BOARDMAN — The Boardman Board of Education this week recognized those who helped get school open with both in-person and remote learning, including members of a local Masonic lodge.

Worshipful master Darrell Booher and secretary Jim Parker, both of Western Star Lodge 21, presented the board with a check for $5,000. The funds are to go toward the district’s technology needs in dealing with remote learning due to COVID-19.

“We decided this was the thing to do,” Booher told the school board. “I hope you put it to good use.”

Booher said the Boardman lodge has more than 200 members who wanted to help meet the need of connectivity for Boardman families. Close to one-third of Boardman students are learning remotely as the school year began Sept. 14.

Recognition also went to Matt McKenzie, director of buildings and grounds, and his maintenance and custodial staff, who put in the work to prepare the district’s buildings. That included installing 400 touchless sanitizers in classrooms, moving extra desks and chairs to storage, and distributing more than 5,000 pieces of Plexiglas for teacher and student desks.

“I went to Innovation Exhibits of Boardman for help,” McKenzie said. “If it were not for them, we wouldn’t have the Plexiglas in every one of our buildings.”

Innovation Exhibits owners Justin Gable, Steve Gable and Jeff Lorimer designed, manufactured and delivered the Plexiglas shields that were made to fit the needs of each building.

For Stadium Drive students, one other effort has not gone unnoticed. The halls at the school became a spring and summer project for employees Beth Bean and Elizabeth Murphy. The two joined to transform the kindergarten hallway into a Dr. Seuss storybook by painting life-size murals. Other hallways were painted with uplifting messages.

The board extended congratulations to Tim Harker, who was named Ohio District 8 Teacher of the Year for 2021. Harker is a 24-year veteran teacher who encourages students to get involved in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) through programs such as the Solar Car Challenge. He also was instrumental in a cross-culture project between Glenwood Junior High students and students from a small village in Thailand in 2018.

More recently, Harker used the school’s 3D printer to make face shields that were delivered to hundreds of Mahoning Valley essential workers.

Another recognition went to West Boulevard Elementary School, which earned the National Blue Ribbon School honor for the second time, which is rare. West Boulevard last earned the award in 2011.

Last, donations were received of $100 from BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, and $100 from Telischak Co. Ltd. Both donations went toward Boardman Center Intermediate School’s “Where Everyone Belongs” program.