WELLSVILLE — The Wellsville Board of Education began its meeting Monday night with a moment of silence in honor of an elementary teacher who recently passed away unexpectedly.

The board remembered Heidi Fluharty, a teacher at Garfield Elementary School who died March 8.

Shelbie Householder, Garfield Elementary School principal, described Fluharty as a beloved teacher who had been with the district since 1998, teaching kindergarten and second grade before serving as the school’s physical education teacher, and for the past two years a strong member of the Reading Intervention Team.

“Mrs. Fluharty was loved by our staff and students. She was known to make learning fun, movement exciting, every day a little brighter,” Householder said. “She greeted everyone with a smile and a ‘good morning’ each day when she came into work.”

Householder told board members the school honored Fluharty last week by sharing memories and with students writing memories and messages on popsicle sticks which were placed in a jar and given to her family. The school also placed flower pinwheels in the front landscaping with the name of everyone in the building impacted by Fluharty written on a petal.

“I would like to thank the various agencies and school districts from around Columbiana County who helped our students and staff during such a difficult time. Our building was supported by counselors, crisis intervention teams, and therapy dogs. We are beyond grateful for how quickly everyone came together for Garfield during our time of need,” Householder said. “We will continue to cherish the impact Mrs. Fluharty had on all of her students over the years. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by Garfield Elementary.”

Jon Geramita, Wellsville Teacher Association, spoke of Fluharty and said that last week was a very tough week to be a teacher in the school district due to losing her unexpectedly in the middle of the year. A lot of people had a tough time with it, he said.

“I don’t want her memory to be forgotten,” Geramita said. “She was a good person here for these kids, she loved Wellsville and she is going to be missed. Our hearts break for her family. She was a very good teacher, and we are going to miss her.”

Each of the board members offered condolences to Fluharty’s family.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com