Staff report

CAMPBELL ä The Northeast Ohio IMPACT Academy, one of only 69 STEM schools in the state, had its ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, attended by many local business, legislative and educational leaders.

NEOIA, which is one of 14 schools to earn the Ohio STEM Designation and the first and only in the tri-county area, serves students in grades 7 and 8 with the expansion to 7 through 12 in the 2020-21 school year.

The academy is under the governance of the Campbell City School District, which has partnered with various local business leaders as well as two higher education partners.

The partnership includes Stark State College, Eastern Gateway Community College, Southwoods Surgical Hospital, The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board, Guarantee Clean Energy, the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber.

âThe benefits we provide for the students would not be possible without the continued commitment and support of the many leaders throughout this region,ã said Campbell Superintendent Matthew Bowen.

Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof and Ohio Sen. Michael Rulli, R-Salem, in a proclamation to the district, said: âThis new institution will play a valuable role in preparing countless young people to meet the challenges of the future … This ribbon cutting demonstrates how very much can be accomplished by a group of conscientious people with clear objectives and firm resolve.ã

The Northeast Ohio IMPACT Academy is exclusive to all students primarily from the Campbell community and throughout the Mahoning Valley region. This includes students who are identified or considered disadvantaged and underrepresented student populations. To ensure equitable representation from the community and surrounding communities, each spring the school will have a lottery for enrollment for the following school year.

âThe Northeast Ohio IMPACT Academy is a welcome addition to the area, for it will provide a host of opportunities to its students by offering them outstanding cirricula, instruction and facilities.ã as stated in a proclamation by state Reps. Don Manning, R-New Middletown and Michele Lepore-Hagan, D-Youngstown and House Speaker Larry Householder.