The Newton Falls Board of Education on Friday approved proceeding with talks with Maplewood schools to have a contract agreement created to share Maplewood schools’ treasurer, Merri Peterson, with Newton Falls schools.

Newton Falls Board President Tonya Kline said she has been in contact with Maplewood Board President Kevin Blair to meet and work out an agreement to share a treasurer.

Kline said specific details will be worked out on which days Peterson would be in Maplewood and which days in Newton Falls each week and sharing of costs for her services.

Kline said she would like to see Peterson be able to begin in Newton Falls in early June and work two days one week in Newton Falls and then three days the next week on a rotating basis.

Blair said he has been on contact with Kline and agreed to meet to discuss a shared services contract between the two school districts.

He said if an agreement is reached, the Maplewood board would make a decision on a contract at their next meeting on May 13.

Blair said this is the first time the district would have a shared services agreement for a treasurer.

A similar treasurer sharing has existed for the past few years between LaBrae and Mathews schools with Treasurer Brad Panak.

The Newton Falls board has looked at various options for finding a new treasurer.

The board had assistance from Shared Services Alliance and had interviewed three applicants.

Alan Boone, a Newton Falls graduate, is serving as interim treasurer while the search takes place. He comes to Newton Falls one day per week to handle treasurer duties.

Kline said Boone was provided by the Shared Services Alliance. She said he has done a great job, but the board was informed he can’t apply for the Newton Falls position because he works for Shared Services Alliance.

She said the board would like to select a new treasurer as soon as possible so the person can become familiar with the day-to-day needs of the district.

The position became open when former treasurer Ben Marko left Dec. 31 to accept a position with the Canfield Local School District.

MURAL

Kline said work will begin after the current school year ends to have two large murals painted on the walls and the gymnasium at the high school of a tiger, which is the school mascot.

Officials have said the school district wants to celebrate Tiger Pride with colorful images of its school mascot.

The board in April agreed to proceed with the custom design of two tiger murals, with one in the Gene Zorn Gymnasium and the other in the junior/senior high school commons.

He said the mural features a large tiger, an orange paw, 44444 and “Newton Falls” on the home side wall or entrance wall of the gymnasium.

Officials said the mural could serve as a backdrop in the gymnasium for graduation ceremonies, media days, signing ceremonies and game-day photography.

For the commons area, an image of a running tiger with the words “Tiger Pride” will be featured.

Officials said the commons is the central hub for student life, lunch and community events.

The proposed $10,000 project covers design fees, materials, labor and other expenses. Officials said each mural will take five to seven days to be created by local artist Chris Rodriquez, whose work is displayed on the side of Tiger Den Pizza.