NEWTON FALLS — Newton Falls School Superintendent Andreas Johansson told the board of education that he has started a new “adventure series” for students with the first monthly event taking place today.

Johansson said the Newton Falls Path Finders Adventure Series program will be held once a month for students in grades 7 through 12 and allow 30 students to go on a 4.5-mile hike on the Hiram College field site and also to see local wildlife.

Johansson said that he, Treasurer Ben Marko, High School Principal Melissa Malone and Guidance Counselor Jessica Love will accompany the students on the day trip.

Johansson said an event will be held each month both on and off site.

Other events include a STEM event in Solon in October, an executive chef workshop with the Nutrition Group to prepare a Thanksgiving meal in November, aerial yoga in Cleveland in December, a hip hop class in January, curling at the Mayfield Curling Club next year and, in the spring, a seniors’ canoeing trip on either the Cuyahoga River or the Mahoning River and a barbecue.

He said the educational trips are being sponsored by corporate sponsorship and fundraising.

Johansson said he hopes students spot potential career choices during these events.

In other business, Athletic Director Chad Rankin proposed offering students free admission to all school sporting events to help students who may not be able to afford attending school sporting events.

Rankin said students in grades 7-12 would need to show their student identification and students in grades K-6 would need to be accompanied by an adult or guardian who would pay regular admission.

Rankin said Crestview schools have implemented such policies on free admission for students and it has been successful.

The board is scheduled to act on the proposal at the Oct. 8 meeting.

MOLD ISSUE

The board also heard from Steven Reischman, president of Foresight Environment, who said the company addressed mold remediation issues at the high school after the HVAC stopped working over the summer and rain got into the building.

“With my job I go to some of the worst places on earth. I have been under Lake Erie where there is a salt mine. I have done testing there,” Reischman said.

He said there was a significant amount of viable mold growth at the high school, including in the media center, which was addressed and the air quality checked.

Reischman said the school was checked for mold and given “a clean bill of health” with no additional testing needed.

The board also discussed having a student representative to the school board.

Board member Amie Crowder, who is a member of the Ohio School Board student achievement liaison, said a student at the high school could represent the student body as a representative to the board.

Crowder said this would get students more interested in what takes place at board meetings. The students could bring “the voice of the student body.”

She said the Trumbull Career / Technical Center board has a similar situation with a student representative to the board.

“This will help engage the students in government and actions and process of the school board. I think this is a wonderful idea,” Crowder said.

She said students could fill out an application and write a short essay on the role of the school board to be considered for the position. The applicants would be in grades 10th to 12th.

The matter will be addressed at the Oct. 8 meeting.

Crowder said she will be meeting with Congressman David Joyce in November regarding school funding, with monies for public schools being given to charter and private schools.

In other action, the board:

*Ratified a new three-year contract with the district’s classified workers represented by Newton Falls Association of Classified Employees through 2028 after last week approving a new agreement with the district’s certified workers. Johansson said the contract includes a 50-cents-per-hour wage increase in the first year on the base, followed by 65-cent increases in both the second and third years. Classified employees will continue to contribute 10% toward health insurance premiums with the district contributing 90%.

*Approved new carpeting for the high school media center and auditorium. The cost for the media center is $17,900, the auditorium is $20,000 and the stair treks are $11,000.

*Approved the Trumbull County Board of Elections to use the high school gymnasium as a voting location Nov. 4 for Newton Township residents. Johansson said there will be no school for students that day with teachers having professional development.