Buckeye Local
Buckeye Local students rewarded for attendance
Posted 10/9/2026 at 6:53:37 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE – Students in Hannah Shaheen’s Chemistry II class were quietly working on an assignment recently when they heard a voice through a megaphone declare, “It’s nacho ordinary attendance day!”
The voice, and the bad pun (Think ‘nacho’ and ‘not yo,’ short for your.), belonged to Principal Luke Parsons, who entered the room with other staff members bearing trays of nachos, salsa and queso sauce purchased from a popular Mexican restaurant.
The visit to Shaheen’s class and a geometry class taught by Karrie Glover’s geometry class on the same day were among a series of random stops to classrooms aimed at acknowledging students for making the effort to turn up for school.
Parsons said such visits are a way to keep each school day interesting since students don’t know whether their class will be rewarded.
But he added rewards also have been established to encourage each student to have 95 percent attendance or better each month.
Those students can don costumes and go trick-or-treating through the school in October, partake of a Thanksgiving dinner at the school in November, or view a Christmas movie in December.
Parsons said perfect attendance is preferred but it’s understood students may miss occasionally because of illness.
He said credit for the idea goes to Assistant Principal Janelle Windsheimer, who also has worked with Jason Kovalski, principal of Buckeye Local Junior High School, to implement such incentives there.
Windsheimer said student attendance is important for multiple reasons.
She said the Ohio Department of Education now includes absences for health issues when rating the state’s public schools for its report card system.
Attendance is one of many criteria, from reading proficiency to graduation rates, measured through it.
Windsheimer said when students aren’t at school, they miss the personal instruction of their teachers and the opportunity to ask questions when they aren’t sure about something.
“The ultimate goal is to get kids into the classrooms. It’s easier to ensure they are caught up on the material when they are there,” she said.
“Our goal is with these random attendance rewards is to make it more exciting for them to walk through the school door each day,” said Windsheimer said.
She said the schools’ teachers are consulted before such visits to ensure they aren’t interrupting a test or important project.
Windsheimer said input also has been sought from students to determine the rewards they would most appreciate.
“Food and free time are the most possible choices,” she said, noting some enjoy playing sports or hanging out together in the school gym for a short period of the day.
Parsons said in cooperation with the school district’s food service, students in the grade level with the best attendance for the first nine weeks will be able to vote on lunch for a week in November.
He noted students in Luke Fabry’s hospitality and culinary class at the high school prepared a special Hobbit-themed breakfast as another reward.
Windsheimer said good attendance has been a concern for Buckeye Local School officials, noting attendance for the high school last year was at 52.1 percent, meaning many students missed 18 days or more.
The middle school’s attendance was at 44.1 percent, while attendance for the district overall was 39.5 percent.
“With these incentives, we have seen an increase in attendance,” said Windsheimer.
She said it once was common for the high school’s absence list to extend to two pages, and now it’s regularly less than half a page.
Parsons said the incentive program has received support from the community, with a local church donating $250 for its rewards.
Greta Rose, a school-based therapist at Buckeye Local High School; and Principal Luke Parsons were among staff who delivered nachos, salsa and queso sauce to students in Hannah Shaheen’s Chemistry II class as a random reward for their attendance that day. Individual students also may earn rewards for having attendance of 95 percent or better.
School nurse Mary K. Mayle was among Buckeye Local High School staff who delivered nachos, salsa and queso sauce to students in Hannah Shaheen’s Chemistry II class as a random reward for their attendance that day. Individual students also may earn rewards for having attendance of 95 percent or better.
Buckeye Local NHS project honored Dolly Parton
Posted 10/3/2026 at 5:12:48 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
RAYLAND – Members of the Buckeye Local High School Honor Society carried on the spirit of the late Dolly Parton through a special project for children at the school district’s three elementary schools.
The students delivered about 300 children’s books to Buckeye Local North, South and West elementary schools, where they also spent time reading to the pupils, all in honor of the late country singer and her Imagination Library program.
The famed country singer, who died on Aug. 25 at the age of 80, launched the program in 1995 for children in her home county in East Tennessee.
Through her Dollywood Foundation, it has grown to include programs in all 50 states and four other nations.
Through it, a free book is provided each month to children from birth to 5 years of age. Organizers say its goal is to encourage literacy and education by introducing children to books at an early age and making them available through their childhood.
While the program is aimed at children of pre-school age, the National Honor Society members decided to reach out to fellow Panthers in the elementary grades and chose Sept. 25 to deliver the books and read to the children.
The date has been chosen by many groups to honor Parton because one of her biggest hits was the theme from “Nine to Five,” in which she also appeared.
The project was suggested by Hannah Shaheen, a science teacher at the school and long-time Dolly Parton fan.
“I love Dolly Parton and saw other places were observing “9-25” and wanted to do something, too,” she said.
Asked her favorite Dolly Parton song, Shaheen paused for a moment before replying, “Coat of Many Colors.”
Through the son, Parton told of a time in her impoverished childhood when her mother sewed together a coat for her from rags of various colors. In it, Parton recalled that classmates laughed at the coat but it was a reminder to her of her mother’s love.
Mike DiCenzo, adviser of the Buckeye Local High School National Honor Society, said of the project, “ I'm proud of our NHS students taking the time to read to the elementary students in honor of Dolly Parton's memory. Dolly's dedication to children having access to books is a great example of leadership, character and service that our students can emulate.”
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has partnered with various local organizations to make its books available to children in many communities.
Locally its partner is the United Way of Jefferson County, and information about registering for it can be found at https://www.unitedway-jc.org/imaginationlibrary.
With help from staff and other students, members of the Buckeye Local High School National Honor Society delivered about 300 books to the school district’s three elementary schools in honor of Dolly Parton and her Imagination Library. Science teacher Hannah Shaheen suggested the project for the group, which is led by Mike DiCenzo.
Long-time Buckeye Local secretary has retired
Posted 10/3/2026 at 4:26:33 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
RAYLAND – On Wednesday, students and staff at Buckeye Local Junior High School gathered outside the school to applaud Vicki Kourim for her many years of service to the school district.
It was the last day on the job for Kourim, the school’s secretary, and many students approached her for a hug and to wish her well as she emerged from the building.
Kourim noted her first connection to Buckeye Local Schools was as a member of the PTA chapter at Buckeye Local South Elementary.
From there, she served as a substitute teacher’s aide, working with students of various abilities, before she became a secretary, first at the former Buckeye Local Southwest Middle School and since 2002, at the current junior high school.
Kourim also has coached cheering and volleyball and assisted in play productions, particularly with props.
Asked she felt to receive such a sendoff, she said, “It’s overwhelming. Buckeye Local has been a huge part of my life.”
Kourim said she plans to focus some of her retirement on home repairs but also may visit a sister in Georgia.
But she added she also expects to volunteer her time to the school district.
As she emerged from Buckeye Local Junior High School on her last day as the school’s secretary, Vicki Kourim, left, was applauded for her many years of service by students and staff. She was accompanied by Kathi Celestin, a teacher and friend.
Buckeye Local board waives right to property
Posted 9/30/2026 at 4:01:58 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE – The Wells Township Trustees can proceed with plans to sell the former Washington School building on Prospect Street since the Buckeye Local Board of Education has waived its right to the property.
Superintendent Coy Sudvary explained the property was transferred to the former Village of Brilliant in 1966 on the condition that its ownership be reverted to the school district if it were no longer used for municipal purposes.
The Jefferson County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society has cited records indicating the school operated from 1888 to 1965..
In the years that followed, it was occupied by Brilliant village officials, including its police department; the Brilliant Lions Club, which held various community events there; and following the village’s dissolution, the Wells Township Trustees.
In recent years, the trustees and the township’s police department moved into the former Buckeye Local North Elementary School on Hudson Street.
Township Trustee Brian Harvey, who was called for comment, said after an individual expressed interest in buying the property, the reversion clause was discovered.
Sudvary noted the school district will retain mineral rights to the site.
At its Sept. 21 meeting, the school board also acknowledged member Steve Bezak for receiving the Ohio School Board Association’s S.T.A.R. Award.
OSBA officials said the award is presented through its Service, Training, Aptitude and Recognition program to board members who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to professional growth and effective leadership.
To be eligible for it, board members must score at least 80 percent on an aptitude test.
Bezak’s membership on the Buckeye Local board and the Jefferson County Joint Vocational Board, of which he is president, was noted by the organization.
He thanked the Buckeye Local board for appointing him to the latter board.
In other business, the board:
Renewed contracts with Kendall Behavioral Solutions, which provides behavioral intervention services for students; and Vaza Consulting to seek grants and other funds for the school district.
Accepted the retirement, later this year, of Kimberly Boyd, a teacher at Buckeye Local South Elementary School, while expressing thanks for her 31 years of service to the school district.
Approved the following personnel: Beth Petrosino as supplemental bus coordinator for the district; Cathy Takach as an educational aide; Stephanie Lewis as a custodian; Jeremy Drysdale as head boys track coach at the high school; Luke Fabry as assistant softball coach; Tyler Blanco as fall weightlifting instructor; Sam Jones and Fabry as co-advisers of the junior high school’s bowling club; Jason Merryman as coach for the junior high boys and girls track coach; James Hess as volunteer volleyball coach; Brian Hennebert as volunteer girls wrestling coach; Tony Marques as assistant boys wrestling coach; Sean Norman as assistant softball coach; Mark Crowe as eighth grade boys wrestling coach; D.J. Eddy as seventh grade boys wrestling coach; J.D. Nidle as eighth grade boys basketball coach; Renee Fields and Tammy Morelli as cooks; Arielle Orban as an educational aide and secretary; and Jenny Potts as holiday program coordinator for the elementary schools.
Superintendent Coy Sudvary announced that administration at the district’s five schools have named custodial staff there as Employees of the Month for August in recognition of their hard work to prepare the buildings for the new school year.
The five August Employees of the Month are: Tammy Morelli at Buckeye Local High School, Jack Otto at Buckeye Local Junior High School, Ron Barcus at Buckeye Local North Elementary, Brian Zinko at Buckeye Local South Elementary, and Ray Long at Buckeye Local West Elementary.
Sudvary announced parent-teacher conferences will be held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 8 at the junior-senior high school and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. that day at the elementary schools.
He noted there will be no school for students on Oct. 9, a professional development day.
Congratulations also went to the following members of the high school’s homecoming court: Regan Wilson, Frankie Sawko, Alexis Neilly, Lydia Marchbank, Karlie Lander, Johanna George, Danika Bauknecht, Kolton Karothers, Hayden Cihon, Daniel Divjak, Dugan Dubrovich, Kyle Kirtland, Jordan Kovalski and Jonas Eddy.
The homecoming king will be crowned at the powderpuff game at 6 p.m. Oct. 15, while the queen will be crowned during half-time ceremonies of the homecoming game on Oct. 16.
At the Buckeye Local school board’s Sept. 21 meeting, board member Steve Bezak was recognized for receiving the Ohio School Board Association’s S.T.A.R. Award. Seated to Bezak’s left are Board President Ashley West and fellow board member Teresa George.
Buckeye Local kids enjoy staying after school
Posted 9/23/2026 at 10:03:21 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
Buckeye Local kids enjoy staying after school
DILLONVALE – Many children are remaining at the Buckeye Local School District’s three elementary schools after the end of the regular school day, but it’s not because they have done anything wrong.
Pupils at Buckeye Local North, South and West elementary schools have been participating in sports and other activities, enjoying a meal together and getting some help with their homework through a before- and after-school program supported by a Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Learning Grant.
Anywhere from 20 to 40 children can be found at each school’s Extended Learning Center between 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, while the free program also allows parents to drop off children registered for it at 8 a.m. each day.
Abee Schrickel, coordinator of the Buckeye Local South site with Lindsey Farmer, said, “The parents love it. I always hear positive things from them.”
All of the children in each afternoon session are served a nutritious meal before settling down to complete their homework assignments.
Children who arrive for the morning sessions join their classmates for breakfast before the start of the school day.
“They get a tray of food, just like at lunch. And the parents like that they (the children) are able to stay and get their homework done,” said Nicole Billingsley, coordinator of the Buckeye Local North site.
She noted during that time, the children can seek help from one of the school staff members who oversee the sites and can receive some additional instruction in reading or math if needed.
Ashlyn Haught, who oversees the Buckeye Local West site with Kierstyn Czuchran, noted after that, the children are engaged in various activities, from sports to arts and crafts.
“We try to make it fun for them. And the kids have a blast,” she said.
Coordinators at all three sites noted it’s not unusual for a guest to contribute to the fun, with representatives of local libraries stopping by to read to the children and Jack Wilkinson of the Sports Hub visiting regularly to lead them in various exercises and teach them about sports.
Wilkinson said he tailors his instruction to suit each age group, from covering the basic rules of sports ranging from football to lacrosse to imparting the skills employed in playing the games.
Time also is allotted for the students to use the school’s computers and talks on various social and emotional issues,
from dealing with bullying and the ups and downs of one’s own emotions to the dangers of tobacco use.
Staff at the Extended Learning Centers, who also hold other positions in the school district, said it also offers an opportunity for them to get to know the students better.
Lexie Orban, who also is the school nurse at Buckeye Local South, said she has enjoyed interacting with the students in a different setting.
Kobe Hill, who left Buckeye Local West this year to serve as a physical education teacher at the junior high school, said he’s happy to see his former students again.
T.J. Arnett, who also is a special education instructor at Buckeye Local West, said, “It’s a good program for the kids. You build a bond with them. If something’s bothering them, they know they can talk to you.”
Billingsley said while there’s not as much time for the field trips offered during the school district’s summer Extended Learning program, staff and students have taken some shorter-distance excursions.
They have included a visit to Steubenville’s Nutcracker Village and a drive through Oglebay Park’s Festival of Lights.
The summer program is supported by the same five-year grant.
With the program in its fourth year, there are plans to apply for another one, said Susan Bachmann, administrative coordinator for the school district.
Bachman noted in addition to Buckeye Local pupils in grades K-5, the program is open to children in those grades at parochial or other private schools.
Parents and guardians may register their children for it at any time during the year and may do so by calling the elementary school they want their child to attend.
(1) Jack Wilkinson of the Sports Hub provides instruction to Keona Asuncion-Kahoalii, left, and Lyra Singleton, two of many students who take part in the Extended Learning Center at Buckeye Local North Elementary.
(2) Hailey Nelson, a teacher at Buckeye Local South Elementary School, leads children at its Extended Learning Center in a game inspired by one of the stories they have read. Nelson, who teaches pre-schoolers during the day, said it has been fun to interact with children of other ages through the before- and after-school program.
(3) Kobe Hill, a teacher at the Buckeye Local West Elementary Extended Learning Center, assists Nova Patterson with her homework. To her left are Izabella Conrad, left, and Nevaeh Bish.
Buckeye Local auditorium getting a new look
Posted 9/8/2026 at 7:46:27 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
RAYLAND – When students and visitors sit down to a concert, play or other special event at Buckeye Local High School this year, it will be in new seats, part of an ongoing effort to refurbish the hall.
Superintendent Coy Sudvary said the previous 720 seats date to the school’s opening in 1990, and it was becoming hard to find replacement parts for them.
Luke Parsons, the school’s principal, said he’s pleased to have blue and gray seating that closely conforms with the school’s colors of blue and silver.
The seats were supplied by Martin Public Seating of Seville, Ohio, through about $239,973 drawn from the school district’s facility improvement fund.
Parsons noted this summer, crews installed new railing along the steps leading to the stage while the stage itself was refinished.
He said the work brings to a close, at least for now, a series of improvements to the auditorium that included replacing the lighting, sound system and carpet and repainting the walls.
While the high school auditorium has received a facelift, the stages at two other Buckeye Local schools have gotten a boost from other local sources.
The curtain for the stage at Buckeye Local West Elementary School has been repaired and cleaned through the support of an anonymous donor and the Adena Lions Club, which presents its annual spring talent show there.
And the deteriorating rear curtain of the stage at Buckeye Local North Elementary will be replaced with funds through a grant from the Charles M. and Thelma M. Pugliese Charitable Foundation.
Luke Parsons, principal of Buckeye Local High School, stands behind one of the 720 new seats to be installed in the school’s auditorium. Behind him is new railing installed recently for the steps leading to the stage, which was refinished this summer.
Two inducted to Buckeye Local Ring of Honor
Posted 8/31/2026 at 9:50:23 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
YORKVILLE – A former football coach known for his winning ways on and off the field and an imposing defensive lineman who also has distinguished himself in industry were the latest to be inducted to the Buckeye Local Football Alumni’s Ring of Honor on Friday, Aug. 28.
Nathan Schaal, a 2009 Buckeye Local graduate who holds his school’s record for sacks; and the late Richard Thurnes, who led the former Buckeye Local South High School football team through four undefeated seasons; were recognized before the Panthers’ first home game of the season.
Buckeye Local Football Alumni leader Dom Vinci who, with Jeff Edzkowski organized a free tailgate party that evening at nearby Warren Township Memorial Park, said they launched the Ring of Honor several years ago to acknowledge Buckeye Local players and coaches who distinguished themselves on the gridiron.
He noted the induction of Schaal and Thurnes brings the number to 13.
Representing Thurnes, who died in 2019 at the age of 91, were his daughter, Kerry Fornick of Rootstown, Ohio, and granddaughter, Alex Quellhorst of Columbia, Md.
Thurnes and his wife of 66 years, Dorothy, who also is deceased, had three other children, Troy, Dean and Leslie Gloin; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
They noted during his long career in schools, Thurnes drove a school bus and taught American history and physical education as well as gaining much success as football coach at Cameron High School and Tiltonsville Warren Consolidated High School, which later became part of the Buckeye Local School District.
He led the Cameron team through an undefeated 1955 season in which it was ranked second in the state, while his tenure at Tiltonsville Warren was marked by four undefeated seasons in the 1960s, ending his high school football coaching career with a record of 112-36-7.
For that success, he was named the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference’s Coach of the Year four times and to the OVAC Hall of Fame and Ohio Valley Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame.
A graduate of Benwood Union High School, Thurnes had been a center on a West Liberty State College Hilltoppers team that won the Pythian and Smokey Mountain Bowls during two consecutive, undefeated seasons.
He also served the Army as a military police officer during the Korean War.
Asked how her father would feel about being honored by the Buckeye Local Football Alumni, Formick said, “He’d be very happy and very proud but he’d also downplay it. But his players meant everything to him and he’d be proud
She and Quellhorst said following his death, many former players attended his funeral or sent letters expressing their appreciation of him.
“No matter where we went, people knew him. And everyone called him ‘Coach’,” said Quellhorst, who added, “He put his heart into everything.”
A previous commitment kept Schaal away from the induction, so his brother, Scott, accepted on his behalf.
In a telephone interview prior to the event, he said, “I’m very honored. I wish I could be there.”
It was noted during the ceremony that Schaal, standing at 5’11 and weighing 175 pounds, was an imposing figure on the defensive line and his coach, Ron Poblish, was quoted as describing him as “borderline unblockable.”
And in addition to setting a school record, he ranked third in the nation among high school football players for defensive sacks.
Schaal had high praise for Poblish, saying, “He pushed me to do better and better.”
He said also strong influences were weightlifting coach Andy Bartolovich and wrestling coach Dan Davis. Schaal lettered in both football and wrestling while at Buckeye Local.
Following graduation, he worked in law enforcement for a time, serving as Rayland police chief and in the Yorkville and Bridgeport police departments. He also has been assistant fire chief of Yorkville.
Also a former steelworker, he has worked more recently as a regional environmental health and safety manager for SMS Mill Services, a position that has taken him to Spain and Belgium; and is currently director of environmental health and safety for Bill’s Towing and Recovery of St. Clairsville.
He and his wife, the former Dana Brown, have a daughter, Emersyn, and he said he’s proud to say she will be attending Buckeye Local High School next year.
Luke Parsons, principal of Buckeye Local High School, applauded the efforts of the Buckeye Local Football Alumni, who also have held an annual golf scramble and other fundraisers to support the football team.
“I think it’s important for the district to remember the history that brought us to where we are today,” said Parsons.
(1) On hand for the induction of Nathan Schaal to the Buckeye Local Football Alumni’s Ring of Honor were, from left: Buckeye Local Athletic Director Isaac Rine, Buckeye Local High School Principal Luke Parsons, Ty Schaal, Nathan’s nephew; Scott Schaal, Nathan’s brother, Dom Vinci of the Buckeye Local Football Alumni, and Vinci’s son, Luca.
(2) On hand for the induction of Richard Thurnes to the Buckeye Local Football Alumni’s Ring of Honor were, from left: Buckeye Local Athletic Director Isaac Rine, Buckeye Local High School Principal Luke Parsons, Kerry Formick, Thurnes’ daughter; and Alex Quellhorst, Thurnes’ granddaughter.
Buckeye students to receive free meals
Posted 8/28/2026 at 8:33:16 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE – This school year, students in Buckeye Local Schools will again receive free breakfasts and lunches through the school district’s participation in a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“We know how helpful it is for the families in our community and are pleased to be able to offer that,” said Superintendent Coy Sudvary.
He said participation in the program depends on a certain percentage of students being eligible for free or reduced price meals, so those families are encouraged to submit the usual applications for them.
Sudvary said continued participation also depends on an adequate number of students consuming the meals, a tracking system is in place at each school to count the breakfasts and lunches served.
For example, each high school student is assigned a number he or she enters digitally in the cafeteria.
Sudvary said to encourage students to consume the meals, the Nutrition Group, the Hazelton, Pa.-based food vendor for the school district, makes a note of the entrees that are most popular and also has invited suggestions for its menus.
At its regular meeting Monday, the Buckeye Local school board agreed to comply with state nutritional standards established for school lunches and breakfasts.
Also on Monday, the board:
Agreed to raise the hourly wage for substitute school bus drivers from $15 to $18 and to pay for the cost of training for newly hired drivers contingent upon the driver maintaining employment for two years.
Sudvary confirmed the measure is intended to address a shortage in substitute drivers.
Adopted a four-year agreement with the Jefferson County Educational Service Center for the employment, through the regional educational agency, of a school psychologist.
Sudvary said the move will mean a savings to the school district while also providing an in-person counselor as that role was previously served remotely through a private service, which will continue to handle documentation required of the schools.
Also approved was a one-year agreement through which the East Central Ohio Educational Service Center will provide technology services.
Approved an agreement with the Wells Township Police Department through which Officer Sean Starosciak will continue to serve as resource officer at Buckeye Local North Elementary.
Also returning this year as school resource officers are Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies Paul Carpenter at Buckeye Local West Elementary, Darin Lease at Buckeye Local South Elementary and Brian Driscoll at Buckeye Local Junior-Senior High School.
Approved the hiring of Brianna Lawless as a physical education teacher at Buckeye Local West Elementary and Hayden Daley as a multi-categorical instructor.
Also approved were the following high school extracurricular positions: Sam Jones and Jason Merryman as assistant athletic directors, Jim Morelli as head girls wrestling coach, Jenny Aubrey and Heather Sturtevant as co-yearbook advisers, Aubrey as Art Club adviser and Sturtevant as the school’s coordinator for the Destination Imagination competition.
Named to junior high school extracurricular positions were Aivri Ruttencutter as seventh and eighth grade cheerleading adviser and Korena Glover as volunteer volleyball coach.
Hired for the before- and afterschool programs at the three elementary schools were: Nicole Billingsley, Lindsey Farmer, Abagale Schrickel, Ashlyn Haught, Kierstyn Czucchran, Shannon Flaherty, Alison Luyster, Greta Roe and Bree Staats.
Named to represent the board as delegate to the Ohio School Boards Association was Teresa George, while fellow board member Brooke Stingle will serve as alternate.
The board’s next regular meeting will be at 5 p.m. Sept. 21 at its office on state Route 150.
On Monday, Aug. 24, the Buckeye Local school board considered matters involving breakfasts and lunches for the district’s students, the hiring of many staff members and agreements allowing specific services to be provided at the schools.
BL and IC Bands at JC Fair
Posted 8/25/2026 at 1:41:33 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
The Indian Creek and Buckeye Local high school marching bands were among many units in a parade kicking off Saturday’s events at the Jefferson County Fair. Among the many also participating in the procession were area youth crowned fair royalty, many local 4-H chapters and the family of William “Bud” Keeder, who served as grand marshals in memory of the long-time fair supporter and volunteer.
Buckeye Boosters help band start another year
Posted 8/5/2026 at 3:05:15 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
RAYLAND – Parents and other supporters of the Buckeye Local High School Band stepped into the kitchen on Sunday to help ensure its members have everything they need to perform for their school and the community at large.
The Buckeye Local Band Boosters once again served up chicken dinners to raise money for the young musicians.
The fundraiser was to coincide with the school district’s Back to School Bash but that outdoor event was canceled because of the severe thunderstorms accurately predicted for the afternoon.
Superintendent Coy Sudvary has announced school supplies that were to be distributed during the event will be delivered to each of the district’s five schools so they may be given to students at a date to be announced.
