AUSTINTOWN — Austintown schools soon will begin negotiating with a construction management group that will oversee building a new recreation and wellness facility.

The board of education this week approved a resolution that allows the district to negotiate the price of the project with Hively Construction Co., Canfield, which will manage the entire project.

This indoor facility will be used by Austintown schools sports teams, that will be able to practice and compete despite weather concerns. It especially would help baseball and softball teams, which often deal with a host of canceled games because of rain. In the fall, it would be useful to alleviate scheduling conflicts among sports and would allow the marching band to practice when it is raining. The district also may look to start intramural leagues for various sports, which would use the facility.

At the board meeting in July, the board approved Strollo Architects, Youngstown, to begin designs for a new athletic facility on school grounds. The entire project is not to exceed $14 million.

In other action, the board:

l Accepted $13,200 in donations from various school and community groups;

l Accepted the resignations of Stephanie Dougherty as teacher, Alyssa Newton as teacher, Cassie Oles as tutor, Judith Reinhart as tutor, Heather Conley as food service, Tammie Conroy as food service, Ashlee Gabrick as food service, Erica Franklin as paraprofessional, Amy Teeters as paraprofessional and Janice Jarvis as paraprofessional;

l Hired Russel Moyer as intervention specialist at Austintown Fitch High School to replace Jason Marcum, with a starting salary of $54,902;

l Hired Lisa Fabry as a fifth-grade teacher at Austintown Intermediate School to replace Stephanie Dougherty, with a starting salary of $44,463;

l Hired David Brooks as sweeper cleaner, Kimberly Bukovi as sweeper cleaner, Kaylea Carkido as sweeper cleaner, Ruth Ann Crago as food service, Angela Bouch as food service, Melissa Varso as food service, Courtney Hall as food service, Gina Anderson as food service and Crispin Crago as transportation;

l Hired Todd Burkey as athletic trainer for a one-year, $32,000 contract funded through the ESSER grant;

l Hired Margaret Gannon as hearing impaired tech and American Sign Language consultant at a rate of $368 per day, not to exceed 25 days in the coming school year;

l Hired Holly Welch as the Falcon Fives director for $4,000 for the coming school year;

l Approved overnight trips for the boys and girls cross country teams to Centerville from Oct. 1 to Oct. 2.

escott@tribtoday.com