Staff photo / Bob Coupland Jeff Rasile of McDonald, who has served as a coach and teacher in McDonald and Champion schools, recently was named the new director of Trumbull County SCOPE Senior Services. He replaces Mike Wilson, who left after nearly 12 years to take a position in Trumbull County Domestic Relations Court.

McDONALD — Village resident Jeff Rasile, who is known to many in Trumbull County as a coach and teacher, is now taking on a new career after being named the new director of Trumbull County SCOPE Senior Services.

Rasile is replacing Mike Wilson, who left earlier this month for a position with Trumbull County Domestic Relations Court.

Rasile said he retired from Champion schools where he was a government teacher, and retired as a longtime coach for Champion and McDonald schools. He said he wanted to work part-time and will work 24 hours per week as SCOPE director, overseeing eight senior centers in the county.

The centers are located in Bristol, Champion, Cortland, Howland, Hubbard, Newton Falls, Niles and Warren. Rasile said each center has a manager who he will oversee.

“Through my coaching and teaching I am used to working with and overseeing people. These managers do a lot to provide programs and services to our seniors. I will work in the office two to three days, and go to the centers to work with the managers,” Rasile said.

Rasile said he was contacted by Brian Higgins with Axess Family Services human resources, who reached out to him to see if he would be interested in the position.

“The main thing I have seen already is the importance of the programs for the seniors. These centers and what they offer play a crucial role in their lives. They are open during the week and there is bingo at one of the centers on a weekday night that gets more than 30 people. We are providing a service that people want,” Rasile said.

The centers in Bristol and Champion are each open two days a week, Cortland is open four days a week and the rest five days a week.

“These centers are booked from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with so many activities and events,” Rasile said.

He said SCOPE receives funding to provide services for Trumbull County seniors age 60 and older, but anyone 50 and older can attend.

“What I have already noticed is the wonderful people who work here and run the centers. I hope that I can provide help wherever I can. I hope I can provide a different set of eyes having been a teacher and coach on what skills I have acquired over the years,” Rasile said.

He said he plans to meet with Wilson over what the day-to-day routine is like at SCOPE.

“I have been to all of the centers and met all the center managers. I did not know where some of the centers are located. Some are at former churches or at administration buildings. The one thing I walked away with is how passionate and dedicated the center managers and others are to bring services to the seniors ,” Rasile said.

He said he watched a chair volleyball game and said the seniors were very competitive.

“The seniors love the socialization of being with others. Our population is getting older and the centers provide them with so many things to do,” Rasile said.

In addition to chair volleyball, seniors take part in bingo, bocce, yoga and exercise classes, lunches, and card and board games.

Rasile said data is collected on how many seniors attend each event and which seniors attend specific events and programs, which helps with funding.

“I have seen seniors who attend many events. They are here early exercising and then playing cards, which is popular,” he said.

Rasile said he has met many of the participants and looks forward to meeting others.

Rasile said he will attend a cornhole competition between Newton Falls and Niles in July that draws many seniors.

Many centers have summer picnics planned.

He said most funding comes from the Trumbull County Senior Service levy and all paperwork is provided to county officials on what events take place and the attendance.

“I and the staff will discuss the best ways to continue serving seniors with the money that we have,” Rasile said.