Southern Local board learns of career intro course

SALINEVILLE - On Tuesday, Oct. 13, the Southern Local school board learned how seventh-graders at the Southern Local Junior High School are exploring various careers through hands-on activities.

The students are enrolled in the Career Technical Education course taught by Tiffany Scheel and Amanda Wrobleski and designed to introduce them to jobs in the 16 career pathways they may pursue as high school students at the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center.

Scheel said as part of an introduction to the arts and communications pathway, the students used computers to design a logo for the school's robotics club.

The nine designs were displayed during the board's meeting so board members and other attendees could vote on their favorite.

Each incorporated the school district's colors of royal blue and gold, its Indian mascot, a robotic figure or both.

Scheel said votes for the best design also were cast at the school district's recent parent-teacher conference night and a meeting for students interested in joining the club.

She said the project is one of many planned to give the students a sense of tasks they may perform while working in some of the many fields covered by the career center.

She said in the future, they will be developing business plans for their own imaginary businesses of which they will assume such roles as general manager and secretary.

Scheel said the students' creativity again will be challenged through the creation of Christmas cards sent by businesses to express customer appreciation.

She said a limited number of the cards will be made for local businesses in exchange for a donation of canned goods for a local charity.

The board heard from Emma Fisher and Dylan Davis, students in the class who said the hands-on experiences have given them a better understanding of the fields they are studying.

The board also heard from Justin Krulik, principal of Southern Local High School, who reported a school bus was struck from behind as it was traveling to the school's campus on Tuesday morning.

Krulik said the Ohio State Highway Patrol was on the scene to investigate the collision and no one was hurt. He said students on the bus were referred to the school nurse as a precaution.

He also announced membership has been extended to eighth graders for the school's chapter of FFA, a national youth organization promoting careers in agriculture.

He added an elective Introduction to Agriculture course has been added to their curriculum.

In other business, the board:

Approved the following athletic personnel: Mark Soukup, junior varsity boys basketball coach; Stephen Grimm, assistant boys basketball coach; Mike Skrinjar, varsity girls basketball coach; Justin Gerren, assistant varsity girls basketball coach; Andy Plunkett, seventh grade girls basketball coach; Nikki Kellogg, Cory Boyle and LoveDevett Hill, volunteer assistant girls basketball coaches.

Approved the hiring of Holly Davis as assistant athletic director and Joe Abdalla as a full-time evening custodian.

Approved a three-year agreement with the K Company of Akron for computer technical support services and another agreement with ACCESS of Boardman for computer services related to the school district's student attendance records.

Agreed to raise the hourly wage for substitute custodians to $15. Greg Sabbato, the board's treasurer, said the move reflects pay offered for such positions by other school districts in the county.

Approved a one-time payment of $500 to a staff member for the successful referral of a person employed as a bus driver for at least a year.

Sabbato said the incentive has been offered to attract more bus drivers to the district.