The Panthers Marching Band had been slated to kick off the event with the national anthem.
When the heavy rain curtailed those plans, the group marched into the school’s cafeteria with their instruments, entertaining the many who gathered there for the chicken dinner.
Charles Eddy, the band’s director, said the attendees got a preview of the ensemble’s pre-game performance and half-time show for the upcoming football season.
He noted the latter will feature the music of pop star Michael Jackson and a lot of dancing.
Comprised of about 40 members, the group has been practicing for about three weeks, including last week’s band camp at Bethany College.
This year’s lineup includes 12 seniors, including field commanders Megan Williams and Brianna Kovalski.
“They are a wonderful group. They have positive attitudes and are very energetic,” Eddy said of the group.
The Panthers’ first game at Bellaire on Aug. 27 will usher in a busy year for the band, including a performance with other area high school bands in the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference’s Showcase of Bands on Oct. 24 in Martins Ferry.
He added the band’s members play an active part in community events, marching in three local Christmas parades and performing for Veterans Day and Memorial Day services.
“The community always supports us, and we’re really glad to perform for them,” said Eddy.
He added he’s also thankful for the hard work of the Band Boosters, whose fundraisers include working the concession stand at the football team’s home games.
Ashley Kryzs, who is president of the Boosters and the band’s assistant director, said the group likes to include hot chicken sandwiches, macaroni cheese and other less common entrees in the concession stand’s menu.
She said proceeds from various fundraisers held by the group help to provide uniforms, instruments and accessories to the band’s members and to help students in financially strapped families to attend the band camp.
In addition to Kryzs, the many Band Boosters working in the kitchen on Sunday included Brian Young, the group’s vice president and co-treasurer; and Toni Howard, its secretary and co-treasurer.
Kryzs said there are plans to hold a spaghetti dinner and quarter auction later in the fall.
While the heavy rain curtailed plans for inflatable attractions and music from a disc jockey, a few of the groups that had planned to participate in the Back to School Bash were welcomed into nearby Meadowbrook Church of God on Sunday afternoon.
The church’s members had filled several rows of tables with free clothing and shoes in various sizes for students preparing to return to school.
Sharon Berdick, who was among many members who lent their time to the effort, said they were joined by members of the Tiltonsville Tabernacle, who brought free hot dogs, backpacks and other school supplies; and representatives of the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County, who shared information about their services.
Those attending the Buckeye Local High School Band Boosters’ annual chicken dinner fundraiser Sunday were treated to a performance by the band of selections from this year’s pre-game and half-time musical numbers.
Buckeye board updated on football field
Posted 7/8/2026 at 8:12:00 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE — The Buckeye Local Board of Education learned recently that work on Buckeye Local High School’s Ron Pobolish Football Field is proceeding and is expected to be completed in time for the Panthers’ first home football game.
At the board’s June 29 meeting, Superintendent Coy Sudvary said crews with Hickory Valley Sod Farm LLC have replaced drainage structures for the field that date to the 1950s, when it opened, and extended them to the sidelines.
He said following recent steady rain, he was pleased to find no puddling there.
Sudvary said crews with Rain One will be installing a new sprinkler system for the field that will be tied to a weather monitor at the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport.
“So if it rains, the sprinklers will not turn on, but when there is no precipitation, the system will kick on and provide the necessary saturation for the new sod,” he explained following the meeting.
Sudvary said the work was delayed by the severe winter weather and this spring’s heavy rain but is expected to be completed in time for the Panthers’ first home football game on Aug. 28.
The work is part of ongoing improvements to the field and World War II Memorial Stadium.
Sudvary said new goal posts will arrive soon and crews with McCart Construction also will be replacing one of three sections of bleachers on the home side.
He said the wood and fiberglass seats will be replaced with metal ones and concrete in that area will be sealed to alleviate another water issue.
Last summer, crews installed a new, handicap-accessible bleacher section and new fencing around the stadium and refurbished the surrounding athletic track.
Board members acknowledged recent Buckeye Local High School graduate Jenna DelVecchio, who emerged state champion in the 100 meter hurdle event at the state track and field championship held June 4-7 at Ohio State University.
Believed to be her school’s first state champion for the sport, DelVecchio also was named Ohio High School Athletic Association Division IV Track Athlete of the Year.
She has set new records at her school for the 100 meter and 300 meter hurdle events.
The daughter of Doug and Julie DelVecchio, she has signed to compete in track at Youngstown State University.
It also was noted Bri Sellars, another 2026 Buckeye Local graduate, was crowned queen of the Harrison County Fair.
Sellars is an active member of the Shamrock 4-H Club and a beekeeper, selling her bees’ honey and beeswax, and has attended the Ohio State Fair for several years.
The daughter of Daine and Nicole Sellars, she plans to attend West Liberty University and major in microbiology.
Board member Melissa Supanik, its legislative liaison, discussed several bills pending in the state legislature.
Supanik noted House Bill 3, also known as the School Bus Safety Act, has been passed by legislators and awaits signing by Gov. Mike DeWine.
If approved, it will raise fines for illegally passing a school bus, currently capped at $500, to $250 to $1,000, with repeat offenses punishable by a fine of $2,000 and the potential suspension of the violator’s driver’s license.
It also would allow school officials to use video from school bus safety cameras in pursuing charges for illegal passing.
Supanik said pending in the state legislature is House Bill 304, which would allow students to use time spent in extracurricular activities, including sports and marching band, toward the 120 hours of physical education required for graduation.
The board adopted a cybersecurity plan addressing potential breaches in compliance with House Bill 96, which was approved by the legislature last year.
In related business, the board approved an $8,700 contract with Cowbell, international company, for cyber risk insurance.
Approved an agreement with the East Central Ohio Educational Service Center for the agency to provide virtual Spanish instruction for the upcoming school year.
The district had advertised for an in-person Spanish instructor but wasn’t able to secure one for the current year.
The board approved the hiring of Jason Kovalski as principal of Buckeye Local Junior High School, a position he held in the past; and Karen Eddy, Ashley Krzys and Cheryl Pompeo as assistant band directors, with Pompeo overseeing the dance line.
The board also approved the following athletic personnel: Isaac Rine, head athletic director; Jeffery Patrick, head baseball coach; Donald Yeager, head girls track coach; Jackson Otto, head wrestling coach; Joe Soos, head softball coach and assistant boys basketball coach; Trevor Zanes, eighth grade assistant football coach; Erica Call, eighth grade volleyball coach; Brooke Barlow, seventh grade volleyball coach; Carly Long, eighth grade girls basketball coach; Greg Bahen and Kenny Richardson, co-assistant football coaches; Justin Driscoll, volunteer football coach; and Erica Call, seventh grade volleyball coach.
The board accepted the resignation of Vicki Kourim, secretary at Buckeye Local High School, who is retiring after 27 years of service to the school district.
Other recent retirements from the school district include Jami Cammer, whose 35 years of service included stints as teacher and guidance counselor; Tom O’Connell, a teacher for 33 years; school bus drivers John Sindeldecker, with 31 years of service, and Kecia Sindeldecker, with 29 years; Wendy Besece, a mental health counselor for 30 years; Roxann Green, a custodian for 30 years; Audrey Rubright, a teacher for 29 years; and Mike Todoroff,, a custodian for the district for 11 years.
On Monday, Buckeye Local Superintendent Coy Sudvary updated school board members on work on the high school’s football field.
Many Buckeye Local students awarded scholarships
Posted 5/29/2026 at 5:50:51 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE – Many graduating Buckeye Local High School students received honors and a total of more than $100,000 in scholarships at the school’s annual Senior Awards Assembly on May 7.
The scholarship recipients included: Dallas Farmer, Hannah Langsdorf, Brianna Sellers and Harmony Woodland, all from the Ohio Association of Public School Employees.
Emerson Boyce, Jenna DelVecchio, Addison Jones and Haden Wilhelm, all from the Warren Township Lions Club.
Robert Call, McKenna Halicky, Kamden Kinyo and Jack Newell, all from the Dillonvalle High School Alumni Association.
Samantha Westfall, the Special Friends Scholarship; and Cameron Rusnak, the VALES Scholarship.
Stay Foundation Memorial Scholarships, in honor of Bristol Crokie, were presented to McKenna Halicky, Hailey Kovalski, Chase Milton, Kirsten Morgan and Cameron Rusnak.
Tandy Ferguson and McKenna Halicky, both from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4811; Kamden Kinyo and Cameron Rusnak, both from Brilliant American Legion Post 573; Samantha Westfall, from Brilliant American Legion Post 573 Auxiliary; Haden Wilhelm, from Brilliant American Legion Post 573 Sons of the American Legion; and Robert Call, Kinyo and Kirsten Morgan, all from Adena American Legion Post 525 Sons of the American Legion.
Emerson Boyce, the Mike Tolliver Memorial Scholarship; Carter Glover and Harmony Woodland, both Stephen E. Strupe Memorial Scholarships; and Kamden Kinyo and Kylie Watt, both Kara Bright Scholarship.
Tandy Ferguson and Hannah Langsdorf, both Rhonda Suter Memorial Scholarships; Austin Fetty, the Leon Berze Memorial Scholarship; and Kamden Kinyo, Kirsten Morgan and Samantha Westfall, all Buckeye Local Junior Panthers Scholarships
Jack Newell, a Softite Scholarship and Lengyel Family Scholarship and, the Carol Lee Becker Memorial Scholarship; McKenna Halicky from the Dillonvale-Mount Pleasant Lions Club; and Cameron Rusnak and Samantha Westfall, both from the Brilliant Lions Club
Receiving the Adena Lions John Parkinson Academic Merit Award are: McKenna Halicky, Kamden Kinyo, Brooke Kovalski, Hailey Kovalski and Kirsten Morgan.
Harmony Woodland, the Russ Moran Memorial Scholarship; Tandy Ferguson and Chase Milton, both Joseph Nieb “43” Memorial Scholarships; Samantha Westfall, the Buckeye North Elementary Robert Dalrymple Memorial Scholarship; and Milton, the John P. Nolan Wrestling Memorial Scholarship.
McKenna Halicky from Alpha Delta Kappa; Emerson Boyce, the Brad McFadden Memorial Scholarship; Kirsten Morgan, Josh Merriman Memorial Scholarship and Nora Webb-Winstead Memorial Scholarship; and Austin Fetty and Madison Mott, both scholarships from the Buckeye Local Board of Education.
Addison Jones, the Edward J. Stanko Memorial Scholarship; Isabella Russell, the Maderia Family Scholarship; Hailey Kovalski and Kirsten Morgan, both from the Adena Woman’s Club; and Cameron Rusnak and Russell, both Bill Mazeroski Scholarships (for baseball and softball)
McKenna Halicky, Academic and Impact Scholarships from Muskingum University; Jenna DelVecchio, Kamden Kinyo and Kirsten Morgan, all John F. Becca Memorial Scholarships; and Brooke Kovalski, the Dr. Jim Mills Memorial Scholarship.
Chase Milton, the Kontogiannis Family Scholarship; Kirsten Morgan, the Doyle R. Weldon Memorial Band Scholarship; and Brooke Kovalski, the Undo’s Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Scholarship.
Robert Call, John Frank and Hudson Matthews, all from the Charles M. and Thelma M. Pugliese Charitable Foundation.
Receiving Jessica Marie Mayle Memorial Volleyball Scholarships are: Jenna DelVecchio, McKenna Halicky, Brooke Kowalski, Kylie Watt and Samantha Westfall.
Receiving scholarships from the Lou Holtz Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fames are: Emerson Boyce and Cameron Rusnak, Melony Crane-Dennis and Austin Fetty.
Receiving scholarships from the Mount Pleasant High School Alumni Association are: Robert Call, Brooke Kovalski, Hailey Kovalski, Kamden Kinyo, Hannah Langsdorf, Hudson Matthews and Kirsten Morgan.
Brooke Kovalski, Kirsten Morgan and Kylie Watt, all Indian Club Scholarships.
Robert Call, the Buckeye Local Classroom Teacher Association Education Scholarship; Kamden Kinyo, the Buckeye Local Classroom Teacher Association Family Scholarship; and Cameron Rusnak, the Ron Pobolish Memorial Scholarship.
Miley DaGrava received the Hesske Family Award for being the senior with the most improved grade point average. Students in grades 9-11 with the most improved grade point averages also will receive the award at the end of the school year.
Kamden Kinyo and Kylie Watt were recognized by the Ohio High School Athletic Association for having the highest grade point averages as of the fall semester and for earning a minimum of four varsity letters.
And Brooke Kovalski and Cameron Rusnak received the OHSAA’s Courageous Athlete Award for their perseverance in the face of athletic injuries.
National Federation of State High School Associations Network’s Awards of Excellence, presented to student-athletes who have been excellent role models, went to Jenna DelVecchio and Rylan Walker.
The State Award for Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity went to Hailey Kovalski and Jorge Alvarez while the Archie Griffin Award for Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity went to Isabella Russell and John Frank.
Presented pre-apprenticeship certificates, for their completion of career technical programs, were: Kahli Abshire, Katelyn Blake, Leeiah McKnight, Grant Dombroski, Miley DaGrava, John Frank, Hailey Kovalski, Hannah Langsdorf, Emma McFadden, Kirsten Morgan, Isabella Russell, Olivia Takach, Harmony Woodland and Adrienne Wilson.
Principal Luke Parsons presented principal’s awards, for the students exemplifying the traits of being productive, responsible, involved and dependable while striving for excellence, to Kahli Abshire and John Frank.
Also announced were the Class of 2026’s four co-valedictorians and 14 members graduating with highest honors.
The co-valedictorians are: Dallas Farmer, Brooke Kovalski, Isabella Russell and Kylie Watt; Also graduating with highest honest honors are: Amber Beranek, Hailey Colabelli, Tandy Ferguson, Jacob Flesch, McKenna Halicky, Addison Jones, Kamden Kinyo, Karly Koran, Hailey Kovalski, Hannah Langsdorf, Hudson Matthews, Kirsten Morgan, Jack Newell, Brianna Sellers, Samantha Westfall and Adrienne Wilson.
Also recognized during the program, local pastor Adam Mitchell recognized the following seniors for volunteering at the Yorkville Food Pantry: James Bernosky, Emerson Boyce, Haley Colabeilli, Melony Crane-Dennis, Hailey Devault, Jacob Flesch, Gracie Hoffman, Grayden Kindberg-Colabelli, Hudson Matthews, Emma McFadden, Madison Mott, Samantha Westfall, Nathan Worwa and Kylie Watt.
More than $100,000 scholarships for graduating Buckeye Local High School students were announced at the school’s senior awards program as well as the Class of 2026’s four co-valedictorians and other members graduating with highest honors. They are, from left, front: Hannah Langsdorf, co-valedictorians Isabella Russell, Brooke Kovalski, Dallas Farmer and Kylie Watt; McKenna Halicky and Adrienne Wilson; middle: Tandy Ferguson, Haley Colabelli, Addison Jones, Jack Newell, Brianna Sellers and Samantha Westfall; and back: Kirsten Morgan, Hudson Matthews, Jacob Flesch, Kamden Kinyo, Amber Beranek, Hailey Kovalski and Karly Koran.
Veterans teamed with students to remember Memorial Day
Posted 5/26/2026 at 5:52:55 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
ADENA – Students and staff at Buckeye Local West Elementary School teamed with members of Adena American Legion Post 525 for a Memorial Day program held on the Friday just before the holiday, carrying on a local tradition of more than 30 years.
The school’s gym was filled with parents and other community members who listened to patriotic songs and poems delivered by the school’s pupils and reflections by Harrison County Sheriff Mark Touville and others on the important role played by members of the U.S. military in defending the nation’s freedoms and those who lost their lives while performing their duties.
Touville noted the veterans left their families and often set aside personal dreams “to serve something greater than themselves, the freedoms we all enjoy.”
The sheriff said everyone can honor the veterans by standing when the U.S flag is raised or listening to the stories of those who served.
“We can honor those who served by recommitting ourselves to be worthy of the freedoms they protect,” said Touville.
Post 525 member Roger Sliva, who organized the program, encouraged the children to attend a Memorial Day program with their parents or visit the grave of a family member who served and learn more about that relative.
Sliva also recognized the winners of the post’s essay contest, for which Buckeye Local West pupils were asked to write about what Memorial Day means to them.
Bailey Wallace, who placed first, noted the holiday’s origin as Decoration Day following the Civil War.
Wallace said that everyone “should be grateful that we are protected from all danger. It hurts to think what people had to go through to make us safe. They put their own lives in danger for us.”
Ellie Bowman, the second place winner, said she prayed for the souls of the veterans who were killed and their families, that they may find peace in the afterlife.
Bowman said, “The words ‘thank you’ can’t even describe how thankful I am for the men and women who fought and are fighting for our freedom. So today, instead of them being forgotten, they will be honored and for many years to come, thanks to programs like this.”
Stevie Rennells, who placed third, wrote, “These soldiers went through very dangerous training and saw terrifying and horrible sights on a daily basis. At any moment, everything could have been taken away from them, but they did not turn away. They devoted their lives to protect this country, and they deserve to have a day to be honored and remembered by the people they love.
The program also included a reading of 26 local veterans who died while serving in World Wars I and II and Vietnam and a military rifle salute outside by Post 525 members followed by a performance of Taps by Rennells on trumpet.
Among many participating in a Memorial Day program held Friday by Adena American Legion Post 525 and Buckeye Local Elementary West were, from left: Harrison County Sheriff Mark Touville, who served as guest speaker; essay winners Bailey Wallace, Ellie Bowman and Stevie Rennells; and Roger Sliva, who coordinated the event for Adena American Legion Post 525.
Panther Café offers hands-on experience for students
Posted 5/5/2026 at 3:13:05 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
RAYLAND — Students in Buckeye Local High School’s hospitality and tourism course are gaining firsthand experience in sales through the school’s new Panther Café.
Found in the Panther Den, a student lounge recently added at the school, the café is a concession stand where teens in Luke Fabry’s hospitality and tourism classes serve up cookies, coffee and other beverages on a daily basis.
Fabry noted to comply with school regulations, the food isn’t served during school lunch hours so it won’t compete with the school’s nutrition program.
He said students and staff may place their orders online and have them delivered to their classrooms, pending each teacher’s policy for food there, or simply walk up and make a purchase in person.
Fabry confirmed cash purchases are an option, as his students conduct both online and traditional transactions.
He said a student suggested selling coffee to faculty and it snowballed into the café’s current operations.
In addition to serving up coffee, tea, cocoa and frappucino, students at the café sell cookies baked by students in his classes and dubbed the Panther Big Bite for the school’s mascot.
About 3.2 ounces and 4.5 inches wide, the cookies come in various flavors from day to day, with chocolate chip being the most popular.
Like most of the food prepared by Fabry’s students, they are made from scratch.
The teens are encouraged to provide input into the product they sell, with Jackie Richardson, a senior who has since graduated, perfecting the recipe for the chocolate chip cookies.
About four students work the stand, a unique feature created from boards cut from trees that were removed from an area near the school’s football field by Mason Boyce, a local volunteer.
Fabry said his current students and students from the last three years, during which the culinary and hospitality courses were started and developed, will be invited to sign the counter.
Fabry said the café is a work in progress.
“We’re going to get uniforms and do all of the things we need to do to run a business,” he said.
Fabry said the venture already is doing great business, with 255 of more than 300 Buckeye students purchasing food from it through their online accounts.
He said proceeds from the sales will go to the students’ participation in Cook Around the World, a culinary competition for students held at Walt Disney World
Fabry noted last year, a shrimp paella dish and Mediterranean salad created by his students received an award for the most attractive among 85 entries.
“I’m so proud of them,” he said of the students, who prepared the meal on-site in 90 minutes.
Fabry also is enthusiastic about the Panther Café.
“I’m excited about this. I think it’s great for the kids because it’s real-world experience,” he said.
Among many hospitality and tourism students at Buckeye Local High School ready to serve up cookies and beverages at its new Panther Café are, from left: Emma McFadden, Hannah Langsdorf, Liv Takach and Horge Alvarez.
Buckeye Local hosted robotics competition
Posted 5/5/2026 at 2:56:47 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE — The ingenuity and adaptability of students at Buckeye Local High School and Wheeling Middle School was tested through a robotics competition hosted by the high school on May 1.
The event was the Sea, Air and Land Challenge organized by the Pennsylvania State University Electro-Optics Center and sponsored by Interaction of Ionizing Radiation with Matter and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
Jeff Merrill, STEM instructor at the high school, noted for several years, Buckeye Local has hosted the contest, allowing many students from area schools to test their functionality of robots they have built.
The event also has included a competition for drones, with the scenarios for missions completed in imaginary settings of sea, air and land changing from year to year.
This year, students in Merrill's Science, Technology, Engineering and Math class and members of Wheeling Middle School's robotics team entered the land competition.
Its scenario involved an unmanned land rover, played by each robot, searching for barrels that may contain radioactive material in a recently seized military compound and separating those with such material from those without it so they may be addressed by a remediation crew.
The setting was simulated with half-pound segments of metal conduit, about the size of tin cans but much heavier, serving as the barrels, with bricks, rocks and other materials serving as barriers between them and the elevated colored boxes in which the "barrels" were to be placed.
The students were required to direct their table-sized robots faced away from the course, using only a small camera mounted on each and linked to their cell phones to find and lift the barrels and navigate around the obstacles to the storage boxes.
And they had to complete the task in no more than 10 minutes, with the student or team completing the task in the least time emerging the winner.
The students could take a one-minute penalty to correct or repair the robots from outside the course, as occurred when the tank treads of one robot fell off, but such steps could only be done from outside the course.
Merrill noted the students could choose certain features for their robots, such as wheels or treads for mobility, provided they met height, weight and other restrictions set by the competition's organizers.
The competition included two rounds, with additional barriers added to heighten the challenge for the second one, he noted.
This year's winner was a Wheeling Middle School team comprised of Leo Stubbe, Makarah Wilson, Snow Randolph-Nelson, Naviah Dean and Mason Kelly.
They and another team from the middle school were led by Vincent O'Leary, who previously brought students from Wheeling Catholic Central High School to the event.
Representing Buckeye Local High School was John Frank, a senior from Rayland.
Frank said as a student in Merrill's STEM class, he has learned not only to build and operate robots but also to use a 3D printer to create a variety of things.
"It's probably one of the best classes I've taken my high school career," said Frank, who plans to study mechanical engineering at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Susan and Jim Zingaro, both engineers, served as judges for the event.
She advised the students not to be discouraged by any mishaps that occurred with the robots, saying, "Failure is not final. It's just a learning experience."
She said the competition is one of about a dozen organized by Pennsylvania State University each year in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland.
Merrill said the Buckeye Local event is held each April or May and pending interest, also has included an air competition involving drones and a sea challenge with a course established in a large tank of water.
Judges Jim and Susan Zingaro inspect the robot entered by John Frank, a senior at Buckeye Local High School, for a robotics competition organized by Pennsylvania State University and hosted by the school on May 1.
John Frank, a senior at Buckeye Local High School, prepared to navigate his robot through a course in Pennsylvania State University's Sea, Air and Land Challenge as Zoe Haines looked on during Pennsylvania State University's Sea, Air and Land Challenge.
Buckeye Local students chronicle school district’s history
Posted 4/29/2026 at 10:30:59 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
RAYLAND – Next week residents of the Buckeye Local School District will have an opportunity to learn about the origins and development of the school system while also witnessing the hard work of a group of students who set out to record it.
At 7 p.m. Monday at the Wells Township Community Center, students in Buckeye Local Junior High School’s gifted program will present “Evolution of Panther Pride,” a short documentary they have produced under the direction of Stephanie Crust, gifted intervention specialist at the school; and Rikki Santer, an Ohio Teaching Artist with the Ohio Arts Council.
Since then, Santer, a former journalist and public school teacher specializing in film studies, met with the students weekly to mentor them in the documentary genre of filmmaking.
Santer said she started by conducting a survey to determine what the students knew about documentaries.
From there, she explained that films inspired by real life can be traced to the late 1890s with the Lumiere brothers of France among its earliest pioneers.
Santer noted since 1942, an Oscar has been awarded each year to a documentary found to be the best of its genre.
Crust said, “Most of us knew almost nothing about those kinds of movies, but after she showed us several of them and taught us about the history and the different types of these kind of films, we began to get excited about making our own.”
“Each Monday when she visited, we learned about the different components of documentaries as well as the cinematic techniques that filmmakers use to create meaning, like camera angles, B-roll footage and editing moves,” she added.
Camryn Dutton, a sixth grader involved with the project, said, “We started with the basics, what a documentary is and how to work a camera.”
But to produce a documentary, the students needed a central focus.
Superintendent of Schools Coy Sudvary, Buckeye Local High School Principal Luke Parsons and Wells Township Trustee Rodney Roe were invited to share ideas.
Crust said several topics were discussed, but ultimately the students chose one: What is the history of Buckeye Local Schools and where are we now?
