Agreement; the student affiliation agreement with Kent State University’s Nursing Program; the Otis Elevator contracts with price adjustments for Nov. 1, 2025 – Oct.31, 2026; and the proposal from Asset Control Solutions, Inc.

They also approved a motion for the sale of a Kimball Baby Grand piano and organ which was said to no longer be used. Money from the sale will benefit the choir.

During the personnel portion of the meeting, board members approved multiple coaches, supplemental contracts, a $3,000 stipend to Nicole Camilletti for the point of contact for the Tiger Academy, a medical leave extension, substitutes, a bus driver and a licensed social worker

Resignations were accepted from Jonathan Kinkead, Academic Challenge supplemental duties’ and Breann Napierkowski as junior high cheer coach effective Oct.17.

The Wellsville Board of Education meets the third Monday of each month at 5 p.m., in the Media Center at Wellsville Jr. Sr. High School, 1 Bengal Blvd. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Dec. 8.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com