WHAT: Board of education meeting Thursday

PRESENT: President Don Sherwood, Kathy Mock, Harold Porter, Robin Krempasky, Kim Smrek, Superintendent David Cappuzzello, Treasurer Blaise Karlovic

The board:

• Accepted a $6,400 proposal from Strollo Architects for softball field dugouts;

l Accepted a $35,570 bid from Dobil Labs for replacement of the Fitch public address system and linking of Austintown Intermediate, Middle and Elementary buildings;

• Approved the following resignations: Warren Beitsch, bus driver, effective Feb. 21; Michele Powell, bus driver, effective March 4; Claudette Boris, tutor, effective Feb. 24; Samantha Mehle, sweeper cleaner, effective March 9; Paula Lipke, assistant transportation supervisor, effective March 16; Carly Griffin, grade 8 volleyball coach, effective April 8; Samantha Marscio, Fitch girls freshman soccer coach, effective March 28; Bruce Spicer, varsity assistant football coach, effective March 28; and Adam Leskanic, Fitch art / promotions club adviser, effective June 30;

• Approved a $10,000 grant for Austintown Elementary School STEM associated with the Project Lead the Way launch in partnership with ArcerlorMittal and a $2,800 grant in materials from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation to support phonemic awareness;

• Approved the following administrative contracts: Jeff Swavel, assistant principal at Fitch High School, for three years; Brian Racz, assistant principal at Fitch High School, for three years and Timothy Pappagallo, assistant principal at Austintown Intermediate, for three years. All contracts are effective Aug. 1 to July 31, 2023, and are in accordance with the administrative salary schedule;

• Approved an administrative contract for Thomas Ventresco, technology supervisor, for three years effective July 1 through June 30, 2023;

• Awarded the following food service bids: Smith Foods Inc. for dairy, Papa John’s Pizza for pizzas and Alfred Nickles Bakery Inc. for bakery items;

• Approved the service agreement with Steward Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital for comprehensive athletic training services to Austintown Local Schools students participating in certain athletic programs requiring training services for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year and for the next two academic years;

• Approved a consulting agreement with School Insurance Consultants LLC for property, liability and fleet insurance, effective April 1;

• Approved a change in substitute bus driver rates from $14.50 per hour to $16 per hour, effective at the start of the 2020-21 school year;

• Accepted the following donations to the food service department: 800 paper bags, valued around $120, from Rulli Brothers; 4,500 paper bags, valued around $657, from Giant Eagle; 3,000 paper bags, valued around $450, from Save-a-Lot; $1,000 from James Pieron; $100 from Tom and Georgia Case; 30 Giant Eagle gift cards from United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley on behalf of the William Neckerman Foundation and the Lamb Foundation; and $1,000 from an anonymous donor. Also accepted $100 from the Rev. Paul Gerrard RDE Award for a graduating senior at Fitch from Ruth Gerrard Cole, and $50 from Beta Pi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Honor Society of woman educators for a deserving and qualified senior in the Fitch RDE program.

• Allie Vugrincic