She noted students took on various tasks, with some interviewing about 24 local officials and residents, others operating the camera, some serving as announcers and still more writing the copy that intersperses the many guests’ comments.
“It’s been really exciting to see them take charge and take pride in what they have done,” said Santer.
Samantha Foldi, another sixth grader, said she was very nervous when conducting her first one-to-one interview for the video but became more comfortable doing the second one.
Many of the tasks involved learning new skills.
Stephen Cochran, an eighth grader who stepped up with Ayden Firm to learn the process of film editing, said, “There was a lot of stuff I learned, especially with editing.
He noted a score for the documentary was drawn from copyright-free music offered by a website, and various selections were reviewed to find the music that best fit the documentary’s tone.
“A lot of teamwork was definitely put into the project,” said Cochran.
Offering advice to the students in using computers to do the editing was Dan Davis, a career technical instructor who teaches a video production class at the high school.
Davis acknowledged the sixth, seventh and eighth graders in Crust’s class may be inspired to enroll in his course when they enter high school.
“Hopefully we can build on that,” he said.
Crust noted the project involved work not seen directly in the film, such as preparing loglines and treatments, or summaries of the film that documentary-makers use to solicit financial backers. Students also designed and posted advertisements for their video’s unveiling.
Foldi said she also learned from the research done for it.
“I didn’t know we once had one-room schoolhouses (in the district),” she said, revealing one of the many details the documentary will share.
Photo Caption:
Students in Buckeye Local Junior High School’s gifted program have worked with Rikki Santer, an Ohio Teaching Artist with the Ohio Arts Council, to produce a short documentary on the history of Buckeye Local schools to be unveiled at 7 p.m. Monday at the Wells Township Community Center. Among those involved were, from left: Grace Mori, Maisie Wilson, Ella Lennox, Ellie Ricer, Jack Martin, Camryn Dutton and Wyatt Eastham; and back: Raelyn Glover, Sutton Monroe, Isabella Glauser, Brooklyn Burress, Sophia Vitek, Stephen Cochran, Ayden Firm, Robert Glauser and Kyle Beranek. Samantha Foldi and Camden Bell also participated in the project.
Mock accident sent message about responsible driving
Posted 4/27/2026 at 7:37:47 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
RAYLAND – On Thursday, many members of area emergency departments teamed to stage a simulation of a drunk driving accident to impress on students at Buckeye Local High School the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Gathered outside the school, the students watched as officers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department investigated a two-car collision and firefighters and emergency medical personnel from several local fire departments extricated students playing accident victims from their vehicles.
Firefighters could be seen using hydraulic equipment to tear off the roof of one vehicle, while State Trooper Darren Johnson instructed the teen driver of one in the steps of a sobriety field test.
Providing narration was Kirk Creamer, who served the Brilliant Fire Department for more than 50 years.
Creamer advised that about 2,500 youth, ages 16 to 19, die in motor vehicle accidents each year, amounting to an average of six per day.
But he noted 27 percent of the deaths, more than 650, occur during prom season.
Organized by Principal Luke Parsons, Tiltonsville Fire Chief Michael Lollini, School District Safety Director Tony Panepucci and others, the mock accident was held as many Buckeye Local High School students prepare for their own prom this weekend.
Creamer told the students, “Don’t think this can’t happen, because it has.”
He noted in this scenario, one of the student ‘victims’ suffered fatal injuries, as without a seat belt, he was propelled headlong through his car’s front windshield.
But he added those who survive such accidents can suffer from long-term medical problems from them.
Lollini told the students, “Unfortunately, we’ve seen this one too many times and we’ll see it again.”
He urged the students to pledge they won’t get behind a steering wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or allow themselves to be distracted by a cell phone or other influences while driving.
“Your whole life is ahead of you. Don’t ruin it because of one stupid decision,” Lollini advised.
Parsons said a video of the simulation will be available to other schools who would like to use it to send the same message.
Emergency departments participating in the simulation included the Tiltonsville, Brilliant, Rayland, Yorkville and Mount Pleasant fire departments; Ohio State Highway Patrol and Healthnet Aeromedical Services, a medical helicopter service.
Appearing as victims and others affected by the accident, many of them in makeup applied by students of art instructor Stephanie Gruber, were the following teens: Robert Call, Kamden Kinyo, McKenna Halicky, Karli Lander, Regan Wilson, Jonas Eddy, Aubrey Hepburn, Jeffery Patrick and Dan Davis.
Riley McCloud and Kane Fabry recorded the event, while Johnny Frank oversaw the sound system.
The “wrecked” vehicles were supplied by Bill’s Towing.
Teens at Buckeye Local High School watched as fellow students playing the victims of a drunk driving accident were removed from two vehicles outside the school on Thursday.
New Panther Den a showcase for art
Posted 4/15/2026 at 5:45:55 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
RAYLAND — Young artists at Buckeye Local Junior-Senior High School have a new place to showcase their work that is complemented by two wall-size murals created by an area artist known for his efforts on even larger "canvasses."
Visitors to the first Buckeye Local Junior-Senior High School Art Fair held Thursday, April 9, at the school's new Panther Café, surveyed not only the variety of paintings, sketches and other works of art created by members of the school's art club and other students.
Many also got their first look at the two murals created by Scott Hagan of Jerusalem, Ohio, known as the Barn Artist for the art he has created on farms across the U.S. and Canada.
Occupying more than 30 square feet, the murals include a multicolored close-up of the fierce countenance of the panther mascot and on the adjoining wall, a silhouette of the jungle cat in a tropical setting.
Hagan noted he made the less conventional choice of shades of blue and silver for the scene as a nod to the school's colors.
He revealed he sketched the scene on computer before drawing it on the wall with a grease pencil.
It's not the first time Hagan has applied his artistic skills at the building, as he also is responsible for the panther that figures prominently in the school's gym.
Hagan said he began drawing at an early age, but it was while attending Wellsville High School that he gravitated to larger "canvasses" for his art.
That included painting cartoon characters on friends' vehicles and the mascot on the 50-yard line of the school's football field.
His first barn painting was of Brutus, the Ohio State University mascot, on the side of his father's barn in 1997.
"I just did it for fun, as a challenge to do something that size," said Hagan.
That led to his being commissioned to paint a logo celebrating Ohio's bicentennial on barns in each of the state's 88 counties, an endeavor that took three years.
"I'm the Barn Artist, but I paint all types of stuff," he said, noting that has included work at many area schools, from mascots and logos on athletic stadiums and gymnasiums to a portrait of country singer Brad Paisley at his alma mater, John Marshall High School.
Asked if he has a favorite, Hagan said, "It's like saying, which of your children is your favorite."
But among those of which he is proud are a stone castle, sword and bolt of lightning painted at Tyler Consolidated High School, homes of the Silver Knights; and a husky in the gym at Harrison Central High School.
He noted Harrison Hills school personnel have used the dog's glaring eyes in many of their materials.
Amanda Gruber, adviser for the Buckeye Local High School Art Club, was happy to have a new location for the group's annual art show, which coincided with the spring concerts of the junior high and high school band and choral ensembles.
She added there are plans to display students' art there through the school year.
Luke Parsons, the school's principal, noted the Panther Den also includes the Panther Café, where students in the school's Foods program serve coffee and snacks; and an updated STEM lab, with eSports and makerspace equipment students may use for recreation and projects.
He said renovations and new furnishings to the area were supported by a $20,000 grant from the Charles M. and Thelma M. Pugliese Charitable Foundation.
Artist Scott Hagan applies the final touches to a multicolored visage of Buckeye Local Junior-Senior High School's panther mascot, one of two murals he has created for the school's new Panther Den.
Children’s Author Stops at Buckeye West
Posted 3/24/2026 at 10:00:58 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
ADENA- Children’s author Abbey Duplaga made her return to Buckeye West Elementary on March 19 to share her latest work and inspire young students with her continuous theme of self-improvement.
Duplaga, of St. Clairsville, published the latest in her “Ambitious Abbey” series, “Ambitious Abbey’s Race Against Time,” this past year. The book, which is her seventh publication since 2018, follows young Abbey as she prepares to perform as the lead in a play. Duplaga read the tale to students in grades PreK-5, sharing how young Abbey auditions but does not receive the main role but gets a second chance when the part becomes available once again. With only three weeks to practice, she schedules time to learn her lines and get ready for opening night.
“I’m excited to be back,” Duplaga said, adding that she had last visited the school two years ago. “I wrote a series called ‘Ambitious Abbey,’ and the word ambitious means ‘determined to do something.’”
She explained that each book focused on a specific character trait, including ambition, being a leader, not giving up, being organized, life balance, and time management. Her other tales include “Ambitious Abbey Takes the Lead,”
“Ambitious Abbey Tries Again,” “Ambitious Abbey Gets Organized,” and
“Ambitious Abbey and the Balancing Act,” in addition to “Ambitious Abbey Bakes,” a cookbook which contains 15 recipes. Duplaga said her next tale, “Ambitious Abbey Tells the Truth,” should be available in the fall and notes the importance of honesty.
Duplaga quizzed the kids on portions of the book and also answered questions from the audience. She pointed out that the spine of each book represents a color of the rainbow and depicts the order of the stories, while the final books will be pink, white, and gold. The last in the series is expected to be published in 2029. She told the students that she includes family members and incidents which occurred during her childhood, which is known as the realistic fiction genre.
“The stories I write are about something that happens and it includes a conflict and a resolution,” she added. “It’s easier to write about things you experience. That’s where these stories come from.”
A former accountant, she said she took a leap of faith and began writing, and now she spends two to four hours crafting her stories while working with illustrators over a five-month period to add the art. Duplaga completes one story a year because she enjoys reading them at schools, and her future plans are to develop a 10-episode animated show and doll. Meanwhile, “Ambitious Abbey Gets Organized” has earned an International Impact Award which will be given this summer.
Duplaga had copies of her books for purchase and autographed them for the students. She said she loves teaching people through her stories and it was thrilling to know people appreciated her work.
“I’m really excited. It’s really cool to have an idea in my head and write it, then see someone read it. It’s really rewarding.”
Children’s author Abbey Duplaga returned to Buckeye West Elementary in Adena on March 19 to share her latest book, “Ambitious Abbey’s Race Against Time,” with students in grades PreK-5. The St. Clairsville-based scribe has written seven books in the “Ambitious Abbey” series as well as a cookbook featuring the character and plans to create an animated show and stuffed doll, while her next book should be published this fall.
ODEW Rep Views Hydroponics Program
Posted 3/24/2026 at 9:53:12 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local Jr. High School’s hydroponics program has gained the attention of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce with a representative visiting the site to get a closer look.
Kara Johnson, education program specialist with the office of nutrition, met with Principal Andy Long and district Treasurer Merri Matthews on March 19 to view three towers the school acquired through a $35,000 Grow Ohio Grant this past fall. The equipment is being used by both the junior and senior high students to provide home-grown produce for the school’s Foods program and cafeteria, including a lush supply of leafy greens and herbs that were ripe for the picking. The program was created by BLHS Ag teacher and FFA advisor Cameron Best, who was not present for the visit but said the “Panther Produce: Growing Futures Hydroponics Lab” would serve as a catalyst for agricultural career awareness and food systems learning at BLJHS.
Best worked with Long, district Superintendent Coy Sudvary, high school Principal Luke Parsons, and Dustin Pyles and Marcy Raymond of VAZA Consulting on the grant, which also expands upon plans with the state-of-the-art greenhouse previously added on campus through a $25,000 windfall from the Ohio Farm Bureau as well as Panther Farms, which will raise chickens to provide fresh eggs. Meanwhile, a corn plot and vegetable gardens were planted last spring to supply the Foods programs and also give students hands-on experience in the growing process.
Long said Best will become a full-time agribusiness instructor next year, which will help generate career-tech classes in the junior high.
“We’ll have the greenhouse and Panther Farms too and [our students] will sequence right into the high school classes,” he added.
The equipment was acquired through Fork Farms of Wisconsin and added earlier this year, and plans are to boost interest in farming opportunities since it is a leading field in Ohio. Hydroponics is the ability to grow seeds without soil and uses nutrient-rich water instead.
“The plan is to harvest and use this in the cafeteria, and with the next cycle we’ll work with the culinary arts class,” Long explained. “The junior high kids are excited and already talking about high school classes.”
“It’s really impressive and nice that the students get the opportunity to do it,” Johnson remarked. “It sounds like it is being incorporated into different curricula. It’s nice to see the hands-on, educational practice.”
She continued that she has seen hydroponic systems being utilized in many schools, and they are helpful because Ohio has brief outdoor growing seasons. Another plus is how it is being integrated into the agricultural pathways and Johnson offered her support in working to obtain more items for the program.
“I’m so excited for the students to get to have more of this,” Johnson commented. “I travel to all of the wonderful Grow Ohio Grant awardees, and Buckeye Local was one of 18 this year. It was wonderful to see how it’s being incorporated into different schools and different districts.”
“I appreciate the support from the state and having Kara Johnson come to see the hydroponics equipment firsthand, and I’m looking forward to seeing the agribusiness program take off next year,” Long concluded.
Kara Johnson, education program specialist with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s Office of Nutrition, visited Buckeye Local Jr. High School on March 19 to view the school’s hydroponics program which was funded with a $35,000 Grow Ohio Grant and intends to supply the cafeteria and culinary arts program. Johnson is pictured with BLJHS Principal Andy Long during her stop.
Recycling Reward
Posted 3/16/2026 at 4:23:27 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
Buckeye North Elementary third grader Emerson Stenger earned first-place honors in the grade K-4 division during JB Green Team’s 2026 Trashy Art Contest. The contest is open to all Jefferson and Belmont County students in grades K-12 and participants complete projects using only materials that would otherwise be disposed of or recycled. Stenger created wind chimes with his materials and received award certificates and a $25 gift card to Seven Ranges Entertainment. He is pictured with JB Green Team Jefferson County Environmental Educator Louise Holliday.
BLHS Performing “The Wizard of Oz”
Posted 3/5/2026 at 9:56:36 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-The Buckeye Local High School stage will be transformed into the Emerald City for the spring production of “The Wizard of Oz.”
Performing arts students will lead the musical version of author L. Frank Baum’s classic story on March 19-21 and doors will open at 5 p.m. with the curtains to rise at 6 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door for $10 each during the first two performances, while the Performing Arts Boosters will host a preshow pasta dinner on March 21 at 4 p.m. in the commons area. Tickets that day will cost $20 each for the dinner and show and proceeds benefit the school program.
Join Dorothy and Toto as they are swept away from their Kansas home by a tornado and venture along the yellow brick road to Oz with their newfound friends, the Scarecrow, Tinman, and Lion, to meet the powerful wizard and make their dreams come true, from finding their way back home to gaining a heart, a brain, and some courage. The show will feature classic songs such as “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and is being provided through Concord Theatricals.
“We chose the show this year and it fits our main cast perfectly,” said director Chuck Eddy. “We have an enormous amount of talent in our production and they have been working very hard to bring our community ‘The Wizard of Oz.’”
Leading the cast are Makenna Halicky as Dorothy; Jonas Eddy as Scarecrow/Hunk; Regan Wilson as Tinman/Hickory; Aubrey Hepburn as Lion/Zeke; Alyssa Krieger as Aunt Em/Glinda; Jaidyn Schrader as Miss Gulch/Witch; Jayse Carter as Oz/Professor Marvel; Stephen Cochran as Uncle Henry/Guard; and Zane Eddy as Winkie General/Morph Suit. Rounding out the ensemble are Kaylee Whittaker, Sawyer Matthews, Mihaela Petric, Shylee Andlinger, Gabbi Yoho, Brayden Freeman, Sutton Monroe, Kadence King, Laken Tanner, Emma Wood, Lynzie Payne, Tiana King, Camryn Dutton, Sammie Foldi, Mike Piper, Camden Bell, Bailey Keenan, Grace Monroe, Emily Rennells, Alia Maderia, Rhonda Pethtel, Elena Heilman, Spencer Hirsch, Avarie Kimble, Bourkely DeVinney, Peyton Doty, Piper Fetty, Holden Spencer, and Lizzy Horstman with John Frank as technical manager, Nola Toth conducting the light console and Ari Hartley and Katie White on the stage crew.
Eddy thanked parents for volunteering their time to prepare the production and said audiences will enjoy the show.
“I want to thank Steve and Andrea Halicky for leading our team in the construction of the set,” he said, also recognizing Andrea Halicky as Booster President and Krissy Frank as treasurer.
Meanwhile, elementary students will get a sneak preview when third-to-fifth graders will be bused to BLHS for a performance on March 18 at 9:30 a.m.
Buckeye Local High School will stage “The Wizard of Oz” on March 19-21 with performances set for 6 p.m. each evening and a preshow dinner will be held in the school commons on March 21 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 each at the door and $20 each the night of the dinner. Pictured is Makenna Halicky and her furry friend, who will portray Dorothy and Toto in the spring musical.
Young at Heart
Posted 2/24/2026 at 4:39:52 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
Youngsters became young at heart as second-grade students dressed as centenarians to celebrate 100 days of school at Buckeye North Elementary. Students Makenna Opic, pictured at left, and Maliyah Flaherty donned their best garb and joined teacher Lucy Falls to mark the special occasion on Feb. 20.
Bezak Welcomed to BLBOE
Posted 1/14/2026 at 1:48:32 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Steve Bezak III took his seat at the table during the Buckeye Local Board of Education’s organizational meeting on Monday, filling the vacancy left by member Clint Powell.
Bezak succeeded Powell, who opted not to seek re-election, and was approved by voters at the polls in November along with incumbents Ashley West and Brooke Stingle. The trio took the oath of office at the start of the session with district Treasurer Merri Matthews. Bezak is not new to the district, having served as its representative to the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School Board of Education for the past 12 years; however, it was his first time to be part of Buckeye Local’s panel. He said he was excited to join the board and serve the district and its students.
“It feels very comfortable and very welcoming,” he said. “I want to be here and support the district and residents and I want to be transparent.”
The Adena resident, who is also a Buckeye Local and JVS alum, said he first became involved in the school community when a law changed in 2013 which enabled non-school board members to serve on the JVS panel. Over the years, he has acted as vice president and president and said he looked forward to continuing his representation on both boards.
“I appreciate everyone who supported and voted for me and I look forward to the next four years.”
The organizational meeting also included the elections of Ashley West and Teresa George as board president and vice president, respectively, and approvals of operational matters to carry the district through the remainder of the year.
During the subsequent regular session, Buckeye South Elementary Principal Lori Roberts highlighted the successful PAX Good Behavior Game (GBG) and House System to bolster positive behaviors in her building. Roberts was joined by PAX representative Bree Staats and both discussed how the methods have made a difference at South.
Roberts said the school partnered with the Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board, Family Recovery Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus to expand the PAX GBG model by adding Staats as a consultant. Staats began last January and will be onsite for a total of two years, assisting teachers and ultimately students to improve the learning environment. The role is expected to eventually be self-sustaining and there are hopes to utilize her skills throughout the district.
Staats added that students have something that fits their respective grade levels and they earn points toward rewards, plus the school utilizes a PAX vision board which allows teachers to hear students’ wants and needs. Other efforts include “toodles,” or positive messages, and Shout-out Fridays while teachers also earn rewards. According to experts, PAX GBG consists of proven behavioral strategies used daily by teachers and incorporates 10 evidence-based and trauma informed strategies to build self-regulation in children, strengthen peer networks, reduce impulsivity and teach prosocial decision- making in children. Schools which use PAX GBG have shown increased time for teaching and learning; increased attention to and completion of tasks; engaged learners; improved learning outcomes including reading scores; and a reduction in off-task and disruptive behaviors. Additionally, the House System was implemented in the third- to fifth-grade classes. Staats said the goal of the program is to promote peace, productivity, health and happiness among students and it uses strategies such as focus, being kind and respectful and following classroom expectations. School leaders said it has been making an impact.
“I can see a difference in behavior,” Roberts said. “It is working. The biggest part is trying to get everyone to be consistent.”
Superintendent Coy Sudvary commented that the program was at no cost to the district since it was grant-funded and Staats has been a great resource, noting that officials were pursuing the possibility of adding the program at Buckeye West Elementary in the future.
- Sudvary led a moment of silence for the Tucker family, which included a grandmother and two Buckeye Local students who died in a fire on Jan. 3;
- Officials accepted the resignations of Buckeye Local High School football coach and teacher Chris Kiedaisch;
- The board approved the resignation of assistant baseball coach Timothy Jacob for the current school year while supplemental duties were approved for Sam Jones as head golf coach and Bailey McBeth as head cross country coach with a pupil activity contract given to Abbey Wilson as head volleyball coach at BLHS for the 2026-27 school year;
- The board passed a resolution accepting amounts and rates as determined by the Jefferson County Budget Commission and authorizing necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor;
- BLHS students Brooke Kovalski, Kamden Kinyo and Natalie Rager addressed the board with ideas to implement awards and graduation cords to students who go the extra mile academically or with activities. Among their suggestions were to recognize pupils who put in the effort and take calculus or high-level math; exceed the three-year requirement to obtain the fine arts seal; and participate in three or more clubs as well as obtaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher;
- Sudvary presented certificates to officials in honor of School Board Recognition Month in January;
- Long-term substitute teachers Nicole Billingsley, Megan Gibbons, Greta Gazda-Roe, and Stevie Roberts were approved an additional subsequent semester in the same classroom for the second semester of the 2025-26 school year. Meanwhile, classified contracts were given to Donald Creamer Jr. as a bus driver and Victoria Luyster, Kathy Williams, and Crystal Windsheimer as aides for a two-year period;
- District Buildings and Grounds Director Tony Panepucci said the new scissor lift obtained through an Ohio Workers Compensation grant has been received and he was also meeting with contractors regarding the new sod and drainage project at World War II Memorial Stadium in Yorkville;
- The next regular board meeting was set for Feb. 9 at the administrative office in Dillonvale and all future sessions will now begin at 5 p.m.
The Buckeye Local Board of Education organized for 2026 and welcomed new member Steve Bezak III into the fold. Pictured are, front from left, board President Ashley West and Vice President Teresa George. Back: Brooke Stingle, Steve Bezak III, and Melissa Supanik.
JSW Donation Funds Reading Program at West
Posted 1/13/2026 at 6:04:03 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
ADENA-A $1,000 donation from JSW Steel is helping to establish a new program at Buckeye West which hopes to instill a deeper love of literature.
Melissa McCain, treasury manager for JSW, provided the contribution that school officials said will benefit a new reading club led by English Literature Arts (ELA) and social studies teacher Kobe Hill. The program would include up to 60 third-to-fifth-grade students with plans to incorporate the entire school in the future.
McCain said the Mingo Junction-based steelmaker has long supported community causes with funding given each quarter, and previous recipients range from school and local youth sports teams to community Christmas and Easter ventures. JSW has also contributed funding and time for the annual River Sweep cleanup project, been involved with Angel Tree projects to provide Christmas gifts to children, and also donated money to ensure local families had meals during the holidays.
"We try to give back to the community and we've donated to other schools for reading programs," she said. "We just want to help kids out, either through a reading program or something else to help them."
The latest contribution will help establish the reading club this spring, and Hill said students will meet several times a week and partner together for reading projects, then they will discuss their books and later conduct a book fair where they create displays and dress as characters based on their respective tomes.
"It's really important to get the kids into books. We would like to set the book fair and have others come down and check out what they have done. Everyone should see how hard they worked," Hill said. "I'm looking forward to seeing the imagination of the younger generations come alive."
Hill added that students regularly work with technology, but he wanted to see their creativity and knowledge grow through books.
"I want them to be excited about it, and when they get finished they would have a show-and-tell and dress as characters. We're trying to teach them that reading is cool."
Principal Brian DiCola was thankful to JSW for helping children build a love of literature.
"We're really excited and it opens children up to early literacy and helps make them better readers," DiCola commented. "It's humbling. It takes a village to come together to benefit our kids."
Students Atticus Kovach, Allison Brown and Harper Hayman were also excited by the prospect.
"It feels really good and it is for children to learn," said Kovach, a fifth-grade student at the school.
"I really feel good about it and I love reading," added Brown, a fourth-grader at West.
"It's cool," added Hayman, a third-grader. "I like all books."
Photo Caption: Students at Buckeye West Elementary School will bolster their love of reading through a new program, thanks to a $1,000 donation from JSW Steel. The funding will help establish a club where kids can discuss literature and ultimately show and tell through a book fair at the conclusion. Pictured are, front from left, Principal Brian DiCola, Addie Krzys, Freya Guthrie, Evelyn Call, Cooper Hayman, Tucker Taylor, and JSW Treasury Manager Melissa McCain. Back: Atticus Kovach, Evan Porter, Allie Brown, Harper Hayman, Stevie Rennells, and teacher Kobe Hill.
BLHS Gets Growing with Hydroponics System
Posted 12/24/2025 at 2:31:01 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School is taking the term “farm to table” to new heights by establishing its own sustainable venture to supply freshly grown produce through its new hydroponics system.
