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Girard
WHAT: Board of education meeting Thursday
PRESENT: Vince Ragozine, Tammy King, Zachary Steiner, Joe Castor and Scott Strain
The board:
• Heard from Superintendent Bryan O'Hara that a food pantry and a Care Closet are in place at the K-6 building to provide items to students in need. O'Hara said the Care Closet is in connection with the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. He said space was also made at the school for special education offices behind the library.
• Approved the elimination of the instructional educational assistant position at the high school library but the person who served in the position last school year has taken a new position in the district. Officials said the position was cut for cost savings.
• Accepted the retirement of Alycia Holmes, building custodian effective July 31. She has worked for the district for 41 years.
• Approved the pay for substitute secretary at $14.50 per hour and approved Theresa Canterino as a substitute secretary for the school year.
• Approved eighth grade class trip to Niagara Falls, New York, in May 2027.
• Approved the transfer of Erica Wilson, music teacher, from the intermediate school to the high school.
-- Bob Coupland
Girard
WHAT: City council meeting Monday
PRESENT: Reynald Paolone, Thomas Grumley, Lily Martuccio, John Moliterno, James Clark, Wes Steiner, Todd Latell and Keith Schubert
Council:
• Heard from Clark there has been a lot of issues with e-bikes on the roads with legislation being worked on to have some regulations in place. Officials said individuals, mostly children, on e-bikes have been seen not stopping at intersections.
• Heard from Safety Service Director Glenn Holmes that the Kids Dental business will locate in the former Rite Aid building off Route 422 with work to start this year. The business is expected to open in 2027.
• Heard from Holmes of a meeting with Firefighters Local 1220 for consideration to increase the incentive for paramedics from the current $2,756 to $5,500 per year.
• Heard from Holmes he has spoken to Matt Martin with Trumbull Neighborhood about getting properties at 226 Prospect St., 103 Calla Ave. and 106 Steel St. demolished. He said he has worked with TNP to get properties in the priority list. Officials said 113 Morris St. is also in poor condition and needs to be demolished. Grumley said there are many homes in poor condition that need to come down.
• Heard from Fire Chief James Petruzzi he has applied for an Assistance to Firefighters grant for a new ambulance.
• Set a meeting on Upper Girard Lake and the dam for 6 p.m. Sept. 28. The finance committee will meet at 6:30 p.m.
-- Bob Coupland
Hubbard
WHAT: Board of Education meeting July 21
PRESENT: Anna Martin, William Cummings, Josh Barr, Donald Newell and Amanda O'Neill
The board:
• Approved the reemployment of Raymond W. Soloman as superintendent effective Aug. 1, 2027, through July 31, 2032, under the same terms and conditions as his current employment contract.
• Accepted the following donations: $2,000 from Hubbard Rebounders to the Athletic Department/Hudl Service; $2,000 from Hubbard Soccer Boosters to the Athletic Department/Hudl Service; $1,000 from Hubbard Touchdown Club to the Athletic Department/Hudl Service; $1,000 from Hubbard Volleyball Boosters to the Athletic Department/Hudl Service.
• Approved the 2026-27 Hubbard Exempted Village School District's classified substitute list at board-approved classified substitute rates, pending background checks.
• Appointed Amanda O'Neill as delegate and Anna Martin as alternate to the 2026 Ohio School Boards Association annual business meeting.
• Approved a $200 stipend for Andrea Murray for completing the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce Career Technical Education (CTE) Middle School Validation, to be paid from Fiscal Year 2027 Title II-A funds.
• Approved the following for Eagle Launch: intervention specialists Margaret Herberger, Becky Ague, Renee Hardy, Leslie Hess, Shannon Seese and Heather White; and speech pathologist Dana Brown.
• Approved Eagle Launch 2026 bus drivers Denise Masters, Carol Swartz, Russell Speerbrecher Jr. and substitute Diana Thomas; and bus aides Brittany Brown, Carol Swartz, Ashley Powell and Connie Swartz.
• Approved Scott Killian as athletic social media manager for the 2026-27 school year.
• Approved two-year coaching contracts for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years for the following people: Don Gosney, head boys track; James Phibbs, head girls track; and John W. Schiraldi Jr., head baseball.
• Approved making null and void the ninth-grade volleyball athletic supplemental contract issued to Jeffrey Tetrick for the 2026-27 school year, because of nonparticipation.
• Approved Diane McAllen to serve as a consultant for the Food Service Department, effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, at a rate of $37.50 per hour.
• Approved a lease agreement between the Roosevelt Community Partnership and the district between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2046.
-- Brandon Cantwell
Bazetta
WHAT: Township trustees July meeting
PRESENT: Joel Davis, Mike Hovis and Bob McBride
Trustees:
• Heard from fire Chief Tom Rink the department received a $3,277 Ohio Department of Public Safety emergency medical service grant for fire training and equipment.
• Heard from Road Supervisor Mike Arnal, who said the township had dealt with catch basins because of excessive flash flooding of 2 to 3 inches in a short period of time.
• Approved paving with RT Vernal for Cadwallader Sonk Road, Timberline Drive and Ravine Run at $472,674 with Ohio Public Works Commission grant money of $225,000.
• Approved a contract with RT Vernal for a joint paving project with Mecca Township for Geauga-Portage Easterly Road at half the total of $334,842 with an OPWC grant of $150,000 and Bazetta's share of the project being $89,421.
• Approved $4,000 for nuisance property high grass and weed cutting with a brush hog. A property at 3384 Durst Clagg Road was declared a public nuisance because of high grass and weeds.
• Approved Trunk or Treat for Oct. 4 and Christmas in Bazetta with sleigh rides on Nov. 21.
• Approved purchase of crack sealing material not to exceed $1,500.
• Were informed year-to-date permits are at 98, totaling $15,619 with eight new residential addresses this year.
• Approved JC3 Builders at $2,245 for renovation work at park restrooms.
-- Bob Coupland