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LISBON -- Board members during Monday's Columbiana County Board of Development Disabilities meeting approved the purchase of a 2026 Ford E350 Glaval van from Carpenter Bus sales for $118,900 plus a $1,500 delivery for a total of $120,400.
Superintendent William Devon told board members that they had given the approval in May to purchase a van for $100,000, but after looking, the only ones he could find were single axle vans and he would feel better if the board would approve the new amount of $120,400 for a dual axle van for more stability in the snow. He noted that safety is worth the extra money.
With students at the Robert Bycroft School returning to school on Aug. 24 board members approved the new school attendance policy and the 2026-2027 bus routes as submitted.
Board members also approved the professional development plan for the superintendent and assistant superintendent, the rescinding of the Major Unusual Incident (MUI) policy and replacing it with a revised MUI policy, the state required new AI policy, two new service and supports policies to update with a new rule and to renew the liability insurance with Hylant group at a of $6,974 package premium, $401 pollution premium and $3,563 cyber premium. Devon said he believes this is a slight decrease from last year's premiums.
Approval was given to allow instructor assistants to sub as an instructor at an additional compensation of $100 per day or $13.79 per hour.
Devon noted that this has been allowed since the COVID 19 Pandemic and the state still approves it so it won't go away until the state says it goes away.
Board members voted to be a Gold Sponsor of the 15th Annual Family Advocacy Conference for $5,000. The event will be held by the Northeast Chapter of the ARC of Ohio on Sept. 25 at Avion on the Lake.
Devon said the event is very well attended by Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties and features many speakers and advocates.
An approval was also given for a memorandum of understanding regarding reimbursement of employment costs and expenses for shared reading specialist/literacy coordinator for the 2026-2027 school year with the Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Devon said this is a new requirement for third grade students and with the size of both schools it's hard to get a part-time person, but with both schools together makes a full caseload.
Payment of bills and the minutes from the previous meeting were approved as presented.
Devon told board members the Ability Walk and Roll held on Aug. 8 at the 717 Credit Union Field at Eastwood was a very good event with a lot of people there.
The Columbiana Board of Developmental Disabilities meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 4 p.m., at the administration building, 7675 state Route 45, Lisbon. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 16.