The BLHS FFA and junior high building are housing three commercial-grade hydroponics towers that were acquired in November with a $35,000 Grow Ohio Grant from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. The equipment was purchased from Fork Farms of Wisconsin and the goal is for students to grow herbs, fruits, and vegetables that will be used in the cafeteria, Luke Fabry’s culinary classes, and even sold for fundraisers.
Agriculture education teacher and FFA adviser Cameron Best worked with Superintendent Coy Sudvary, high school Principal Luke Parsons, BLJHS Principal Andy Long, and VAZA Consulting representatives Dustin Pyles and Marcy Raymond on the grant and said the Panther Produce: Growing Futures Hydroponics Lab project would serve as a catalyst for agricultural career awareness and food systems learning for grades 6-12. Three towers were purchased and students have been growing butterhead lettuce and basil, all of which were being provided to the school kitchen and Foods classes for use and consumption.
“There are 288 plant sites on each unit and it can grow 900 plants in about 25 days. They mature very quickly,” Best said. One tower stands in the junior high wing but will be relocated to the lobby area for the public to view, a second is located in Best’s classroom on the second floor of BLHS, and the third will be placed in junior high science teacher Julianne Kuchan’s classroom.
Students harvested the produce prior to Christmas break and yielded about 144 heads of lettuce in the process. Hydroponics uses a soilless method where seeds are planted in rockwool and placed into the system, then they use a 25-gallon water reservoir and liquid nutrients to grow. The students are responsible for monitoring the water’s pH levels and maintaining the system while an artificial light operates on a timer to provide illumination for 18 hours per day.
“They do regular pH tests and measure particles in the water,” Best added. “The students are fully responsible for the project.”
He continued that one pupil’s FFA project is to monitor the system while all of the students check the systems for leaks, lighting issues, and plant progress. The grant also provided for a curriculum for the junior and senior high classes, professional development, and field trips.
In addition to the farm-to-table program, Best intends to utilize the school’s newly on-site greenhouse to grow more vegetables, such as tomato plants and peppers, as well as Mother’s Day flowers for sale to benefit the FFA. Work on the greenhouse was eyed by the end of the holiday break.
Cameron Best, Ag education teacher and FFA adviser at Buckeye Local High School, stands with a two of the three newly acquired hydroponics towers that students will use to grow vegetables and herbs for the school cafeteria and culinary program. The towers were funded through a $35,000 Grow Ohio Grant the school received this fall from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW).
Field, Phone Projects Approved at BL
Posted 12/20/2025 at 8:25:32 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-More improvements are set for Buckeye Local School District facilities after officials approved a long-awaited upgrade to Pobolish Field and the replacement of a phone system that was deemed obsolete.
School board members accepted a $282,090 bid from Lancaster, Ohio-based Hickory Valley Sod Farm, LLC during the Dec. 15 meeting after previous bid attempts failed to bear fruit. Superintendent Coy Sudvary said the field at World War II Memorial Stadium in Yorkville will get a much-needed renovation in time for spring commencement exercises as well as the upcoming football season.
“We’re going to strip down the surface, re-crown it, put in a new sprinkler system, drainage system and then install new sod,” Sudvary said. “It’s been a difficult process to find a contractor to complete the project, but we are excited to work with Hickory Valley and should be ready for graduation in May.”
Officials have been seeking bids for more than two years and were pleased to see it finally gain traction.
“It’s been a two-to-three-year ordeal with bidding,” Sudvary added. “We were pleased to have two quality bidders interested in the project. They can start with the excavation when the weather breaks and it could be a six-week project depending on the project.”
The district will also update its phone system in a deal with Full-Service Network. Sudvary said the current system was outdated and the plan provided for new equipment for less than $1,800 per month, which saved some money in the process.
“The current phones were put in around 2010 or 2011 and they are obsolete,” he explained. “We’ve been having conversations with [district Technology Coordinator] J.D. Nidle and the East Central Ohio Educational Service Center, which has worked with Full Service Network. We’re going to get new equipment for the offices and classrooms. FSN will manage and monitor the phone service, and they will also install battery backups if we lose power.”
He added that the system included mobile app features and teachers may use their personal cell phones while it will display their school number for privacy.
“We are paying multiple bills and maintenance agreements with multiple companies, this will streamline our services and upgrade equipment without costing the district more money. It will actually be a small savings working with FSN. The new equipment will also provide for improved communications within the buildings, which will also provide an upgrade for safety.”
Sudvary said the phone upgrade will be paid through the general fund while the field plan is being covered by permanent improvement funds derived from oil and gas revenue.
Buckeye Local School leaders approved two improvement projects, including the replacement of an obsolete phone system and some much-needed renovations to Pobolish Field at World War II Memorial Stadium in Yorkville. Plans are to begin the field project once the weather breaks and it should be ready for graduation ceremonies this spring, as well as the upcoming football season.
Powell Bids Farewell to BLBOE
Posted 12/19/2025 at 4:21:14 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Clint Powell bid farewell to the Buckeye Local Board of Education following his final meeting on Dec. 15, while newly elected official Steve Bezak III will take his place in January.
Powell, who has served on the board since 2019, opted not to seek re-election because he was travelling more for his work. He was very proud of the strides the district has made through the years and credited the board, administration, staff, and students for making it a success.
“It’s night and day with the energy that’s being put into the district today with caring about and listening to people,” he said. “We’ve created programs such as FFA and funding from gas and oil has been well spent on overdue improvements to the facilities.”
He was appointed to a post vacated by former board member Isaac Omaits and completed the two-year term, after which he ran for election in 2021. Since his new employment position is based in Columbus, he was unable to fulfill his duties but said he was leaving Buckeye Local in very capable hands.
“It was a great experience. I’ve learned a lot over the last six years with how the school district is run and how hard funding is to come by for school districts. I appreciate OAPSE [Ohio Association of Public Service Employees], BLCTA [Buckeye Local Classroom Teachers Association], and the administration and staff for everything they do,” Powell added, also praising Superintendent Coy Sudvary and his fellow board members, as well as his successor. “Steve has experience with the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School and I think [he] will do a good job.”
Bezak, who is completing his second term as president of the JVS Board of Education, has been an active member for more than a decade. He has served as the Buckeye Local School District representative and also was vice president, making him no stranger to education. Bezak added that Powell approached him about seeking the open spot and he placed his name on the ballot this fall, and now he is eager to be part of his home school community.
“I was first appointed to a three-year term and am currently on my fourth term at the JVS,” he explained. “I feel like the [Buckeye Local school] board’s really sound and wanted to add my experience to it.”
School board officials bid Powell a fond adieu and member Ashley West thanked Powell for his leadership, while Sudvary echoed those sentiments.
“It was good to serve,” Powell responded. “We’re in a good place and I appreciate everything you guys do. You truly care in your hearts about the kids.”
- District Program Manager Dr. Susan Bachmann said the Extended Learning Centers (ELC’s) were in the third of a five-year grant program. It includes activities before and after school at Buckeye North, South and West Elementary schools and a summer program with field trips to Wheeling University, the Challenger Center and Carnegie Science Center while COSI visited the schools. About 30 people were working while two students, Dallas Farmer and Hudson Matthews, volunteered at South to earn extra seals for graduation and hours for the National Honors Society. Community partners including the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County and Jack Wilkinson of SportsHub also provided activities for kids. Dr. Bachmann added that 40 computers were also acquired for South, totaling 140 total items purchased for all three elementary buildings;
- District Maintenance Supervisor Tony Panepucci updated the board on projects throughout the district, including a new entrance door and intercom system set for North, a wrap-up of work on the FFA greenhouse at Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School, and the purchase of a new scissor lift with an Ohio Board of Worker Compensation grant;
- The board approved a contract for treasurer’s assistant Brianne Nidle for six months and new substitute cook/custodian Rene Fields;
- Leaders commended North Elementary for receiving the Gold PBIS Award and BLHS music educator Stacey Soos for being named to participate in the 2026 Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., on New Year’s Day;
- Officials selected current board Vice President Melissa Supanik to serve as President Pro Tempore during the organizational meeting on Jan. 12 at 5 p.m. at the administrative offices at Dillonvale with the regular session to follow at 5:15 p.m.
Buckeye Local Board of Education member Clint Powell handed the reins over to successor Steve Bezak III, who will fill Powell’s vacant seat this January. Powell departed the post he’s held since 2019 after his job relocated to Columbus, but Bezak is no stranger to education since he is the district representative to the Jefferson County Joint Vocational Board of Education and its current president.
Buckeye North Receives Gold Award for PBIS
Posted 12/19/2025 at 7:59:41 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
BRILLIANT-Buckeye North Elementary School is earning raves after gaining a gold award for its Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) programming.
The school was among 1 percent of sites selected for the distinction through the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW), which lauds schools that work to support and bolster good behaviors in students. North Principal Susan Nolan said officials made an application and the school was selected for meeting criteria which aligned with state standards.
“I’m thrilled because I know the hard work people put into it, and they deserve to be recognized,” Nolan said, adding that the programs have been a great benefit to her estimated 250 pupils in grades PreK-5.
The application was submitted by Kristen Robinson, a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) through Kendall Behavioral Solutions which was contracted with Buckeye Local Schools. Robinson said State Support Team Region 12 (SST-12) representatives provided information to assist her during the process.
“She was part of our PBIS team at the time,” Nolan said. “[The state] looks at programs you run and how you reward the kids and enforce positive behaviors. There is a lot of data involved.”
Robinson had served as a BCBA at Buckeye North for four years and was involved in establishing the PBIS program, parent training sessions and district-wide behavior plans and protocols.
“I helped make sure the standards aligned and helped them accomplish their goal. You have to have functional behavior assessments (FBA’s) and behavior plans meet state standards, and the reports met all of the criteria,” Robinson added. “Less than 1 percent of schools got the gold award. It’s fantastic and it’s a boost to everyone’s confidence for the quality of behavioral programs. This proves that what they are doing is working and they are providing quality, meaningful supports.”
Meanwhile, Nolan said North provides a series of incentive and rewards programs, including the PAW-some chart where kids caught doing good things can choose among a variety of rewards from sitting at the teacher’s desk to lunching with several friends in a separate room while enjoying games.
“Students earn tickets for good behavior and on Fridays we pick students from each class. There are 27 different awards and our most popular is the Lunch Bunch with three or four friends,” she said, also citing nine-week rewards where kids are treated to scheduled activities such as movies, hot chocolate and cookies, and extra time outdoors.
Superintendent Coy Sudvary praised the school for its diligence and success in gaining gold.
“The district is very proud of the efforts from the staff and students of Buckeye North Elementary to earn the gold status for PBIS,” Sudvary concluded. “They work very hard to ensure they support the students with positive behavioral interventions and supports.”
Buckeye North Elementary received a gold award for its Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, which was given to less than 1 percent of the state. Pictured are Board-Certified Behavior Analyst Kristen Robinson of Kendall Behavioral Solutions who worked with the school, and North Elementary Principal Susan Nolan.
Students Work with Career Coaches to Make Future Plans
Posted 12/10/2025 at 10:41:29 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local High School students are charting their career path in a new collaboration with Future Plans-The G.R.I.T. Project.
The G.R.I.T. Project, which stands for Growing Rural Independence Together, is a grassroots economic recovery initiative in Appalachian Ohio which aims to boost economic growth through education, training, and tools to unemployed or underemployed individuals. The project includes various initiatives such as career education programs, job shadowing, and industry field trips to connect participants’ strengths to real opportunities. It recently teamed up with BLHS and about 160 juniors and seniors completed assessments targeting their employability skills, then the pupils spent three days from Dec. 8-10 conducting online sessions with job coaches to determine their plans be they going to college, a trade school, the military or into the workforce.
Chris Kiedaisch, career-based intervention teacher at BLHS, said the partnership began this year and gives the students a sense of what direction they may want to take in life.
“Juniors and seniors took a 14-part career test. It’s like an aptitude test and it gives them career options,” Kiedaisch explained. “When they finish that, it tells them what areas are compatible and they select three choices. Each student then gets a one-hour, one-on-one session with a career coach to go through the choices and help them do the next steps.”
If a student chooses to attend college, the career coach would assist with issues such as filing for FAFSA financial aid and making applications to universities or colleges of their choice. Should the pupil opt for a trade, the coach will provide information on various unions where they may obtain apprenticeships and jobs. If the student remains undecided, the coach will help review their test results and discuss matters further.
“They make sure the kids have the ability to make good decisions,” he added. “They do a good job of making it individualized for each student. This is our first year of working with The G.R.I.T. Project and we hope every student will go through the process by their senior year so they can achieve success.”
Kaidasch has also helped students obtain pre-apprenticeships to locations such as Wheeling Hospital so they gain experience and decide whether they want to continue in that career path. He added that being involved with Future Plans-The G.R.I.T. Project was another means to help them reach their goals.
Leigh Ann Smith, community outreach partner for the organization, said Future Plans works under The G.R.I.T. Project and is now in its seventh year. The organization collaborates with schools in 32 Appalachian counties, including Jefferson and Columbiana, and will assess and coach roughly 10,000 students this year.
“We’re a workforce development non-profit agency and our cornerstone is career access and one-hour career coaching sessions. We have a five-step approach to help students start their career path,” she said. “We look at the abilities and interests and match them with in-demand fields with a living wage.”
Smith added that the agency typically starts with sophomores and helps with decisions on curriculum, College Credit Plus and career-tech, and pre-apprenticeships or working in high school so they may make more informed choices on going to college, trade school, work or into the military.
“We have assisted nearly 35,000 students since we began,” Smith noted. “We have over 40 certified career coaches in Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky who meet with students on Google Meet and Zoom.”
A summer program is also available in which students have opportunities to gain industry-recognized credentials at participating colleges. Pupils spend three weeks training in a course of study and earn certification that also equates to 12 points toward graduation. Programs have been held at Belmont College, Hocking College, Shawnee State University, and more with certifications ranging from HVAC and heavy equipment operation to pharmacy technician and educational paraprofessionals. The programs are free to the student but they must provide their own transportation; however, the agency has offered gas cards to defray fuel expenses. Additionally, Future Plans is an umbrella agency which also aids adults seeking job assistance.
Buckeye Local High School junior Anna White speaks with a career coach online to help determine her life path in a collaboration between the school and Future Plans-The G.R.I.T. Project, or Growing Rural Independence Together, a non-profit agency which specializes in assessing and coaching high schoolers and enabling them to decide their career path. About 160 BLHS juniors and seniors completed assessments to determine their abilities and interests, then took part in the online coaching on Dec. 8-10 to find the best match.
Panther Café Serves up Treats
Posted 12/10/2025 at 10:07:05 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-The newly established Panther Café is giving students in Luke Fabry’s Foods 2 class an opportunity to put their skills to use while serving staff and students a menu of beverages and homemade treats.
The coffee bar is located in the former media center and includes a newly installed counter created by Fabry plus tables and even delivery service. The site operates throughout most of the day every day with students serving as managers and workers. Fabry said orders are currently made through Google Classroom but will be done through a point-of-sales system. The concept began in late October and has proven to be successful.
“We have a uniform and passes so they can deliver to classes. Students and staff may order online and we have a point-of-service system,” he said. “The students cover more than half the day and we rotate them out, plus they work if they have a study hall. On Fridays, we are here doing our workbooks instead of cooking class.”
The class has also collaborated with career-tech programs such as the media class to create posters and IT students to press shirts, plus they plan to sell coffee mugs and other items. The café began as a moneymaker when his class attended the Cook Around the World competition at the Disney Epcot Center in Orlando, Fla., where students have been recognized each of the two years they participated. The first year they received a fourth-place honor for an Asian-based creation while last year they gained a judge’s award for their Mediterranean dish.
“The first year we went to Disney, we were looking for fundraisers and a student suggested selling coffee to teachers,” he recalled. “The kids started asking for items and we got permission to sell to them as well. We kept coming up with ideas and started the process to create the café.”
His students are learning to make frappuccinos but also offer hot and cold coffee in a variety of flavors, plus hot cocoa and Panther Bites cookies in addition to chips and drinks for other clubs.
“Every month or season we will add another flavor. We had pumpkin spice for Halloween and vanilla caramel for Thanksgiving. We’re going to make seasonal pastries and they want us to do a Starbucks-style on Wednesdays. If things become popular, we’ll create a menu,” he continued. “It’s as close as they can possibly get to job experience.”
All of the proceeds benefit the class, which plans to attend the Disney competition every other year while Fabry also hoped to enter them in more regional contests to showcase their culinary creativity.
Buckeye Local High School students Mylie Richter, at left, and Hailey Kovalski are pictured at the new Panther Café, located inside the former media center. Luke Fabry’s Foods 2 class oversees the café and serves treats on-site and in classes to staff and students while proceeds benefit the program and plans for competitions.
Soos Appearing at 137th Rose Parade
Posted 12/6/2025 at 6:31:50 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Strike up the band!
Buckeye Local High School music educator Stacey Soos will make an appearance during the 137th Annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., on New Year’s Day. The popular event is part of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and is being presented by Honda, while it will be televised prior to the Rose Bowl college football game.
Soos will join the Band Directors Marching Band for the procession on Jan. 1. The band was formed by the Salute to America’s Band Director’s Project and is sponsored through the Michael D. Sewell Foundation, the latter formed in honor of a longtime band director for Pickerington Schools in Ohio who unexpectedly passed away in 2017. During his career, Sewell’s band attended the Rose Parade four times and he was well-known for his contributions to music education and community service throughout his city and the Central Ohio area.
“Currently there are approximately 350 band directors from the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Panama,” Soos said, adding that the parade is typically two hours long and follows a five-mile route.
She has been a music educator for 22 years and has spent two decades at Buckeye Local, beginning as an elementary music teacher and is currently in her 12th year as junior high band director, high school assistant band director, and general music teacher. She became involved with the national parade after learning about the activity through colleagues and said she was eager to take part.
“I learned of the Band Directors Marching Band when other area band directors from the Ohio Valley attended the parade in 2022 and was interested in becoming involved,” she continued. “I applied after the news of the 2026 performance was announced.”
She will arrive in Los Angeles on Dec. 28 and attend daily practices to perfect the group’s sound for the big day. She will also perform at Band Fest, a venue that features marching bands participating in the parade, as well as a Service Through Music event, then float judging, and the parade. The Band Directors Marching Band first performed for the Rose Parade in 2022 and the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in 2023, making this their third performance.
The theme for the 2026 Rose Parade is “The Magic in Teamwork,” and Soos noted that the band entry was unique because it includes both a float and a band performance. The theme for Salute to America’s Band Directors is “America’s Band Directors: We Teach Music, We Teach Life,” and the float entry is entitled “Banding Together.”
“It features a band of four musicians who are also active in other activities. Through ‘The Magic of Teamwork,’ they create inspiring music together,” she explained.
Soos is excited to participate and said it will be an amazing experience.
“I am looking forward to meeting, working with and learning from band directors from other parts of the country,” she concluded. “I am extremely excited and honored to represent my students, the Buckeye Local School District and The Buckeye Local community in the 2026 Rose Parade. I am thankful for the support I have received from Buckeye Local Schools and the community and I hope to make them proud. “
Buckeye Local High School music educator Stacey Soos will appear at the 137th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., on New Year’s Day as part of the 350-member Band Directors Marching Band. The band was formed by the Salute to America’s Band Director’s Project and is sponsored through the Michael D. Sewell Foundation. Soos has been part of Buckeye Local Schools for 20 years and currently acts as junior high band director, high school assistant band director, and general music teacher.
Balloon Parade at BLJHS
Posted 12/6/2025 at 6:22:11 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
Buckeye Local Jr. High School students held their own version of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade by completing a STEM project prior to the holiday break. Sixth- and seventh-graders conducted the Balloon Parade Engineering Design Challenge, where they studied the history of the Macy’s holiday event and were challenged to design and build a parade balloon with their choice of theme. Teacher Heather Lindsay said criteria included having a balloon secured to a base and move along a four-meter parade route and being able to survive a gusty “wind test” that simulated real conditions. Twenty-two teams participated and designs ranged from Hello Kitty to a turkey, while they gained hands-on experience and problem-solving skills in the process. Among the students were, pictured from left, Trey Ryder, Aerial Sutton, and Chloe Golden-Thomas with their caterpillar creation.
JCESC Best Practice Grants help STEM and the arts at Buckeye Local
Posted 12/2/2025 at 8:03:07 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
JCESC Best Practice Grants help STEM and the arts at Buckeye Local
RAYLAND – Teachers at Buckeye Local School District are presenting more opportunities for their students in STEM and the arts thanks to helps from Jefferson County Educational Service Center’s Best Practice Grants.
On Nov. 24, Director of Curriculum Ron Sismondo visited the board of education and presented three grants of $700 each.
Stephanie Crust at Buckeye North, West and South Elementary is launching STEAM Masters for the 21 students in her gifted education and art education classes. Third through fifth graders will research inventors and artists and put ideas into action. Crust will have her students design kinetic sculptures and Rube Goldberg devices, complex machines that use chain reactions to perform a task.
“Seeing how much students love to build and create inspired me to design a project that combined invention, engineering, and art, where students could think like inventors, collaborate like engineers, and create like artists,” she said.
“I hope my students gain confidence as creative thinkers and problem-solvers, students who take risks, learn from mistakes, and share their ideas. I want them to see themselves as inventors, designers, and collaborators who can use their thinking in real-world situations.”
Crust is a prior Best Practice Grant recipient and understands the good those grants can do.
“I am grateful to the ESC for the funding and support.”
At Buckeye Local High School, Joanna Call will be fostering skills in coding and electronics relevant to STEM fields for 100 students in technology. She is purchasing a set of All-in-one Arduino Starter Kits, including microcontrollers, sensors and support materials to integrate hands-on electronics and coding. Her students will be building smart devices, environmental monitors, and interactive prototypes.
“We’re diving into Arduino Starter Kits to give students a fun, hands-on way to explore coding and electronics. The idea came from wanting them to see how technology can solve real problems in creative ways. I’m excited to watch their confidence grow as they bring their own ideas to life,” she said.
“I am also excited about the prospect of this project. The foundational skills in electronics, programming, and problem-solving are important skills for today's computing world.”
She added that the kits are reusable for sustainability.
“I'm hoping to get a lot of use out of them. There's always the option of expanding more kits in the future as needed.”
Call hopes to have the project fully up and running by Thanksgiving or shortly afterward. She added her kids will jump at the new opportunity.
“When I shared with the students they showed some interest. Seeing the hands-on application will be a fun experience, I'm hoping!”
Meanwhile at Buckeye Local Junior High, Jennifer Aubrey is kicking off an art exploration club for her middle school students to foster creative expression and gain exposure to different artistic disciplines.
Aubrey has received the grant before. When she taught in the elementary school the Best Practice Grant helped with the purchase of math manipulative kits for third graders.
She said the art exploration club will be filling a need.
“At our junior high level at Buckeye Local we do not have an art program. We have an art teacher who rotates among the elementary schools, and we have an art teacher at the high school, but middle school and junior high, no,” she said.
“A lot of our students really love that outlet and crave something really positive like that during their school day.”
Each month, she will present her kiddos with project ideas. They may focus on an artist and find inspiration from their lives. Students have worked on a poster contest for the J.B. Green Team and completed designs for the yearbook cover.
“I also have some students who just want a time and a place to kind of explore their own art interests.”
She added there are students who enjoy anime illustrations and another who wants to learn more about origami, the art of folding paper to make different shapes. There will be many opportunities.
They may also participate when the high school also holds their art show in spring.
“I would love to have students be able to show something in that display if they would like.”
Aubrey plans to contact the Stifel Fine Arts Center in Oglebay to see about entering art in their spring art show.
So far, 52 members have signed up. The club is offered during the day and after school.
Aubrey will use the startup money to buy supplies, and students will pay small membership fees to keep the club sustainable. She is also seeking other donations to replenish supplies yearly.
Photo Caption:
Jefferson County Educational Service Center Director of Curriculum Ron Sismondo presents three Best Practice Grants of $700 each to Buckeye Local School District. The grants will be used for STEM projects and the arts. Pictured with Sismondo is Joanna Call, who will be helping high schoolers foster skills in coding and electronics. Not pictured are fellow recipients Stephanie Crust and Jennifer Aubrey.
Girls’ Wrestling Team Being Pondered at Buckeye Local
Posted 11/26/2025 at 5:47:37 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-The Buckeye Local Board of Education is pondering the formation of a girls’ wrestling team amid a surge in the sport within the local area.
Buckeye Local High School Wrestling Coach Jimmy Morelli approached leaders at the Nov. 24 regular session in Dillonvale and said there had been great interest in beginning a team at the school.
“I’ve been involved in wrestling for four years now and I’ve coached kids when juniors were in eighth grade,” he said. “One of the things I’ve noticed over the last few years was a growth in women’s wrestling. I’ve talked to a lot of [interested female students] and there are a lot of tough girls who belong in that room.”
Morelli said he has gained support from parents, coaches, and even officials at West Liberty University where he is currently obtaining an exercise physiology degree, saying people were willing to help make it happen. School board member Clint Powell asked how many area schools had similar programs. Morelli replied that East Liverpool, Steubenville, and Carrollton currently had athletes while Wheeling Park was adding a team, plus West Liberty had a Division II wrestling program with 20 female members who headed to the nationals.
“It’s the fastest growing sport in the country,” said BLHS Principal Luke Parsons. “[Schools] built an entire program and Edison has female wrestlers and wrestle in boy/girl tournaments. Jimmy came to us a year ago and we started talking about it.”
Morelli said he was seeking one or two female volunteer coaches and he hoped to create a program for grades 7-12, plus he was willing to seek funding to help support a team. Following more discussion, school leaders said they were open to the idea.
“We’re exploring the option of adding girls’ wrestling for grades 7-12,” said Superintendent Coy Sudvary. “Any additional programs have to be negotiated and there is mutual interest in adding this in the future.”
Meanwhile, school board member Ashley West gave a breakdown of various legislation being addressed in the Ohio Statehouse including bills going before Gov. Mike DeWine for signature. Among those are Senate Bill 50, which makes changes regarding age and school certificate requirements as well as work hours for a person under age 16; House Bill 124, which modifies the process for property tax sales-assessment ratio studies; and HB 434 that includes some education-related items. Other bills included HB 10, which would require public school boards and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to adopt policies prohibiting the purchase of “cultivated-protein food” products or food “misbranded as a meat or egg product”; H.B. 114, which would alter age requirements for kindergarten admission; and a H.B. 184 amendment to include additional operating and capital budget cleanups, including some education-related provisions and one being the exclusion of educational service center (ESC)
Governing boards from the prohibition of any school board from spending more than 15 percent of its annual operating budget on administrative expenses. Sudvary later commented that tax-related bills did not impact the school district.
- Jefferson County ESC Director of Curriculum and Professional Development Ron Sismondo presented three $700 Best Practice Grants for innovative classroom projects. This year’s recipients included Joanna Call of BLHS, who purchased kits for coding, electronics, and prototypes for STEM; Jennifer Aubrey of Buckeye Local Jr. High for her art exploration club; and Stephanie Crust to provide STEAM Masters for gifted students in grades 3-5 at Buckeye North, South and West Elementary schools;
- Sudvary recognized Buckeye South Elementary first-grade teacher Jenny Potts, who received the State Board of Education District 8 Teacher of the Year Award;
- Board member Brooke Stingle introduced the BLHS student representatives selected for this school year. The students will share issues and ideas at future school board meetings and give their peers a voice. The representatives include Isabella Russell, Jack Newell, Brooke Kovalski, Kamden Kinyo, and Natalie Rager;
- District Maintenance Director Tony Panepucci said the greenhouse was completed at BLHS with utilities added and some projects were planned over Thanksgiving break, but the district received a $24,750 Bureau of Worker Compensation grant to acquire a scissor lift with Buckeye Local providing a roughly $8,300 match for the equipment;
- Steve Bezak III was reappointed as the district representative to the Jefferson County Joint Vocational Board of Education for a three-year term from January 2026 to December 2028;
- The board pproved the retirement of custodian Roxann Green, effective Dec. 31. Both Sudvary and OAPSE officials recognized her for her dedication and said she will be missed;
- Leaders also accepted the retirement of intervention specialist Aubrey Rubright, effective Aug. 15, 2026. Sudvary commended her for 25 years of service as an educator and 14 years at Buckeye South;
- The next board meeting was set for Dec. 15 at 5:30 p.m. in the district administrative office in Dillonvale.
Buckeye Local School District announced student representatives from Buckeye Local High School for the 2025-2026 school year. The representatives will share issues and ideas with the school board during future meetings and give their peers a voice. Pictured are, front from left, Isabella Russell and Jack Newell. Back: Brooke Kovalski, Kamden Kinyo, and Natalie Rager.
BLHS Gains Grant to Grow Ag Program
Posted 11/7/2025 at 5:06:21 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School has gained funding to expand its agriculture program through a $35,000 Grow Ohio Grant.
The funding, which is provided through the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, will help acquire hydroponics equipment that will be used by both the junior and senior high students and the intent is to have home-grown produce for the school’s Foods program and cafeteria. BLHS Ag teacher and FFA advisor Cameron Best said the “Panther Produce: Growing Futures Hydroponics Lab” would serve as a catalyst for agricultural career awareness and food systems learning at Buckeye Local Jr. High.
Best said officials applied last spring and learned of windfall in September. The hydroponics equipment should be installed over the next few weeks and will bolster opportunities to learn about farming and agriculture, which is a leading field in Ohio. The equipment will be provided by Fork Farms of Wisconsin and includes a six-month starter kit with seeds which will grow without the use of soil.
“It will provide key hands-on learning opportunities for students in grades 6-12,” he added. “Students will learn how to maintain and care for hydroponic grown produce that we will put to use in our Foods/home economics programs and in the school cafeteria.”
He worked with Superintendent Coy Sudvary, high school Principal Luke Parsons, BLJHS Principal Andy Long, and Dustin Pyles and Marcy Raymond of VAZA Consulting on the grant submission and was pleased to receive the grant.
“We are extremely excited to have been awarded the Ohio Grow Grant and are beyond excited to implement and get things rolling for our students. Last year, we received the Ohio Farm Bureau grant for $25,000 that allowed us to build a state-of-the-art greenhouse for our Ag program and we also received a Best Practice Grant through the Jefferson County Educational Service Center last fall.”
Construction has begun on the greenhouse while a corn plot and vegetable gardens were planted last spring to supply the Foods programs. Best said the hydroponics equipment will be kept inside the school and maintained by students, while it will grow leafy greens, herbs, and vegetables to supply the Foods program.
“The hydroponics towers we plan to buy with the Grow Ohio grant will be kept inside of the school with one being in a junior high science room and the other two in the stairwell lobby between the junior high and high school wing,” he commented.
The FFA organization is now in its second year and yields about 40 members, while other activities have included hatching chicks in a classroom incubator with plans to establish Panther Farms on the school grounds this spring to house poultry for laying eggs to further the food supply.
“This will allow students to get hands-on experience with learning all aspects of animal care and management in addition to providing our foods program with farm fresh eggs,” Best commented.
He said officials were currently applying for a Farm to School grant to help provide key equipment and features to expand Panther Farms and take it to the next level.
Meanwhile, Parsons said it was another layer of learning for students at BLHS.
“We started building on the FFA program and we knew it was popular, and it’s growing faster. The greenhouse is going in for the high school FFA and they are teaming up with the junior high for career-tech education (CTE) to bring in the hydroponics lab. This is all building up and we’re very grateful to expand the FFA program,” Parsons commented, adding that Best was responsible for its success. “We hope to have the Panther Farms in Haven’s Field, and with agriculture being No. 1 in Ohio, we have families that have farms and students who want to get into the field.”
Long added that it will expose the junior high students to the process and hopefully sprout interest in future careers.
“We’re excited to receive the Grow Ohio Grant at Buckeye Local Junior High. This funding will allow us to set up a hydroponics system, giving our students hands-on experience in agricultural science,” Long said. “Our goal is to spark curiosity about where food comes from and introduce them to potential careers in agriculture and food systems. We believe projects like this help students connect what they learn in the classroom to real-world applications.”
Subsequently, the superintendent noted that the financing will help the program go a long way.
“We’re working on USDA Farm to School Grant and [VAZA Consulting] is looking for other grant opportunities. We’ve gotten nearly $60,000 in grants so far and the USDA grant has a matching portion,” said Sudvary.
“We’re also looking to get heavy equipment to mobilize the fields that are there and we’re expanding opportunities for our students.”
Starociak Begins Role as DARE Officer
Posted 11/4/2025 at 8:45:01 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
BRILLIANT-Wells Township Police Officer Shawn Starociak has walked the halls of Buckeye North Elementary as school resource officer for the past two years. Now he is taking on a new role by leading the school’s DARE program.
DARE, which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is a program that works with students in grades K-12 with grade-appropriate subjects such as peer pressure, drug dangers and making good decisions. Officer Starosciak succeeds Wells Twp. Police Chief Sean Norman, who headed the program at North for nearly two decades but will continue in the post at Buckeye Local Jr. High School. Starosciak said he underwent DARE Academy training in Columbus from Sept. 8-19, where he joined nearly three-dozen law enforcement officers including Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies Matt Morgan and Ryan Gorby, who respectively serve as SRO’s at Indian Creek and Edison Local Schools.
Starosciak said the officers trained to work with grades K-12 and topics varied per grade, studying curriculum material and creating lesson plans to present to youth on topics ranging from 9-1-1 emergency calling to Stranger Danger. The trainees completed presentations at the academy before working with elementary school children in the Columbus area to put their skills to the test. Starosciak then returned to North and began implementing the program on Sept. 30, saying he has enjoyed the task because he is comfortable and familiar with the students.
“I love teaching DARE. It’s new,” he said, adding that he had a different career plan as a youth. “When I was a kid, I wanted to be a math teacher, but after I was in the military I joined law enforcement.”
He has spent the past six years as a police officer and now instructs roughly 100 fourth- and fifth-grade students each Tuesday on lessons including over-the-counter and prescription drugs and introducing the DARE decision-making model. Each session runs for 45 minutes and he said the end goal is to ensure that kids make the right choices not only now, but also in the future.
“Now that I actually get to teach, it’s awesome. In one class, the kids are excited and really love to participate,” he added. “I love being in the school and I love teaching kids about what not to do. I want these kids to be good, outstanding individuals when they get older.”
He also remains in touch with Chief Norman, who has doled out some tidbits of advice about the role. Starosciak said he hoped to inspire youth and be a good mentor.
“I get more involved with the children through the program and I have established a rapport with them through my time here,” he continued. “I want to be someone these kids can come up to if they have a problem.”
Wells Township Police Officer Shawn Starosciak, who is currently serving as a school resource officer at Buckeye North Elementary in Brilliant, has added a new role as DARE program officer. He addresses topics each week with fourth- and fifth-grade students to help them make good decisions and said he enjoys teaching them lessons.
BLHS Students Roll up Sleeves to Save Lives
Posted 11/4/2025 at 8:39:05 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE- Buckeye Local High School students rolled up their sleeves to help save lives during the first of two biannual blood drives on Nov. 3.
The BLHS Student Council and Vitalant joined forces once again and 35 people were registered for the event in the junior high gym. Officials said donors were predominantly students and no community members were involved this time, but the doors may open to the public in the future. Members of the student organization occupied the registration and canteen areas to assist donors while Vitalant personnel oversaw the blood collection.
Club co-advisors Bailey McBeth and Sondra Lachendro said there was always a need for blood and it was imperative to find people to donate. They put out the call to students and worked to promote the drive throughout the school.
“We did this for the high school kids and maybe next year it will be opened up to the community,” said McBeth. “Last week, we had a representative of Vitalant who met with kids during lunch and Mrs. Lachendro printed signs that we posted around the school. This is a life-saving opportunity for these kids and they could make an impact on someone they may never meet.”
“It’s vital,” Lachendro said of the need. “Most hospitals in the area were using Vitalant’s service and [the blood] stays local.”
In fact, one pint of blood may support more than one person, particularly since it contains red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, and hospitals utilize donations for surgeries to cancer treatment. Students who took part included first timers and repeat donors, and all of them said it was important to give.
“I heard it helps save a life,” said sophomore Sean Turner. “I stepped forward and said I’d do it.”
“I gave blood to my dad before and I’ve kept donating,” added senior Kaiden Thompson, who was making his third contribution.
“I just wanted to be helpful,” said freshman Haleigh Brown, another first-time donor. “If your blood is good, you should donate.”
Juniors Frankie Sawko and Jadyn Pleise said they wanted to take part.
“[I did this] to help people,” Sawko said.
“It’s very important,” Pleise commented.
Vitalant representatives said there is an increased need for blood donations during the winter months, but there was an incentive and those who donate in November will be entered for a chance to win one of two $10,000 gift cards. Meanwhile, the student council planned to host another blood drive in the spring.
Thirty-five people, primarily students, registered for the Buckeye Local High School Student Council’s biannual blood drive on Nov. 3. The student council joined forces with Vitalant for the collections, which will supply local hospitals, and a second event will be scheduled in the spring. Pictured are juniors Frankie Sawko, foreground, and Jadyn Pleise making their contributions for the cause.
Veteran's Day Events at Buckeye Local
Posted 11/4/2025 at 8:31:11 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Buckeye Local Schools will recognize military heroes during a multitude of Veterans Day events.
Buckeye North and South Elementary schools will hold activities this Friday, Nov. 7 and are inviting local veterans to participate. North Elementary in Brilliant will treat its special guests to coffee and doughnuts prior to its service at 9:30 a.m. in the school auditorium, while South Elementary in Tiltonsville will have a luncheon at 1:30 p.m. with a presentation at 2 p.m. that afternoon. Additionally, Buckeye West Elementary in Adena will conduct a program on Nov. 10 at 1:30 p.m. All of the activities will feature music and words for those who have bravely defended our country in the armed forces.
Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School in Connorville will honor local veterans with a breakfast and subsequent assembly on Nov. 11. The BLHS Student Council is spearheading the effort, which includes breakfast for the guests of honor at 8:30 a.m., followed by a special presentation in the auditorium at 9:30 a.m. Local veterans’ groups including the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars will be on hand and speakers will be included in the festivities.
“We’ll recognize all branches of the military,” said Bailey McBeth, who shares student council co-advising duties with Sondra Lachendro. “We’ll also have a table to remember the POWs and MIAs and will recognize Boys and Girls State participants from 2025.”
He added that American Legion Americanism essay contest winners will also share their words on what freedom means to them.
BLHS Blood Drive on Nov. 3
Posted 11/3/2025 at 3:45:03 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local High School Student Council will host a blood drive on Monday, Nov. 3 and is looking for donors to give of themselves.
The school organization is joining forces with Vitalint and will conduct events from 7:30 a.m. to noon in the junior high gym, which is located at 10692 State Route 150, Rayland. Co-advisor Sondra Lachendro said student council members will assist in various stations while Vitalint personnel will be responsible for collecting the blood.
“Our club members will escort donors to a Vitalint station and provide snacks while they recover,” she said. “We have 23 students signed up to donate. Walk-ins are welcome and can register at the school the day of the drive or online.”
Meanwhile, another blood drive will be held in the spring.
To schedule an appointment for the upcoming campaign, go to Vitalint.org and search with the account code UHS010245, call 1 (800) 877-25VITAL or email [email protected]. Vitalint officials said there is an increased need for blood donations during the winter months, but there was an incentive and those who donate in November will be entered for a chance to win one of two $10,000 gift cards.
North PTO Hosts Pumpkin Painting Party
Posted 10/24/2025 at 7:34:06 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
BRILLIANT-The Buckeye North Elementary PTO will host a Pumpkin Painting Party in the school gym this Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 6-8 p.m.
The cost to participate is $5 per pumpkin, which also includes art supplies. Parents, guardians and friends are encouraged to join in the fun. The deadline to RSVP with money is Monday, Oct. 27. Forms are available indicating the student’s name and other participants. Cash, check and Venmo payments are accepted. Venmo @BuckeyeNorth-PTO and note “Pumpkin Painting” with the student’s name, while checks are payable to the Buckeye North PTO and name “Pumpkin Painting” in the memo.
BLJHS Observes Red Ribbon Week
Posted 10/24/2025 at 7:30:44 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-The Buckeye Local Jr. High School Student Council is observing Red Ribbon Week to bring attention to the effects of drug, alcohol and tobacco use.
Activities are set throughout the week of Oct. 27-31 and include themed dress-up days and regular highlights to help spread awareness among youth. Adviser Jennifer Panepucci said the student organization has about 30 members in grades 6-8 and the weeklong commemoration was led by the members.
“Every day we have a theme to dress up and kids are creating Red Ribbon Week posters that will be displayed in the hallways and judged by [Wells Township Police Chief and school DARE officer] Sean Norman,” she said. “We will also have daily readings in announcements on the origins and background of Red Ribbon Week and how it has evolved, along with statistics since beginning.”
Banners have already been placed in the hallways while social studies classes will create the posters, and students taking part in the dress-up project will also enter a ticket for a daily drawing. Theme days include “You Can’t Convince ‘Me’Me to Use Drugs,” where students may dress as their favorite meme on Monday; “Teach Yourself about the Dangers of Drugs,” where students may dress as a teacher on Tuesday; “Be Mean to Drugs,” where students wear pink on Wednesday; “Hat’s Off to Being Drug Free,” where kids don toppers on Thursday; and “Don’t Fall for the Trick—Drugs are No Treat,” where they wear school-appropriate Halloween attire on Friday.
Teachers will vote for the best-dressed students in the first-period classes and the top winners in grades 6-8 will receive a prize. Additionally, awards will be distributed for first, second, and third place for the poster contest.
“The class with the most Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) PAWS coins for the time period will also receive a Halloween party and get to trick-or-treat through the classrooms,” Panepucci continued.
While the activity may be fun, it also sends a powerful message.
“The purpose of Red Ribbon Week is to bring awareness to kids about the effects of alcohol, drugs and tobacco use.”
Red Ribbon Week grew from an initiative which began in 1985 and was launched in California. It spread nationwide when it was established through the National Family Partnership and was influenced by First Lady Nancy Reagan before it officially proclaimed by Congress in 1988. It is supported by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and other non-profit organizations and private companies.
Panther Pride
Posted 10/24/2025 at 7:19:32 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
The Buckeye Local High School Panthers football team led a traveling pep rally at local elementary schools prior to the final home game against Harrison Central on Oct. 24. Football players, cheerleaders and the BLHS Marching Band made stops at Buckeye North, South and West Elementary schools, where they and the Panther mascot interacted with youngsters and built spirit and momentum with songs and cheers. About 90 high schoolers took part and also had lunch at West, and officials said the event transcended communities to bring Panther Pride to every corner of the district. Pictured here are the pep rally events at West Elementary in Adena.
Students Expand Horizons with YouScience Platform
Posted 10/22/2025 at 8:57:36 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local Jr. High School students are expanding their horizons with the implementation of the YouScience Aptitude and Career Discovery program.
Principal Andy Long said the online platform was added in September and students utilize it during their flex time, giving them an opportunity to learn about fields of interest and potential careers. Overall, about 330 students in sixth to eighth grades are impacted by the program.
“It brings career exploration down to the middle school level, which is the focus of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce,” Long explained. “The program helps students identify their natural talents, discover their strengths, and connect those abilities to real-world careers. It also sheds light on careers that are out there now and those that are newly emerging—helping address the current exposure gap where students often only know a handful of career options. It’s meant to close the gap we have here in eastern Ohio and it really gives students ideas about what their aptitudes are.”
According to the YouScience website, students complete five-to-eight-minute, performance-based exercises for each aptitude to capture true areas of highest potential. YouScience’s patent-pending algorithm combines aptitudes, interests, and 21st Century careers to make the highest quality career and educational recommendations. Teachers and students can discuss career exploration and pupils may even amass volunteer hours, add skills, and earn certifications as they move through the process. Long added that a key component of YouScience is how it blends aptitudes and interests.
“Aptitudes are our natural abilities, what we’re wired to do well, even without prior practice. Interests are what we enjoy or feel drawn to. When students see both together, they begin to understand not only what they like, but also what they’re naturally skilled at. This makes career exploration much more meaningful.”
Long continued that students will also begin creating and updating a personal résumé through the program, plus they will have continued access to YouScience at the high school level, where they will be able to expand their career and college research based on their aptitudes, interests, and overall fit. Additionally, they will be able to use the platform beyond graduation.
He said there were other benefits, as well.
“Beyond the student experience, the data we collect will help guide and grow our career technical education (CTE) programs, allowing us to better align with what our students are truly interested in and where they are naturally skilled,” Long concluded. “It’s something we hope to building on in the future.”
Speaker Shares Message with Students: “You Matter”
Posted 10/15/2025 at 7:49:00 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School students learned a vital message from motivational speaker David Kohout during his program on Oct. 14: “You matter.”
Sponsored by the Jefferson County Juvenile Court, the Youngstown resident and co-author of “Standing in the Presence of Greatness,” met with dozens of pupils in grades 6-12 in the school theater to inspire greatness within them. Kohout founded Talk Is Cheap, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that focuses on building character, establishing confidence and instilling hope in the lives of young people everywhere. His program, “Talk is Cheap... The Message Isn’t,” followed his early years as a wayward youth who eventually found his footing and his faith. Kohout said he had low school grades, drank, used drugs, and hit a low point in his life where he contemplated suicide, but he realized it was a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
“I’m not proud of what I did in high school. It started in middle school,” he said, explaining that not everyone follows that route. “The difference between following and leading is the view. A better view would be if you say, ‘I’m going to make different choices.’ The reason I’m talking to you is to tell you that you matter so much.”
He continued that choices had consequences. Kohout described an incident in 1981 where his friend Vic tried to influence him to find a purpose, but Kohout’s response was to argue and walk away. He said he faced a dark time and prayed to God to help him, if He was real.
“I wasn’t better; I was bitter. I didn’t know how to fix me and I didn’t know how to change.”
But several incidents would happen a few weeks later that changed his life. During a trip with his girlfriend’s (now wife’s) family, they dined with her relatives. He later learned that they silently prayed for him to improve his ways, and he later encountered a man who handed Kohout a piece of paper and said God loved him.
“He shared a story and paper with three addresses. The first two meant nothing to me, but the third was from Youngstown. It was across the street from Vic’s house—the spot where I prayed to God. My life changed so radically and I began to go to church. The greatness seed will not grow unless you feed it.”
He eventually married his high school sweetheart and became a father and grandfather, worked in sales but determined that his mission was to help others. He established his organization, wrote his book and traveled the globe for more than 20 years to speak to a million students and adults. Kohout’s presentation also touched upon bullying and the importance of helping others, using videos and a PowerPoint to highlight his message. He assured youth that they had a purpose in their lives and offered free bracelets and “purpose pebbles” as reminders of that fact. Kohout noted five elements of a relationship, including love, trust, self-respect, understanding and forgiveness.
He also encouraged students to make the most of their lives and be better for it.
“We need to work on ourselves, not everyone else. You may fail, but quitting is not an option,” he added. “I know I can’t change my past, but I can rewrite my future.”
Kohout said he will continue to carry on his message, although it isn’t easy.
“My job is to connect to younger people, [but] I’m getting older and you are getting harder and harder to convince.”
He closed with a story about how he was inspired to spread his message when high school classmate Chris Sutton succumbed to cancer, and he hoped future generations would continue to be a positive source for others.
“Shut up, get up, and go make a difference,” he concluded. “I want you to do better than I have done for you.”
He also shared the Lifeline suicide hotline at 1-800-273-TALK. Meanwhile, Kohout’s website can be found at
www.SITPOG.com.
Photo Caption:
Motivational speaker David Kohout shared his message of faith and positivity with students at Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School on Oct. 14. The Youngstown resident and founder of the non-profit organization Talk Is Cheap, which focuses on building character and inspiring greatness in the lives of others, discussed his personal journey and subsequent mission to instill hope. His program was sponsored by the Jefferson County Juvenile Court and more information can be found at his website at www.SITPOG.com.
BLBOE Keeping Tabs on Finances
Posted 10/10/2025 at 4:10:36 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-The Buckeye Local School District is paying close attention to its finances in the wake of possible laws pertaining to property taxes and other changes which could impact schools in the future.
The board held its regular session early on Oct. 6, where members passed a resolution for revised appropriation measures for Fiscal Year 2026 and approved the new four-year forecast for submission to the state, but district Treasurer Merri Matthews said leaders need to keep an eye on funding over the next five years.
“We’re in the black for all four years, but [starting the fifth year] we’ll be in deficit spending,” Matthews said. “There are things we are planning in the future that we need to keep in mind.”
She added that 57 percent of funding resources are derived from property taxes with 38 percent coming from the state and the remaining 5 percent from local support.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen with the property taxes. If there’s an elimination of property taxes, we’d be impacted,” she added. “There are a lot of unknowns, so I think we have to be fiscally responsible.”
She cited wage and benefit increases and rising costs of materials and supplies because of tariffs, among other issues.
“There are things that are beyond our control,” she commented.
Meanwhile, she recommended the board schedule a finance workshop and leaders agreed to meet on Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. in the board office.
In related matters, board member Ashley West provided another legislative update on happenings in the Statehouse, including recommendations from Gov. Mike DeWine’s Property Tax Reform Workgroup that are of critical interest to education advocates.
Among them were refining the process and definition of county budget commissions that would allow them to reduce levies deemed “unnecessary” (beyond anticipated needs) or “excessive” (taxes materially exceeding service requirements). Reductions could occur five years after a levy is first approved, or two years after renewal, with a public hearing; limiting carryover balances for all taxing districts to 100 percent; enacting legislation to eliminate the future use of substitute levies and renaming all current substitute and emergency levies to “fixed-sum” levies; supporting House Bill 186, which reduces property taxes by offering a tax credit to property owners in a school district on the 20-mill floor or a joint vocational school district (JVSD) on the 2-mill floor if the district’s tax revenue increase exceeds the rate of inflation, and extending the credit to inside millage; restricting emergency levies to entities under fiscal caution, watch or emergency as defined by the state auditor and imposing a five-year limit; and enacting H.B.154, which allows state school districts to disapprove of a community reinvestment area (CRA) program that will impact the school district.
West added that the Ohio Educational Policy Institute (OEPI) released a property tax policy analysis illustrating how Ohio’s reliance on local control, along with economic factors and state tax policy changes, has led to a significant shift in the state-local funding partnership toward residential taxpayers. Takeaways included rising home values, slow economic growth and 20 years of state tax policy changes have intensified local school funding challenges; homeowners and farmers now carrying 67.5 percent of school property taxes—which is up from 46.1 percent in 1975—while the business share has dropped by nearly half; and cuts and eliminations of state taxes having reduced state support, forcing schools and local governments to increase property taxes, which has left Ohio with the eighth-highest property tax rate nationally. In contrast, the state’s overall tax burden ranks 46th.
She also reported that the General Assembly has begun joint House and Senate meetings on Congressional redistricting and existing property tax reform bills in the House Ways and Means Committee, while lawmakers have yet to act upon recommendations from Gov. DeWine’s reform workgroup. West further updated activity on H.B. 96, or the state biennium bill, which made changes to the member makeup of the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) board and led to lawsuits by the Ohio Education Association, Ohio Federation of Teachers, and the Ohio Conference of the American Association of University Professors. A Franklin County Common Pleas Court judge has issued a temporary restraining order preventing the changes from taking effect until a preliminary injunction hearing is held.
Additionally, board member Brooke Stingle said she attended a community meeting on property taxes with Ohio Rep. Ron Ferguson and Jefferson County Auditor E.J. Conn. Officials said no plan was in place in response to property tax elimination, but Conn urged residents to do research and think of its effects, including to schools.
- District Maintenance Supervisor Tony Panepucci said projects were being completed, including preparation of the football field for an upcoming game, concrete being poured for the new greenhouse at Buckeye Local High School, winterization of the sewer plant, and work on the track. He was also seeking quotes and applying for a Board of Worker Compensation safety grant;
- Officials received a nutrition report and learned breakfast was up 14 percent over the budget, while lunch increased by 3.12 percent and a la carte items were up 12.4 percent;
- Steve Bezak III, the school district’s representative on the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School Board, said his term was going to expire and he hoped to continue participating but needed the BLBOE’s approval. The matter was being added to the next school board agenda for official action;
- Superintendent Coy Sudvary said 14 new NEOLA policies were being added and needed approval, including one for metal detectors that would be fitting should the district procure the safety equipment for schools;
- Board Vice President Melissa Supanik, who led the session, recommended adding a $500 board scholarship for the 2025-26 school year, which the panel approved;
- Leaders approved Steve Roberts as a long-term substitute teacher for the first semester of the 2025-26 school year and gave pupil activity contracts to Hank Kendjorsky and Jackson Otto as BLHS assistant wrestling coaches, Trevor Zanes as volunteer boys’ basketball coach at BLHS, Eric Wilson as seventh-grade girls’ basketball coach at BLJHS and Ryder Kindberg-Colabelli as eighth-grade girls’ basketball coach at BLJHS;
- The board lauded Buckeye South Elementary preschool staff members Abagale Schrickel and Kim Svoboda for their quick response to a student in need of medical assistance;
- Officials recognized Robert Call and Harmony Woodland as the 2025 Homecoming King and Queen;
- The next regular meeting was set for Nov. 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the administrative offices in Dillonvale.
Eddy is the Leader of the Band
Posted 10/3/2025 at 8:41:24 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Chuck Eddy is leading the marching band as the new director at Buckeye Local High School, but for him it has been a seamless transition.
Eddy, who has served as assistant band director for the past five years, took the reins from longtime director Bill Stephens, who retired after more than three decades at the podium. He said it was a true student-to-teacher moment because he studied under Stephens at Martins Ferry High School long before they worked together at Buckeye Local, and he graduated in 1994. Eddy earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Mount Union in 1999, and eventually gained a career-tech license from Kent State University.
“I went from a Purple Rider to a Purple Raider,” he joked.
The Martins Ferry resident and his wife Karen have two sons, Jonas and Zane, who are both Buckeye Local students. Eddy remained in the area and began instructing students of his own, working at Southwest Junior High School as a choir and general music teacher for five years and also Buckeye North Elementary as a music educator for eight years before heading at BLHS. He had served as an assistant band director since 2020 with Stephens and junior high band director Stacey Soos, plus he has directed the junior high choir, jazz band and theater and coached cross country, track and football.
He transitioned into his current role in July and has been busy ever since, joining his 49 young musicians for band camp at Bethany College to learn pregame and show performances and holding practice at the high school, as well as participating in school games and local events. The band has already appeared at the Buckeye Local Back-to-School Bash and Jefferson County Fair in August and Barnesville Pumpkin Festival Parade in September, in addition to the “Quaker Steak and Lube Football Kickoff Show” on WTRF-TV. Eddy also planned a full slate of activities for the upcoming year with the OVAC Showcase of Bands on Oct. 18, the Dillonvale Halloween Parade, Wheeling Christmas Parade, YTR Christmas Parade, Brilliant Christmas Parade, and school Christmas concert in December. The choir will also perform the National Anthem at a Wheeling Nailers game on Jan. 25 and more events include the spring performance of “The Wizard of Oz” on March 19-21, the Queen of Queens Pageant on March 24 and the spring concert on April 7.
He said he was ready to take on the challenge but has remained in contact with Stephens now and again for advice.
“It’s wonderful, and I love every day to teach students music and singing in the choir,” Eddy said. “I keep in touch with Bill Stephens. He’s a great friend and sometimes I call with questions. He’s a wonderful man and helped with the transition.”
Eddy now works with Soos, assistant director Katie Rogers and drumline instructor Logan Zumpano and said he hopes to carry on the tradition of keeping the hills alive with the sound of music.
“It was an honor to be his successor,” Eddy said. “Just helping him over the years has helped me to be prepared for what I’m doing now. I’m very comfortable and very happy to be where I am. We have a great school and a great group of students, and it’s a blessing to be able to teach them.”
He anticipates the number of players to increase in the future since 70 students are currently in the seventh- and eighth-grade band and another 36 sixth-graders also participate. Eddy said he wants to shape musical minds and create good stewards of tomorrow.
“I just want to continue to help the marching band be a staple in our community, and I hope each student who comes through learns about music and becomes a wonderful citizen as they grow.”
Chuck Eddy, pictured at right, is the new director of the Buckeye Local High School Marching Band. He and the 49 members are gearing up for a slew of events over the upcoming year, including games, parades and other performances.
A Good Book
Posted 10/3/2025 at 8:35:51 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
Buckeye North Elementary students had a chance to splurge on some literature during the Scholastic Book Fair on Sept. 29-Oct. 3. Books and other items were available for purchase with proceeds benefitting the school PTO for student activities. Pictured are, clockwise from left, fourth-grader Hunter Vinci with fifth-graders Lane Dwyer, Kalani Asuncion-Kahoali, Allison Cominsky, Sophia Davis and Octavius Hundley as they peruse the merchandise.
North Elementary Kids Join September 11 Remembrance
Posted 9/12/2025 at 6:46:16 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
BRILLIANT-It was a time to reflect and remember the many lives lost, the many who risked themselves and the aftermath of the terrorist attacks upon America on Sept. 11, 2001, during a special ceremony at the Brilliant American Legion Post 573.
Buckeye North Elementary fourth- and fifth-graders joined veterans, safety forces and the public for a program on Thursday near the flagpole outside the post on Market Street, where they were welcomed by Post Commander Mickey Nest. Following a moment of silence, Chaplain Deb Gilchrist led prayers and asked God to heal those wounded in the attacks while giving leaders wisdom to create a more peaceful world.
Nest said President George W. Bush declared Sept. 11 as Patriot's Day following the incident and nearly a quarter-century has passed since four planes hijacked by al Qaeda terrorists struck the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field in Shanksville, Pa., en route to another target.
"It's difficult to believe it's been 24 years. We all remember where we were and what we were doing," he said. "Lives were changed forever."
He said the ceremony was a time to remember the police, fire, and first responders who died, as well as the brave passengers who overtook the plane in Pennsylvania to thwart another attack. Three thousand people died in all with numerous lives impacted, from the loved ones they left behind to communities devastated by the horrific actions.
State Commander Stan Oren was the featured speaker for the day, sharing emotional remarks about the importance of remembering the nearly 3,000 people who perished, the people who bravely heeded the call to respond and the communities which united following the attacks.
"On this day of solemn remembrance, unity and reflection, we are together not only to remember Sept. 11 but the enduring strength of our communities and the uncommon valor of those who stormed forward when everything seemed to stand still," he added. "Within hours, our lives were forever changed as four planes became instruments of destruction and struck at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and in Shanksville. Today we honor their courage, their dreams and the legacies they left behind."
He recalled how first responders scaled the steps of smoky buildings struck by the hijacked airplanes and office workers led people to safety before the twin towers of the World Trade Center fell. Neighbors reached out to comfort each other and communities held vigils, donated blood to aid the injured and were rebuilt, creating a light of humanity in darkness and making America stronger. It was also imperative that future generations understood what occurred so they could keep the legacy of the lost moving forward.
"Many of our children learn it as history, not by living it," Oren added. "We must remember the cost of freedom and the power of vigilance. ‘Never forget' is more than a phrase, it's a promise."
He also honored the "quiet heroes"—the loved ones of those lost and veterans who returned home changed. Oren also asked that people volunteer in their community and reach out to their neighbors, while teachers should share with children the meaning of service.
"Let us build a future…of unity, compassion and resilience," he concluded.
The program also included the American Legion Honor Guards with a flag presentation and rifle salute while Wells Township Police Chief Sean Norman and Brilliant Fire Chief Brian Harvey placed a commemorative wreath. The crowd, including the students, raised their hands to their hearts or in salute to the National Anthem and a rendition of Taps at the conclusion.
Commander Nest said ceremonies have been held since 2002 and he was glad to see the local school take part.
"It's to remember the events that occurred and those who tragically perished on that day," he added. "We always invite the school and it's open to the public, first responders, police and the veterans of the American Legion."
"We never want to forget, just like Pearl Harbor," added Oren. "The young people didn't experience it, but we did. We have to keep it alive and make sure history is taught."
The ceremony was a touching tribute for all ages, including North Elementary fourth-grader Jackson Hilliard.
"9-11 was a very tragic event. I feel very sad and I will always try to honor the men and women and [emergency responders] who helped," Hilliard said.
"I'm sad that so many people died," added classmate Jackson Chesonis-Spano.
Principal Susan Nolan said having students take part was a significant way to help history live on.
"I think it's important to teach them why we honor the police, firefighters, our vets and the fallen, to keep alive what they did and respect that they gave their lives."
Photo Caption:
Buckeye North Elementary fourth-graders Jackson Hilliard and Jackson Chesonis-Spano salute during a rendition of Taps at the Brilliant American Legion's Sept. 11 ceremony on Thursday. Pictured with them are schoolmates Mayson Maderia, Londyn Sterling, Laney Maderia and Rylee Wilson while State Commander Stan Oren was the featured speaker. The event reflected on the lives lost and the strength that was found in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in 2001.
BLHS Media Center Getting Makeover
Posted 9/3/2025 at 6:36:21 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE- Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School’s media center will be getting a new look and use after officials obtained a $20,000 grant through the Charles M. and Thelma M. Pugliese Charitable Foundation.
Principal Luke Parsons said he received the grant in June and the funding will help transform the second-floor site into the Panther Den, which will feature the Panther Café, artwork by the school art club, and an updated STEM lab.
“The Panther Café will be a coffee bar and [Foods teacher Luke Fabry] will run the café with student workers. It will involve all of the career-tech education (CTE) students,” Parsons added. “The space will have a fresh coat of paint, new furniture, and an art installation like a gallery and the Panther Art Club will rotate artwork throughout the year.”
Barn Artist Scott Hagan of Belmont County will also create a mural for the room while ERB Signage will add new signs, and Parsons said the eSports and makerspace area will be updated to a STEM lab.
“We’re lucky enough to get makerspaces, a sublimation printer and multiple Cricut machines that are also run by CTE students,” he said. “It will work like a student study room and will be the hub of the building.”
Parsons hopes to see work begin around January with completion by June. He also thanked the foundation for supporting the project.
“I want to extend a huge thank you to the Pugliese Foundation for everything they do for Buckeye Local Schools and the communities,” he said.
North Elementary Raising Funds for Zarkovic Family
Posted 9/3/2025 at 6:29:10 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
BRILLIANT-Buckeye North Elementary students and staff are pulling together to benefit the family of a Harrison County girl who died following a UTV accident in August.
From Sept. 2-5, the Buckeye North PTO was collecting monetary donations and hosting a spirit week moneymaker in honor of Ana Zarkovic, a Harrison Central student and cheerleader who passed away following the accident in Freeport. Students paid $1 per day to participate in a themed dress-up day and all of the proceeds will be donated to Zarkovic’s family to defray related expenses. Themes include “Blue and Gray, Cheer Her Way” on Tuesday, where kids dress in the signature hues in her honor; “Shine Bright for Kindness” on Wednesday, where they don yellow or neon to spread sunshine as further tribute; “Dream Big, Cheer Big” on Thursday, which includes wearing pajamas and dreaming big for the future; and “Cheer on Your Favorite Team” on Friday, where participants wear their favorite local, college or professional team’s sports gear.
Principal Susan Nolan said event was a way to bring people together to support Ana’s family in the wake of her tragic loss.
“We had a fundraiser for Bradyn White at Indian Creek High School [an Adena youth who passed away in April] and wanted to support Ana’s family,” Nolan said. “It’s kids supporting kids.”
Additional monetary donations are welcome and may be made via Venmo at Ana Strong with checks made payable to Buckeye North PTO with Ana Strong in the memo line. All of the funds will be gifted to Zarkovic’s family. For more information, contact the school at (740) 598-4589.
Buckeye North Elementary first-graders Brayden Cameron, left, and Blake Carpenter don blue and gray for a spirit week fundraiser in honor of Ana Zarkovic, a Harrison Central student who died following a UTV accident in August. School students are dressing during themed days and donating money to support Zarkovic’s family while checks and Venmo contributions are also being accepted. For more information, contact the school at (740) 598-4589.
Pobolish Field Dedication This Friday
Posted 9/3/2025 at 6:18:06 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
YORKVILLE-Buckeye Local is paying tribute to its winningest football coach with the dedication of the Ron Pobolish Field during festivities this Friday.
Officials will recognize the late sports leader as part of Alumni Night activities at World War II Memorial Stadium in Yorkville. Buckeye Local Sr. High School Principal Luke Parsons said the Panther Football Alumni Club will first gather at Warren Township Park and events will continue at the stadium prior to the Panther’s matchup against Shadyside at 7:30 p.m.
“We will make our way to the field and events will begin around 6:50 p.m.,” Parsons said. “We’re having a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Pobolish family.”
Pobolish, who passed away last year, began as a top athlete at Dillonvale High School and carried on that success throughout his 40-year coaching career. He spent much of his time at his alma mater, but also served at Cadiz, Harrison Central and John Marshall high schools with a stint at West Liberty State College. He spent two years at Buckeye South and earned a 9-11 record and another two years at Buckeye SouthWest that yielded a 14-6 result. Following the district’s final consolidation in 1990, he led the Panthers for six seasons and held a record of 53-13. Under his tutelage, the team became runner-up at the OHSAA Division II State Championship. He left Buckeye Local but returned for a final time, coaching for five years and reaching the playoffs twice in 2008 and 2009 before officially retiring. The Panthers won three OVAC Class 4A championships, five River Valley League titles and one Buckeye 8 distinction.
His athletic prowess gained him many an accolade as a three-time Eastern District Coach of the Year and Ohio Valley Football Coach of the Year with more inductions into the Ohio Valley Football Coaches Hall of Fame and the Buckeye Local Wall of Honor, plus Pobolish received a posthumous induction into the 2025 OVAC Hall of Fame in August.
The school district’s maintenance department added new signage to the scoreboard and Parsons expressed his gratitude to sign sponsors, including Jefferson County Court Judge Michelle Miller, Nathan Kendjorski of Strive-To-Be Custom Screening, the Panther Football Alumni Club, Shaheen Law Group, Indian Club and Don Stephens State Farm Insurance.
Superintendent Coy Sudvary said Pobolish not only had celebrated sports seasons, but his efforts also helped the community unite upon the consolidation of the school district.
“We’re appreciative of all the teaching and coaching years that Coach Pob dedicated to the Buckeye Local School District and we’re honored to be able to recognize such a special person for his achievements with the success of the teams he had here during the consolidation,” Sudvary added. “His success brought the community together to rally for the students and the schools.”
Meanwhile, the evening will feature the latest inductions into the Buckeye Local Ring of Honor, which includes Rodney Roe, Dan McCain, Shane Bishop and Tom Yakubowski.
“The football alumni wanted to start a hall of fame and our first year [in 2021], we inducted Billy West. The second year, they decided to recognize a modern player, an original 1990s player and one or two members from the schools prior to consolidation. Tom Yakubowski is an Adena Golden Wave and Dan was a player in the 90s, while Shane was from the 2000s and Rodney has been a longtime supporter,” Parsons continued. “It’s a big deal this year because the Pobolish family will be here and it’s also our 75th year for World War II Memorial Stadium.”
More signage has been erected on the field honoring high schools who took part in the gridiron matchups through the years, including Yorkville, Buckeye South, Buckeye SouthWest and Buckeye Local.
Maintenance officials from the Buckeye Local School District hang signage for the new Ron Pobolish Field located at World War II Memorial Stadium in Yorkville. The field will be formally dedicated this Friday prior to the Panthers’ game against Shadyside and the evening also includes Alumni Night inductions into the Buckeye Local Ring of Honor, while it also marks the 75th season for the stadium.
BL Reaches Property Tax Settlement
Posted 8/20/2025 at 10:43:09 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-The Buckeye Local School District has reached an agreement with Buckeye Power, Inc. regarding property tax valuation at the Cardinal Power Plant in Brilliant.
During the Aug. 18 regular school board meeting, officials adopted a resolution authorizing the settlement of a Jefferson County Board of Revision case stemming back to March. District Treasurer Merri Matthews explained that the previous agreement with Buckeye Power had expired, after which the county auditor increased the property’s total Tax Year 2024 value. Under the deal with Buckeye Power, the valuation was set at $16,200,437, but following the expiration the auditor increased the total amount of the 11 parcels to $55,356,652.
“Buckeye Power wanted to lower it to more than $9.5 million,” Matthews explained, adding that the case went before the BOR.
According to the board resolution, the school district and Wells Township separately filed counter complaints with the BOR and asked for the initial complaint to be denied and instead retain the auditor’s current TY’24 value for the property. District, township and Buckeye Power officials and their legal representatives discussed matters at length and ultimately agreed that the property’s circumstances and condition had not changed between tax year lien dates for 2023 and 2024, and the total TY’23 value of $16.2 million should be carried forward. The parties agreed that, assuming the property’s circumstances and condition do not materially change in future tax years, the figure should remain the same through TY’28.
“The board of education finds it to be necessary, and in the best interests of the Buckeye Local School District students and community, to execute the settlement agreement, and protect valuable present and future financial resources,” the resolution concluded.
“I think it’s best to take the $16 million,” Matthews added. “It’s been functioning over the last four years.”
Following brief discussion, the board formally adopted the resolution at the session.
Officials also approved an electricity supply agreement under a plan with Ohio Mid-Eastern Regional Educational Services Agency (OME-RESA). Matthews explained that OME-RESA partnered with Titan Energy to perform a competitive bid and solicit pricing from retail electricity service providers and the school board had an opportunity to approve a deal.
“Every few years, we have Titan Energy get quotes on electric and gas and they locked the rate in at .0629 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh),” she continued.
The board approved the resolution, while the contract begins in December and continues for 48 months.
The board then approved the resolution.
Leaders also approved a slew of personnel matters, including a continuing certified contract for Miranda Glasgow at Buckeye South Elementary; the removal of Karleigh McCardle from the long-term substitute teacher list and subsequently added as a teacher on a one-year limited contract; the employment of Hailee Nelson and Isaac Rine on one-year limited teaching contracts; and the employment of Megan Gibbons as a long-term substitute teacher after 60 days for the first semester of the 2025-26 school year. Officials also accepted the resignation of school psychologist Melissa Frate, employed J.D. Nidle as volunteer football coach at Buckeye Local Jr. High on a pupil activity contract and employed returning substitutes for the upcoming school year. The latter include Danielle DaGrava and Sarah Lewton, educational aides; Dustin Jarvis, Patricia Kanoski and Mark Olenar, custodians; Mary Kircher, Amanda Stewart and Amy Nestor, cook, educational aide and secretary; Ashley Krzys, bus driver; Tammy Morelli, cook/custodian; Caryn Porter, educational aide/secretary; Ashley Smigle as cook, custodian, educational aide and secretary; and Brian Young, cook; and James Means as substitute bus driver.
Among other action:
--Board President Teresa George and Vice President Melissa Supanik were respectively chosen as delegate and alternate for the annual meeting of the Ohio School Boards Association in November;
--The board agreed to reschedule future meeting dates for Oct. 6 to approve the four-year forecast and Nov. 24 to meet quorum and both sessions will be held at the central office in Dillonvale at 5:30 p.m.;
--Superintendent Coy Sudvary recognized Buckeye North Elementary Principal Susan Nolan for organizing another successful Back-to-School Bash and thanked the staff, students, parents and community for their support. He also recognized the custodial staff for preparing the buildings for the start of school, congratulated Chet Pobolish and his late father Ron, a past coach at Buckeye Local, for being inducted into the OVAC Hall of Fame. Sudvary accepted the honors on their behalf. Sudvary further congratulated students for their participation in the Jefferson County Fair and wished good luck to student athletes and coaches in the fall sports programs and said the district’s new website was up and running while a new bus and bus mechanic’s truck were purchased;
--West gave an update on the State Biennial Budget, saying Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed 67 line items, many of which affected schools, but the House voted to override the veto while the Senate was still planning to take action;
--The next regular session was set for Sept. 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the administrative offices in Dillonvale.
BLHS Highlights Facilities at Session
Posted 5/27/2025 at 7:39:12 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local Board of Education members received highlights of Buckeye Local High School during the latest session on May 19.
The high school was the host venue for the evening and school board members individually toured stations prior to the meeting. During the stops, they received updates on the athletic wing from football coach Chris Kiedaisch; an overview of the recent Sea Air & Land Challenge from organizer and math teacher Jeff Merrill; a synopsis of the successful track and field season with Coach Donnie Yeager; a discussion about career-tech education with teachers Dan Davis and Joanna Call and on FFA and agribusiness with teacher Cameron Best; and a sampling of culinary creations from Luke Fabry’s Foods 2 Class following an appearance at the “Cook Around the World” competition in Florida.
Kiedaisch mentioned the purchase of new jerseys and planned renovations for the football field and weight room to the addition of an athletic trainer while student Hayden Merrill demonstrated a land challenge from the Sea Air & Land event on May 9 that earned an award for the school team. Yeager described the successful season in OVAC and other competitions while Davis and Call discussed the new Esports team and PC repair class, plus Best spoke on the new FFA program’s further expansion with a greenhouse, corn project and chickens. Fabry’s class then prepared a meal for the board members to enjoy during the meeting.
Principal Luke Parsons thanked the board members for their ongoing support and outlined the past year through future plans at the school.
He noted that more than $500,000 was raised through the Panther Pride campaign which resulted in a newly renovated gym floor dedicated to Kara Bright, as well as modern bleachers, trophy cases, flags, a mural, a complete campus rebranding with new signage and a new lighted welcome sign at the entrance, plus district upgrades from the commons and entry to restrooms. Academic improvements included new touchscreen boards in every classroom with funding from a Charles M. and Theresa M. Pugliese Foundation grant, the transformation of the media center into a student activity hub and in-house College Credit Plus programs from math and English to economics and business. Among the other opportunities were the new Agribusiness program and FFA chapter to a pre-internship partnership with Belmont University, as well as the CTE culinary program, Esports program for competitive gaming and the Class Cup PBIS program.
“While facing challenges, we’ve quietly transformed BLHS into a campus ready for the future,” Parsons added. “These improvements will benefit generations of Panthers to come, ensuring every student has the resources and opportunities they deserve. As we continue to build on our legacy of excellence, we remain dedicated to our motto: ‘Once a Panther, Always a Panther.’”
Meanwhile, Superintendent Coy Sudvary updated leaders on matters within the Statehouse, including pending legislation which may impact future funding and work of lobbyists for education.
“There could be a significant decline,” Sudvary said. “There are a number of groups lobbying for education and they foresee another lawsuit coming. Constitutionally, funding should be 50-50 but its at 42 percent now. With the budget, it may plunge to 30 percent and there needs to be lobbying in the next few years. They will fight to preserve the Constitution of Ohio and are also trying to address legislation to unseat the [state] board of education. It really is at a crossroads now.”
Sudvary added that Jefferson County also stands to lose $2.5 million to vouchers and asked the board to consider joining the Coalition for Equity and Adequacy.
On a related note, district Treasurer Merri Matthews projected a deficit around 2030 in the five-year forecast and was keeping a watch on the finances. The board later approved the forecast.
- Senior Addie Erwin highlighted activities leading up to graduation on May 23;
- Officials approved a service agreement with Wells Township Police Department to employ an officer at Buckeye North Elementary for the 2025-26 school year;
- Leaders accepted a $1,500 donation from the Unionport Chapter 360, Order of the Eastern Star for the Unified Sports program;
- Officials approved resignations from intervention specialist Kurt Ware, school psychologist Kali Schutz, teacher Lauren Nolan and teacher Song Walrath, the latter for retirement after 20 years of service. The board and Adena West Principal Brian DiCola wished Walrath well in her endeavors;
- The board gave one-year contracts to Andy Long as principal at Buckeye Local Jr. High School, Melissa Frate as school psychologist, Wendy Besece and Andrea Halicky as mental health professionals, Kobe Hill, Tyler Blanco and Christopher DiCenzo as teachers, Rebecca Kelley as an intervention specialist, Sarah Angel as an educational aide and Beth Petrosino as district supplemental bus coordinator. Additionally, Barbara Hendricks was named part-time summer helper in the bus garage effective June 2 and classified contracts were approved for custodian Larry Strupe and aide Stefanie Lindsay on a continuing basis and aide Rachel Hoagland for one year. A slew of supplemental duty and pupil activity contracts were also approved;
- The board accepted a resolution for the Class of 2025 for graduation;
- Set the next regular session for June 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the administrative offices in Dillonvale.
Buckeye Local Keeping Eye on Legislation
Posted 3/1/2025 at 2:15:13 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Buckeye Local Board of Education officials are keeping a close watch on legislation included in the 2025 Ohio General Assembly which could impact schools in the future.
Board member Ashley West, legislative liaison, provided a detailed report which included Gov. Mike DeWine’s final executive biennial budget since he is completing his term limit. West said the budget’s release begins the long process before the complete plan is finalized, but the governor again put emphasis upon the youth.
“DeWine’s past budgets have focused on kids, as does this one,” she added. “As it pertains to the school funding formula, the budget proposal would continue the phase-in of years five and six of the base cost component of the Fair School Funding formula. When the FSF formula was created, a six-year phase-in was developed to balance the increased spending. During those initial hearings, the General Assembly was concerned about the implementation cost.”
West said one element which was not included was an update in base cost inputs, which currently remain at the Fiscal Year 2022 level while the FSF requires them to be updated with every biennial budget.
“School funding is a state and local partnership. Without updating the inputs, the formula will become unbalanced and result in an overreliance on property taxes and a higher local share,” she said.
She further noted that the governor’s budget reduces the FSF formula guarantees to 95 percent in FY’26 and 90 percent in FY’27, and it also indicated that school districts were on the guarantee due to declining enrollment numbers. In FY’25, about 187 districts were on the guarantee with 31 of them experiencing growing enrollment.
“There are many reasons a school district can be on the guarantee and the declining enrollment is one possible reason.”
She continued that House budget hearings commenced the week of Feb. 3 and included testimony from Ohio Office of Budget Management and state Department of Education and Workforce leaders. At that time, members of the majority and minority caucuses, who are also on House Finance Committee, pushed back on the guarantee reductions because of the enrollment decline and questioned school-funding decisions, such as recommending guarantees and FY’22 inputs. ODEW officials said they were recommending a starting point.
West said the process for additional school funding deliberations slightly changed and standing committees which have budget-related items will oversee the work rather than going through various subcommittees. That means all school funding-related matters fall under the House Education Committee.
She also touched upon other funding proposals that continued state investments in school choice programs similar to the current level; dedicating $10 million over the biennium to the Ohio Principal Apprenticeship Program; earmarking $12 million in lottery funds for Science of Reading literacy coaches and requiring schools with low reading proficiency to focus more funding on supports; investing $30 million to create a new school bus safety grant program based upon recommendations of the governor’s Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group, with $4 million provided to increase the annual bus driver training requirement from four to six hours and widening access to advanced driver training; investing $7 million each fiscal year in competitive grants to support career planning and workforce readiness initiatives for grades K-12; increasing the Community School Facilities per pupil amount to $1,500; creating Driver Training in Schools Grant Program at the Ohio Department of Public Safety, which is funded by nonmedical marijuana sales tax revenue, for school districts to fund driver’s education at their high schools; continuing work on school-based health, expanding the number of school-based health centers in high-need counties and providing resources and technical support to SBHC’s statewide; and investing $50 million over the biennium budget to create a new vision services program known as OhioSEE and ensure students in grades K-3 who fail vision screenings receive comprehensive eye exams and glasses, if needed.
The board also mentioned the proposed Ohio S.B. 107, which would include state and district school board members on a partisan ballot and state H.B. 15 that would amend competitive retail electric service law. Superintendent Coy Sudvary said he was still gathering information on the latter but it may affect school funding in the future.
“House Bill 15 is the power plant bill and looks at tax rates for districts. They just proposed the bill and it shows a possible differentiation between a supplier and distributor,” Sudvary said. “There could be a possible decline in some tax funding that we may get. Property taxes have gone up but enrollment has declined, so we should be more self-sustaining in Columbus’s eyes. [The power plant bill] could be an issue and we are monitoring it.”
Leaders said there were at least 40 bills under consideration and the biennium budget would not be finalized until July 1.
Among other issues, the board:
-Heard from district Maintenance Supervisor Tony Panepucci, who said routine projects were being completed and he was looking at the summer to-do list, but plans were to get the batting cage and track hurdles ready for spring season and to fill in the infield;
-Approved a contract with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office to help alleviate the cost burden for utilizing deputies as school resource officers as well as a resolution to participate in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program with the Wells Township Police. Sudvary said the partnership has been a very beneficial resource for students and staff;
-Passed a resolution accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the county budget commission and authorizing necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor;
-Approved MOU’s for dual credit with Belmont College and College Credit Plus dual enrollment with Youngstown State University for the 2025-26 school year;
-Accepted the retirement of longtime educator Paul Fillipovich from Buckeye West Elementary, effective July 31 after more than 20 years of service. Principal Brian DiCola thanked Fillipovich for his dedication and said he would be greatly missed;
-Named Chuck Eddy as head band director at Buckeye Local High School to succeed longtime director Bill Stephens, who will retire later this year;
-Accepted the resignation of Charles Sempkowski as head boys’ track coach at BLHS and named Bailey McBeth as his replacement. Also approved were Kyle Solar as assistant baseball coach, Mike Kovalski as volunteer baseball coach and Joe Ellen Roshak as a substitute educational aide;
-Set the next meeting for March 17 at 5:30 p.m. at Buckeye West Elementary in Adena.
New Leaders, Safety Top BLBOE Meeting
Posted 1/17/2025 at 11:40:21 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-New leaders were named during the Buckeye Local Board of Education’s organizational meeting on Jan. 13 while safety and bids were also addressed in a subsequent session.
Board member Brooke Stingle briefly acted as president pro tempore, after which Teresa George and Melissa Supanik respectively were elected board president and vice president, respectively, during the organizational meeting at the central office in Dillonvale, making it the second time for George to hold the top seat and a first for Supanik as second in command.
George, who most recently served as board vice president, held the seat as president in 2022 and said she was eager to lead again.
“I’m looking forward to it,” she said. “I look forward to working with [Superintendent Coy Sudvary] and to keep the district moving in a positive direction.”
She noted her pride in the student representatives at Buckeye Local High School who will keep the board informed of issues surrounding all of the schools. Seven juniors and seniors were selected and will give a report to officials each month, sharing ideas and concerns among pupils.
“I’m excited about the student board representatives and I hope they bridge the gap between the board and the student body.”
Supanik, who joined the board in 2023, was also excited about her new role.
“I’m looking forward to [being vice president],” she said. “I’m sure there will be a million things I will learn.”
The board also approved a series of operational matters during the session and named Ashley West as legislative liaison and Brooke Stingle as student achievement liaison for the Ohio School Boards Association. Meeting dates were also set with the March 17 session to be held at Buckeye West Elementary and the May 19 meeting at Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School.
During the regular meeting, district safety coordinator Tony Panepucci said Buckeye Local was the first in the state to utilize a virtual safety program concerning active intruder response. The district recently obtained the Crisis Response Leader Training program and administrators would share the information with their respective buildings.
“We’re the first in Ohio to do the train-the-trainer sessions,” Panepucci said. “It’s exciting. It feels good to be the leader and I think we’re getting things moving.”
He explained that officials use virtual scenarios to test their reactions during controlled situations within the training modules so they can better equip themselves should an actual incident occur.
“It’s a decision-based program, so the scenarios are given and they make a decision. It’s for thinking in a stressful situation and it’s a controlled environment,” he added. “It was nationally recognized for its work in the AI world.”
Superintendent Coy Sudvary added that once the principals are trained, the teachers can use the modules and work on portable laptops. Meanwhile, Panepucci said district leaders were meeting with Jefferson County Sheriff’s officials to discuss active intruder trainings in each of the school buildings and one event was eyed for Buckeye West in April.
In other business, Sudvary said the art room project at the junior high was complete and the site had been made into two classrooms to accommodate the growth since the sixth-grade classes were added this year. However, the football field and track update projects will be rebid after not receiving any responses during two previous attempts.
“We will rebid the track and football field together hopefully in the next two weeks,” he said. “We had no vendors bid on it. We were unsuccessful with the first two bids and it will be bid for a third time with the two jobs bid together.”
McKinley Architecture and Engineering of Wheeling has been contracted to evaluate and oversee the improvements as well as sports master planning services. Officials hope to renovate the track at the high school and also upgrade the football field at World War II Memorial Stadium. The sites were targeted for completion during the current school year and have not received significant upgrades for nearly two decades. Sudvary plans were to put the district on a maintenance cycle so the facilities do not go without repairs.
-Sudvary lauded officials for School Board Recognition Month, which featured a dinner earlier that evening through the district food services and certificates from the OSBA. He thanked the board members for their work, saying it made his job easier;
-The board learned the district would receive a higher reimbursement through the free and reduced meal program through the 2027-28 school year because more children were eligible to participate;
-Classified contracts were approved for bus drivers Gary Lucas and Donald Creamer Jr. and aides Nicole Billingsley, Victoria Luyster, Kathy Williams and Crystal Windsheimer while resolutions were passed approving long-term substitute teachers Greta Gazda-Roe, Hailee Nelson, Isaac Rine, Kyle Solar, Pamela Zink and Stevie Roberts for an additional semester of the 2024-25 school year;
-Certified personnel were approved for supplemental duties, including Christopher Kiedaisch as head football coach, Sam Jones as head golf coach and Charles Sempkowski as head cross country coach with Abbey Wilson receiving a pupil activity contract as head volleyball coach, all at BLHS;
-Students were recognized for placing in their respective building spelling bees with the district bee set for that Wednesday and a snow date on Jan. 22;
-The next regular meeting was set for Feb. 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the administrative offices.
The Buckeye Local Board of Education reorganized on Jan. 14 with Teresa George and Melissa Supanik respectively named president and vice president. Officials were also lauded for School Board Recognition Month and pictured are, front from left, Supanik and George. Back: Brooke Stingle, Clint Powell and Ashley West.
Buckeye Local Purchasing 911 Radio Systems
Posted 1/16/2025 at 5:06:17 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local School District will be acquiring new radio systems to improve coverage and reduce issues with reception, particularly on buses in rural areas.
School
board members took action during the regular session on Dec. 16 and approved the purchase of 911 radios from Bearcom Communications for an estimated $177,655. Superintendent Coy Sudvary said the newer devices will improve connections since they utilize the county 911 signals.
“We’re having coverage issues in different areas of the district with the hand-held radios and the bus radios not consistently reaching the bus garage or buildings,” Sudvary said. “For example, there was a windstorm that knocked some trees down and the buses were stuck and it created issues with lack of communication. The new radios are utilizing the 911 radio system and [district Maintenance Supervisor Tony Panepucci, who is also a local firefighter] currently has extensive knowledge of the coverage area within the district. We will have a stronger radio signal for communications and new equipment will be implemented on each bus, district vehicles, and portable radios as well."
Sudvary said first responders communicate through 911 systems and it would help enhance connections throughout the district and area.
Meanwhile, district Curriculum Coordinator Dr. Susan Bachmann and Assistant Superintendent Julie Packer informed the board about the ongoing Each Child on Track program to support students at risk of not graduating. The district has been working with Ohio State Support Team Region 12 (SST-12) to collect data at the high school, but they also expanded their study to all buildings in order to reach more students.
“We’re collecting information to see if students are at risk of not graduating and we’re looking at attendance, behavior and grades,” said Dr. Bachmann. “We’re tracking grades 9-12 and that accumulates in the questionnaire I turned in. We did it for the first nine weeks and we’ll do it again for the second nine weeks.”
Buckeye Local High School Principal Luke Parsons and Assistant Principal Janelle Windsheimer were reviewing the figures and looking for remedies to support the students. Dr. Bachmann added that data was also recorded for the elementary schools and junior high building so officials could put their own plans into place.
Among other matters:
-Board Vice President Teresa George introduced seven student representatives from BLHS who will be responsible for obtaining students’ ideas, sharing issues and reporting to board members. Interviews were held and those selected included senior Alyssa Dailey and Addie Erwin and juniors Bella Russell, Kylie Watt, Jack Newell, Brooke Kovalski and Hudson Matthews. Most of the new representatives were on hand for the meeting and will return for the January session;
-Panepucci updated officials on maintenance projects throughout the district, including repairs to the auditorium ceiling and steps at Buckeye South Elementary, the art room at the junior high, the high school gym HVAC unit and the boiler system at North Elementary. During his safety report, he said he wanted to set up monthly active shooter drills with the sheriff’s office;
-The board heard that the number of student breakfasts and lunches were increasing;
-Officials approved an anonymous $20,000 donation for the purchase of new wrestling mats and a $1,000 contribution in memory of Smithfield High School alumna Eleanor (Rizzi) Vasich to defray negative student cafeteria account balances;
-Leaders passed a resolution to establish the SHP-OSBA Scholarship Fund and appropriate $1,000;
-The board accepted a resignation from long-term substitute teacher Dominic Gorence, effective Dec. 20; approved a continuing classified contract for Ashlyn Haught as an aide at West Elementary; approved supplemental duties for Christopher Kiedaisch as head football coach, Sam Jones as head golf coach and Charles Sempkowski as head cross country coach at BLHS for the 2025-26 school year; approved pupil activity contracts for Abbey Wilson as head volleyball coach at BLHS and Trevor Zanes as seventh-grade boys’ basketball coach at BLJHS; and employed substitutes Makayla Higgins as aide, cook and secretary and Tammy Morelli as cook and custodian;
-The board recognized BLHS football team and players Alex McDiffitt, Brennin Takach and Andrew Jones as First Team All-MOVL and Xavier Eastham and Marek Hickman as Second Team All-MOVL;
-Sudvary thanked Action Images for donating framed photographs for the board meeting room;
-The board set the organizational meeting for Jan. 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the administrative office in Dillonvale with board member Brooke Stingle to serve as president pro tempore. The regular session will follow at 5:45 p.m.
Photo Caption:
Seven Buckeye Local High School student representatives have been selected whose responsibilities include gathering student input, sharing ideas and reporting to the school board as part of a new initiative. The new representatives were named during the Dec. 16 meeting and include, pictured front from left, juniors Bella Russell, Kylie Watt and Jack Newell. Back: senior Addie Erwin, junior Brooke Kovalski and junior Hudson Matthews. Senior Alyssa Dailey is absent from the photo.
BLBOE Talks Safety, State Report Card
Posted 9/20/2024 at 9:30:47 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
BRILLIANT-Buckeye Local School District officials are aiming to improve safety and education following talks at the Sept. 16 school board meeting.
During the regular session at Buckeye North Elementary, Superintendent Coy Sudvary said the district will receive nearly $12,612 in Bureau of Worker Compensation grant funds which will be used to help purchase 911 radios and metal detector wands.
“It’s a 3-to-1 grant, so for every $3 they give, we supply $1,” he explained. “We’re going to purchase 911 radios and hand-held portable metal detectors. We are waiting to receive the funding and plan to get the equipment within the next two months.”
The total cost for the equipment is roughly $16,000 and will include six radios and six wands, or one for each school building and the central office. He said the funding plan was coincidental in light of the previous week’s threat scare, but it will prove beneficial for the district.
Sudvary applauded the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for swift action during the recent lockdown and subsequent school closures due to the online threats. The incident concluded with the arrest of a sixth-grade Buckeye Local Jr. High student and Sudvary said authorities conducted a thorough investigation.
“I wanted to acknowledge the sheriff’s office for going above and beyond to keep the students safe. Fortunately, the board put a school resource officer into place at each building in agreements with the JCSO and Wells Township Police Department,” he added. “You hope you never have to use these services, but unfortunately in the past couple weeks we were tested.”
Sudvary said the SRO’s provided support, reassurance and an extra layer of protection and he would continue the SRO agreements with the school board’s support.
“At the end of the day, our main goal was to make sure the kids are safe,” he noted.
“I was impressed with the depth and quickness of the investigation. The sheriff’s office knew where the threat came from and when it took place and had a short list of suspects. About 10-12 police officers were in the office following up on leads over the three days. None of these things happen if kids aren’t vocal and don’t communicate with us.”
He thanked everyone who had a role in added there were calls from six states of situations happening in other districts. Meanwhile, North Elementary Principal Susan Nolan recognized Sudvary for his work and school board President Ashley West was equally grateful with how everyone pulled together during the chaos.
“I couldn’t have been prouder to be a Buckeye Local Panther than I was last week,” West added.
In other business, Sudvary shared the Ohio School Report Card that was released Sept. 13. It gave the district a total of 2.5 stars overall and now Buckeye Local Schools is seeking to collaborate with various programs to improve the grades.
Building ratings included 3.5 overall at Buckeye South Elementary, which also earned three’s for progress, achievement and gap closing and a four for early literacy; BLJHS with a three overall, as well as three’s for achievement and progress and a one for gap closing; Buckeye North with a three overall, a three for achievement, two’s for progress and gap closing and a four for early literacy; Buckeye West Elementary with a 2.5 overall, two for achievement, one for progress, three for gap closing and five for early literacy; and BLHS with an overall rating of two, as well as two’s for achievement and gap closing and a one for progress. Sudvary said the one-star ratings impacted the overall score, but the board will work with programs to bolster the numbers.
Leaders approved agreements with Battelle for Kids as well as the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce initiative Every Child on Track. Sudvary said the Battelle for Kids program would provide academic support at the high school while the other programs will include interventions and strategic planning.
“Battelle is going to pull data, do instructional rounds where teachers observe teachers and offer Building Leadership Team (BLT) coaching to identify strengths and weaknesses,” he explained. “There is also an educational perception tool with surveys.
We were participating through Project Ignite through ODEW, which stopped funding the initiative, so we will use some building improvement funds for it.”
He added that Every Child on Track helps identify students with disabilities who may not be on track to graduate and offer early intervention, but the plan is to pull data on all at-risk students to give supports and ensure they obtain their diploma.
Additionally, the district is looking to participate in Project Evident, which involves strategic planning with academics and efficiency. There was a pilot program with ODEW and Sudvary said it was a good opportunity.
“Other districts in the state are also looking to partner with them,” Sudvary said, adding that officials interviewed for Project Evident and were waiting to learn if Buckeye Local would be selected to participate.
He concluded that the elementary schools will also participate in grade-level English/Language Arts (ELA) and math collaboration meetings at the Jefferson County Educational Service Center.
--Nolan discussed the successful Back-to-School Bash in August which drew about 750 people, had 22 vendors with a radio broadcast by WOMP-FM and received $6,290 in donations for supplies. She added that the Jefferson-Harrison Regional Spelling Bee was set for March 8 at 11 a.m. at the school with a rain date on March 15;
--Officials announced the impending retirement of longtime band director and teacher William Stephens on May 31, 2025, and said he would be irreplaceable because of his impact upon BLHS;
--The next regular meeting was set for Oct. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the administrative offices in Dillonvale.
Buckeye Local ELC’s Begin Oct. 14
Posted 9/20/2024 at 8:19:12 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Buckeye Local Schools will begin another year of Extended Learning Centers (ELC’s) in the elementary buildings this fall.
Buckeye West in Adena, Buckeye North in Brilliant and Buckeye South in Tiltonsville will operate programs starting Oct. 14 with sessions for grades K-6 before school from 8-8:30 a.m. and after school from 3:30-6 p.m. Dr. Susan Bachmann, district program manager, expected about 150 students to participate and said the ELC’s will offer a variety of educational and other offerings.
“They will get a full meal in the evening and the program includes homework help, computers, reading and math intervention, arts and crafts and physical activity,” Dr. Bachmann said. “They are extending learning from the regular school day but also provide social-emotional support for the students.”
She added that officials collect data to improve attendance and test scores and the ELC’s have aided those endeavors.
“It seems to benefit them,” she said. “There are also incentives for attendance and behavior, such as backpacks and T-shirts.”
The ELC’s are currently in the second year of a five-year funding program but Buckeye Local has taken part in previous rounds. The school district received the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Learning Grant this past year with North and West each gaining $100,000 and South garnering $185,000. Dr. Bachmann explained that the schools receive the same amount for three years, then the numbers decrease during years four and five. Sessions have also run through April; however, the district was required to hold 100 hours of extended learning and continued in June with on-site activities and field trips.
“This past year was the first time we did it for the summer, and we had field trips every week with an animal theme,” she added. “Next year, there will be a science theme and we will also have at least three family engagement events per school.”
Previous family activities included pumpkin carving at West, kickball with the Wells Township Police at North and Christmas cards for veterans and senior citizens at South, as well as yoga at all three buildings. Dr. Bachmann said the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County and Unified Bank may also return with literary and financial literacy programs.
Busload of Books Tour Stops at Buckeye West
Posted 9/20/2024 at 8:03:59 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
ADENA-The Busload of Books Tour stopped at Buckeye West Elementary in Adena on Sept. 16, giving students a fun way to build their creativity.
West was only one of 12 schools across the nation to participate in this year’s program, which was created by Maryland-based couple Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr. Swanson is an author and Behr an illustrator, and the couple has traveled the Continental U.S. with their brood of four children and two dogs two years ago to dispense 25,000 books in 53 Title I schools located in underserved communities. They outfitted a 24-foot Thomas school bus with sleeping quarters for the family including a rooftop pop-up tent, and Behr designed a colorful mural for the exterior of the vehicle which was painted with some help from schoolchildren.
Their journey took them throughout the country to advocate for educational equality, but now their children remain in their home state attending school while the couple plans to complete six in-person and six virtual visits.
“We spend a lot of time driving on the bus and reading in schools,” Swanson said.
“Two years ago, we drove all over the country and visited one school in each state.”
Behr said they have traveled 34,000 miles and Buckeye West was among their more recent stops, which also included Lexington, Ky., and St. Louis, Mo., over the past week.
They presented two separate assemblies at West to discuss collaboration and creativity and explained how their ideas come to life. The couple created 80 books over the past 20 years that have been self- and commercially published. Swanson said it begins with his storylines, which are then highlighted with Behr’s artistry. He said discussions of places and things which gave him amazement and excitement and led to their book, “Everywhere, Wonder,” and they showed how Behr’s drawings illustrated the work. Both said their real-life experiences inspired the stories, such as their work as commercial salmon fishermen in Alaska in “Sunrise Summer” and their growing family from the perspective of children in “Babies Ruin Everything.” Swanson and Behr have also partnered on the “Cookie Chronicles” series, The “Real McCoys” trilogy and the forthcoming “Life on the Moon.”
Students also shared creative ideas that Behr drew on her computer and had a chance to view the couple’s bus and meet two furry family members, Dumbles and Goji, while chapter and picture books were distributed to every student and teacher at the conclusion. The couple said West Elementary second-grade teacher Lisa Brown’s essay submission spoke to their mission to assist schools in small communities.
“We saw a need in our community Title I school with funding and they are never able to have visits because of the costs,” Swanson added. “We see the excitement it creates about reading and creativity and we’ve raised money to give every kid a book. We live in a rural area and have a soft spot for smaller communities, and we love meeting kids and sharing our stories and creative approach.”
“We decided to do it all over the country. We had nationwide applications with 500 submitted and picked one from every state,” Behr added. “This year, we had a smaller pool. Mrs. Brown wrote such a wonderful essay about the community supporting the school.”
Brown was elated to have West selected for the program because it gives children an experience they otherwise may not have.
“It was a contest on First Book Marketplace and I applied in April and found out [we were approved] in May,” Brown said. “How big is this? We were one of 12 schools selected, which makes it even narrower.”
Principal Brian DiCola was equally excited about the bus stop, saying it broadened the student’s imaginations and hopes for what they could accomplish in the future.
“This is all a testament and credit to Lisa Brown. This literacy access in itself is a great opportunity for our school. As a Title I school, it is important for kids and it’s a great experience for them. It’s great to receive opportunities when they graduate high school and go to college, the military or a trade school and gain experience.”
The Busload of Books is provided through First Book Marketplace and funded through the Build-A-Bear Foundation. According to the program’s website, those partnerships expanded the tour’s reach to 150,000 books and 25,000 “reading buddy” teddy bears distributed to Title I communities across the country. Additionally, the program partnered with Kent County Schools in Maryland and Washington College to facilitate the first-ever, large-scale study on how author/illustrator visits impact elementary students’ attitudes about reading, writing and drawing. The Busload of Books research team will collect data from its visits to three involved schools and assess the impact of multiple visits and testing a variety of literacy interventions.
More information is available at robbiandmatthew.com or on Instagram at @robbi.and.matthew.
Photo Caption: The Busload of Books Tour made its way to Buckeye West Elementary School on Sept. 16 where illustrator Robbi Behr, left, and author husband Matthew Swanson, right, spoke to students about collaboration and creativity. They also provided copies of their own books to the school and provided a glimpse of their colorful bus and family dogs, Dumbles and Goji. Buckeye West was one of a dozen Title I schools selected across the country for the program.
Bright Foundation Funds Bleachers
Posted 9/20/2024 at 7:40:24 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-A refurbishment of the Panther Gymnasium at Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School has been completed in the lasting memory of a major supporter.
A $315,000 bleacher replacement project was made possible through a grant from the Kara Bright Foundation, which was named in honor of former coach, teacher and Brightway Center founder Kara Bright. The replacement was conducted by Farnham Equipment of Ohio and concludes an estimated $400,000 upgrade of the large gym.
The site also received $80,000 for paintwork and new hardwood flooring bearing Bright’s moniker while the BLHS PRIDE campaign additionally defrayed a $6,300 mural by the Barn Artist Scott Hagan.
Principal Luke Parsons said work was completed in August while Ohio Floors, the same company that installed the new hardwood last year, buffed and waxed the floor a day later in preparation of the upcoming sports season. The bleacher project, which began in July, included the removal and replacement of seating that was original to the building and was more than 30 years old.
“We received the first grant to paint the gym and did the floor and mural. When we did the ribbon-cutting ceremony last year, [the foundation officials] were impressed and said they would also provide the new bleachers,” he continued. “Almost $400,000 was given and we’ll forever be grateful to the foundation and to [officer] George Spack, who brought it to light.”
Parsons met with Spack two years ago and talks led to the improvements, while the site was named the Kara Bright Court for Bright, who once taught and coached in the Dillonvale-Smithfield school systems and later developed the Brightway Center on his Smithfield farm as a recreational center for area youth. He passed away in 2005, but his legacy still lives on through the Kara Bright Foundation.
Spack said the Brightway Center dissolved in November of 2022, and the four officers Bright had chosen--Daryle Griffin, Jon Swires, Clifton Spinner and Spack himself—established the foundation to carry on his good deeds.
“In our new role as donor advisors to the foundation, we wanted to do something meaningful to honor Kara for his many years of service to the Buckeye Local School District,” he said, adding that discussions with BLHS administrators led to the gymnasium renovation.
A portion of the project was completed during the summer of 2023 and was dedicated during a double-header basketball game the following December, at which time foundation officials announced their intent to finance the new bleachers.
“The appreciation expressed by the students, staff and fans in attendance was so heartfelt that the advisors decided that evening to fund the new bleachers in 2024. Because Kara was such an inspiration to so many people, including the four of us, we will continue to look for ways to honor his legacy in the community he loved and served,” Spack commented.
Meanwhile, Parsons said a new tradition began with a basketball tournament in Bright’s honor.
“Through all of this, we created the Kara Bright Classic which will happen on Nov. 29. The girls and boys’ varsity teams will play and the teams will be determined,” he noted. “We also plan to have a red ribbon cutting for the bleachers.”
New mats were also acquired for the gym and Parsons expressed his gratitude for the foundation’s unwavering support.
“We’re grateful for the Kara Bright Foundation for giving back to the place that Kara Bright loved.”
Photo Caption: New bleachers were installed this summer in the Panther Gymnasium at Buckeye Local High School as another lasting testament to the late Kara Bright, a longtime teacher and coach in the school district and founder of the Brightway Center in Smithfield. The Kara Bright Foundation donated $315,000 to replace the 30-year-old seating, as well as another $80,000 for new hardwood flooring and paintwork last year, and the court now bears Bright’s name. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held and the site will host the Kara Bright Classic double-header basketball tournament in November.
Open House Set at Buckeye Local
Posted 8/28/2024 at 8:08:14 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School will open its doors to the community to view updates at the facility on Sept. 17.
An open house is slated from 5-7 p.m. and will include a chance for students in grades 9-12, along with their families and community members, to see improvements made throughout the summer. The building was part of a more than $2.8 million district improvement program and included updated HVAC systems with air conditioning added to both gyms, new bleachers in the Panther Gym, painting in the junior high gym, two new classrooms under construction in the junior high wing, new acoustic padding in the commons area and resealed blacktop and driveway plus concrete replacement around the exterior plaza and flagpole.
Principal Luke Parsons said a Meet the Team event will be held for fall sports teams and students will have an opportunity to interact with teachers, club advisors and coaches. Plans are to also spotlight teacher Luke Fabry’s food classes, the new College Credit Plus math teacher added this year and the agricultural business program now offered through career-tech education.
“There will be tables to get information and they can ask questions and see what they want to participate in over the next four years,” he explained. “We believe high school should be an experience. You can’t find yourself unless you try new things.”
Panther gear will also be for sale to build school spirit while donations will also be taken to support events for teachers and students. Parsons added this was the first year for the open house and he hopes for a strong turnout.
“We started talking last year about doing and orientation and open house, and then decided to do a freshman orientation and then do the open house,” he said. “One reason was because we had so many projects done at the high school and wanted the community to see it and the other was so kids can speak with advisors and others to see what they would want to do. We want to highlight all of the great things happening in the building and show people why it’s a great time to be a Panther.”
BLJHS Readies for Sixth-Grade Classes
Posted 8/15/2024 at 11:39:35 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Students returning as sixth-graders at Buckeye Local will be in a new building as the class moves to the junior high school.
An estimated 100-120 sixth-graders are anticipated to walk through the doors during the first day on Aug. 22, but they will get a sneak preview of their new environment a few days earlier. Principal Jason Kovalski said orientation will be held on Aug. 20 at 5:30 p.m. for incoming sixth- and seventh-grade pupils and they will have a chance to get acclimated to the building.
“They will get their class schedules, tour the building, meet their teachers and learn the new school rules,” Kovalski said, adding that some shuffling has been done to prepare for the move. “We’ve had to reschedule junior high classes and some teachers are teaching sixth-grade classes. Three teachers have also been brought in to help accommodate the sixth grade.”
Having the class at BLJHS is nothing new since the sixth-grade was housed at the junior high during the 1990s. The first year of the middle schools occurred during 1990-91 until the 2009-10 school year, after which the junior high consolidated and there were more than 300 students in the seventh- and eighth-grades. However, the building temporarily lodged sixth-graders from South Elementary five years ago when that school sustained damage from a rooftop water leak and had to undergo extensive repairs. Meanwhile, the junior high has remained separate from the high school with seventh- and eighth-grade classes on the first floor and upperclassmen on the second floor. Each school has a separate lunch time and the only exception has been the art and home economics classrooms.
Further accommodations are underway with the conversion of the former art room into two classrooms, which should be completed in October. He said work will begin in the coming weeks and some alterations have been made to ensure the students’ education is not affected.
“We’ve made temporary provisions to start the school year, but I’m very excited to bring the sixth grade into the junior high. This is something I’ve worked towards for the past several years.”
Officials opted to restructure this past year, citing advantages such as access to more resources to enhance their learning experience; transition preparation to familiarize themselves with the new environment and easing their move to seventh-grade; and dealing with enrollment and spacing issues amid a declining number of students through the years.
Kovalski noted that two elementary school teachers relocated to the building while an intervention specialist was also added to the staff. One of them is Janet Hughes, a math and science teacher from Buckeye South who is already familiar with the building since her class was among those lodged at BLJHS while South underwent repairs. Hughes said she was eager to get started in her new classroom.
"I’m looking forward to collaborating with the seventh- and eighth-grade teachers to better prepare my students for those grade levels,” she said.
Kovalski said it made sense to return the class to BLJHS and it was something he has rallied for in recent years.
“With the maturity level of the average sixth-grade student, it’s a better fit at the junior high. They will be new to the building but we’ll slowly acclimate them to junior high and high school life. They will participate in many junior high and high school activities as the year progresses and they will have access to clubs, plus they can join sports in the seventh grade.”
Superintendent Coy Sudvary said the realigning of the grades at the junior high will also balance the teaching staff in the buildings.
“The high school is the most current building and this will balance the numbers to utilize the space much more efficiently, plus it also provides opportunities for the sixth-graders to become oriented to athletic and academic offerings in the junior high and high school.”
Buckeye Local Updates Facilities
Posted 8/15/2024 at 11:27:44 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Students and staff at Buckeye Local Schools will see some updates to their facilities when they return to class on Aug. 22.
Improvements totaling more than $2.8 million have been made throughout the district and Superintendent Coy Sudvary said the work has been a long time coming.
“It was much needed and we’re trying to be consistent,” he said. “This is the biggest overhaul we’ve done within the district in years. These were things that were necessary due to aging and deterioration of the buildings and others we wanted to upgrade.”
Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School saw the most improvements with upgraded HVAC with air conditioning added to both gyms, new bleachers being added in the Panther Gym, painting in the junior high gym, two new classrooms under construction in the junior high wing, new acoustic padding in the commons and resealed blacktop and driveway plus concrete replacement around the exterior plaza and flagpole.
The bleacher project, which is being performed by Farnham Equipment of Ohio, is being covered by a $315,000 grant from the Kara Bright Foundation, which previously funded an $80,000 refurbishment of the gym with new hardwood flooring bearing Bright’s moniker in honor of the foundation’s namesake and a former Buckeye Local teacher and coach. The BLHS PRIDE campaign additionally defrayed a $6,300 mural by the Barn Artist, Scott Hagan.
Meanwhile, all three elementary schools had their first-floor restrooms remodeled while Buckeye North Elementary in Brilliant underwent tree trimming and concrete replacement; Buckeye South Elementary in Tiltonsville added a new air-conditioning unit in the cafeteria, had painting done on all three floors as well as the halls and stairwells with more set for the auditorium; and Buckeye West Elementary in Adena had some widening of the bus and driving lanes behind the building, new concrete stairs and sidewalk and the installation of a retaining wall.
Sudvary said the resealing work was handled by Prime Pavement Maintenance of Poca, W.Va., the elementary restrooms along with concrete work at BLJHS and Buckeye West were completed by Mccart Construction, LLC of Toronto with concrete work at North done by Leoni Concrete of Tiltonsville, tree trimming by K&K Tree Services of Dillonvale, painting by Karras Painting of Wheeling, retaining wall work by Dig It Man Excavating of Dillonvale, junior high classroom construction by Graham Construction of Claysville, Pa., HVAC improvements by H.E. Neumann of Wheeling and the commons soundproofing project by Buncher Construction of Leetsdale, Pa.
Financing included $1.8 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding with the remainder being local money. Most of the projects began and were completed throughout the summer, but Sudvary said the junior high art room plan was delayed but involves splitting the space into two classrooms.
“The HVAC project was ongoing. They began on the first floor in April and everything was done over the summer,” he explained. “All of the work will wrap up with the art room, which will be done around the end of September. We have to temporarily relocate a few classrooms to accommodate that work.”
Sudvary noted that the projects have preempted general maintenance work around the buildings but everything should be ready when the schools officially open their doors.
“It’s been a busy summer and we appreciate the patience of all of our custodians. They have a maintenance list that’s been altered due to the construction being done around the buildings. They’ve done a really nice job.”
More projects are on the horizon as the district looks to upgrade its sporting facilities. Sudvary said talks were underway with architects about improving the high school track and football field surface at World War II Memorial Stadium in Tiltonsville in the near future while leaders will also evaluate other district needs for next year.
Photo Caption: Buckeye Local Schools have undergone more than $2.8 million in upgrades over the summer such as painting and restroom refurbishments at the elementary buildings and resealing of pavement at the high school. Superintendent Coy Sudvary said work is eyed on the track and football field and the goal is to make sure the district’s facilities are efficiently maintained.
BL Welcomes Kids Back at Bash
Posted 8/7/2024 at 4:32:27 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-The summer heat did not deter hundreds of people from turning out at the annual Buckeye Local Back-to-School Bash on Aug. 4.
An estimated 700 students and family members gathered at Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School for free school supplies and fun as they await their official return to class on Aug. 22. The BLHS Marching Band and Cheerleaders opened festivities with the National Anthem and school fight song, then students lined up to receive book bags and cinch sacks full of supplies from the principals of BLJSHS and Buckeye North, South and West Elementary Schools while district Transportation Supervisor Lori Vinci was on hand with information about busing.
Drawings were also held for door prizes while free haircuts and inflatable rides were available, plus attendants could peruse among the more than 20 vendor stations to play games, enjoy face painting and receive information. Among them were the Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church, BL Extended Learning Center, Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board, Lady Panthers basketball team, Family Recovery Center, Lexie Orban, Unified Bank, Alpha Delta Kappa, Jefferson County Farm Bureau, Wells Township, Rivers Landing, Merit Scholar, BLHS boys’ basketball team, Brilliant American Legion Post 573, Buckeye Local Classroom Teachers Association, Meadowbrook Church of God, Nutrition, Inc., area safety vehicles and Jefferson County Community Action Council. A Dairy Jean ice cream truck was also on hand to help cool off while the Big Willie radio station broadcasted and provided a game at the site.
Susan Nolan, Buckeye North principal and an organizer, said 345 children signed in to receive bags while their relatives doubled the number of attendants.
“I would guess that we have about 700 people there,” Nolan added. “This was the biggest crowd so far.”
She said there were several new vendors involved, including the radio station and ice cream truck, and the feedback from participants was very positive.
“The purpose of the event is to furnish families with supplies so they are not strapped financially when school starts. We want students to have what they need when they arrive.”
She said additional bags will be available at each school for students who either did not attend the bash or are new to the district, plus extra supplies are stocked throughout the year.
Parents agreed the event was successful, including mom Stephanie Cooper.
“I love it,” Cooper noted. “It gets my kids out for activities and the supplies really help.”
Superintendent Coy Sudvary said it was a great turnout and the bash was a way to usher in the upcoming school year.
“We have more vendors than last year and it’s bigger,” Sudvary added. “It’s to provide an opportunity for parents and students to come and get free school supplies and see what’s available in the county. It’s good to get the community together for something positive and to start the year off on a good foundation.”
The bash, which has been held for more than a decade, was organized through the school district with participation from the schools, administration and staff. Community supporters included Wheeler Funeral Home, Brilliant Lions Club, Dillonvale Fraternal Order of Eagles, Zeroski Excavating, Packers Orchard, Bodnar’s Florist, Brilliant United Methodist Church, Adena Lions Club, Boroski Funeral Home, Susie Weldon, Marsili’s Restaurant, Warren Township Lions Club, Piney Fork American Legion and Auxiliary Post 735, JCPRB, Brilliant American Legion Post 573, Meadowbrook Church of God, Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County and Bookmobile, Unified Bank, ADK, Buckeye Local boys’ basketball, Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church, North Elementary, Shortcreek Sportsman’s Club, Dairy Jean, Yorkville Methodist Church, Laneve Enterprises Super C, Indian Club of Tiltonsville, Yorkville VFW Ohio Charities, Rayland United Methodist Church, JCCAC, Rivers Landing, Merit Scholar, BLCTA, Lexie Orban, Lady Panther basketball, FRC, JCFB, Wells Twp. Police and volunteer hairdressers.
Photo Caption: Buckeye South Elementary second-grader Connor Cooper gets a cool new haircut from cosmetologist Ashley West, who also serves as president of the Buckeye Local Board of Education, during the annual Back-to-School Bash at Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School on Aug. 4. An estimated 700 people turned out with students receiving free school supplies and enjoying ice cream, music, inflatable rides and more.
Buckeye Local Planning Back-to-School Bash
Posted 7/19/2024 at 4:11:19 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local Schools are getting students ready to return with a fun-filled Back-to-School Bash on Aug. 4.
The annual activity gets underway at Buckeye Local High School from 3-5 p.m. and will feature school supply giveaways, vendors and more. Organizer Susan Nolan, who serves as principal at Buckeye North Elementary in Brilliant, said there will be plenty to see and do.
“The Back-to-School Bash is set up to help families get ready for the school year by providing free school supplies and a chance to see other vendors as well. Lots of fun activities are planned,” Nolan said. “There will be free backpacks with a variety of supplies inside, inflatables, vendors, fire and safety departments and lots more.”
This year’s event will kick off with music by the BLHS Marching Band while the 106.3 Willie radio station will conduct a live broadcast. The bash, which has been held for more than a decade, has drawn more than 350 kids along with their parents, friends and other relatives. Nolan added that the event has been organized through the school district with participation from the schools, administration and staff.
“We want to invite all Buckeye Local students and staff to the event and hope we have a fantastic crowd,” Nolan concluded.
More SRO’s Coming to Buckeye Local
Posted 6/26/2024 at 6:30:38 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Buckeye Local Schools will have some extra security this fall with more school resource officers patrolling the buildings.
During Monday’s regular school board meeting, officials entered into a contract agreement and memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Wells Township Police Department to add deputies and police officers to the district’s four buildings. Longtime SRO Deputy Rodney Roe will return as district SRO and another deputy will serve at Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School, while two more will be stationed at Buckeye South and West Elementary Schools and a Wells Twp. police officer will work at Buckeye North Elementary.
Superintendent Coy Sudvary said the current one-year deals were ironed out with Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr. and Wells Twp. Police Chief Sean Norman to add some more support in the school environment.
“We’ve been working with the sheriff’s office and Wells Township Police to provide each building in the district with an SRO,” Sudvary said. “This will be the first time in the district that all of the buildings will have SRO’s. They have been great partners in the district, and we look forward to working with the officers to provide safety and security to the students and staff at all Buckeye Local schools.”
He continued that having the Wells Twp. police on hand at North was simple since the township now owns and occupies the building directly behind the school. Sudvary said one deputy will be a 12-month employee while the other SRO’s will have nine-month contracts.
“We just had a need,” he said. “As times become difficult in the world, having that extra layer of security is essential. We’re fortunate that we haven’t had major issues and we have been proactive and prepared in case there ever is one. We partnered with them to provide safety to the students and staff.”
In other matters, the board also ratified a negotiated agreement with the Buckeye Local Classroom Teachers Association. The two-year deal runs from Sept. 1, 2024, to Aug. 31, 2026, and benefits more than 100 teachers in the district. Sudvary said negotiations were positive and he was looking forward to a bright future ahead.
“It was approved by the teachers on Monday morning and ratified by the board at our meeting. It’s been a good process to work through the contract with the teachers and we both put in a lot of hours and work in negotiations,” he added. “I look forward to working with them over the next two years and our teachers’ salaries will be more competitive with the neighboring districts.”
Among other action, the board:
--Learned the district will collaborate with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and State Support Team 12 in the Each Child on Track program to identify and help students with individual education plans, or IEP’s, who may not be on track to graduate. Sudvary said staff will undergo training sessions and meet with officials while also refining and developing district policies, procedures and practices to increase the graduation rate, including those with disabilities. The district will also receive support to implement evidence-based interventions to improve the school climate, student attendance rates and literacy and math performance. The program works with students in grades 9-12 and runs until spring of 2026;
--Heard of ongoing and upcoming projects, including the classroom construction plan to build walls in the existing art room at BLJHS to create another classroom space. Graham Construction from Claysville, Pa., was selected to perform the work and Sudvary noted that South Elementary’s auditorium, hallways and lockers were being painted by Karras Painting LLC of Wheeling. Sudvary said similar work is being eyed for the other elementary schools with one building to be done each summer;
--Announced the next regular meeting would not be held until Aug. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the central office, while some future sessions would occur at the schools. The tentative schedule includes meetings at North in September, South in November, West in March and BLHS in May.
Boyles Eyes Return to National Spelling Bee
Posted 6/19/2024 at 5:38:28 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
RAYLAND-Bhreanna Boyles made her way to the Washington, D.C., area to take her shot at the 96th Scripps National Spelling Bee, and she hopes to do it again in 2025.
Boyles, the daughter of Stephen and Rhea Boyles of Rayland, was a fifth grader at Buckeye South Elementary when she joined the estimated 245 spellers from across the United States and about a dozen countries and territories for the event at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., on May 26-31. Bruhat Soma, a 12-year-old from St. Petersburg, Fla., earned the championship title at the conclusion; however, Boyles bowed out during the preliminary round on the first day of the three-day competition.
“I made it through the first two rounds and lost in the third round of the preliminaries when I misspelled ‘spinifex,’ which is a type of Australian grass,” she recalled. “[My Dad and I] were practicing, but the reason I got out in the third round was that I had a list of 500 words that I didn’t really get to study. It was a lot of fun, though. I was disappointed but know I can go back because I was only in the fifth grade [at the time].”
The spelling bee is open to students in grades 5-8 and leaves her with plenty of time to study more words and give it another try.
Her hard work leading up to this year’s nationals culminated in another milestone as she was the first Buckeye Local School District student to clinch the regional title in two decades. Boyles bested 30 competitors during the 2024 Herald-Star Jefferson-Harrison County Regional Spelling Bee on March 9 after correctly spelling “fastuous” during the 16th round of the contest. Fastuous is defined as “ostentatious” by the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary. She was among 30 competitors in fifth- to eighth-grade representing district, parochial and homeschools in the two counties during the event at Buckeye North Elementary School in Brilliant and the first to receive the title for Buckeye Local since 2004. Her efforts resulted in not only the trip to the nation’s capital, but also $250 in cash, one-year subscriptions to the online version of Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary and Britannica Online Premium from Encyclopaedia Britannica and the Samuel Louis Sugarman Award U.S. Mint proof set. The regional spelling bee was presented by the Steubenville Herald-Star and coordinated by the Jefferson County Educational Service Center while local sponsors included S.T.A.R.T., Ascent Resources, Gary W. Cain Realtors and Auctioneers, Mingo Knights of Columbus, Tri-State Financial Services, Encino Energy, Borden Office Equipment, PNC Bank, The Ohio Lottery Commission and Eastern Gateway Community College. In addition, JCESC gave a $500 donation toward Boyle’s excursion to D.C.
She said she tried to prepare for the national stage and was joined on the journey by her father, adding that she practiced regularly but wished she had more time to fully learn the long list of words she was given for the contest. Still, she enjoyed the experience and opportunities it afforded her and now knows what awaits her should she return.
“I love spelling,” she said. “I actually just got into it this year.”
Boyles said with time and more practice, she knows she will get better. As she enters the sixth grade at Buckeye Local Jr. High School this fall, she intends to make her way back to the bee. Despite her elimination, she still got the chance to enjoy the sights and activities around nation’s capital. She noted that a party was held for all of the contestants featuring a DJ spinning tunes and plenty of treats, plus she went sightseeing and viewed landmarks from the Lincoln Memorial to the Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial.
“I enjoyed the experience and did meet other kids,” she added. “If I get another chance to go back, I will study harder next year.”
Photo Caption: Buckeye Local Schools student Brheanna Boyles made her way to the 96th Scripps National Spelling Bee in May after winning the 2024 Herald-Star Jefferson-Harrison Regional Spelling Bee in early spring. Although she was eliminated during the preliminary rounds in Maryland, she hopes to return next year. She is pictured here during the preliminary rounds of the national competition.
Omaits Bids Farewell at Buckeye North
Posted 6/7/2024 at 6:36:59 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
Buckeye North Elementary preschool aide Margie Omaits bid farewell upon her retirement May 31 after a quarter-century working with the district. Omaits was recognized by Principal Susan Nolan and said she felt blessed to be part of North and the other schools during her tenure.
O’Bradovich Counts Blessings at West
Posted 6/7/2024 at 6:35:20 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
ADENA-Buckeye West Elementary math teacher Lou O’Bradovich counts his blessings after spending 25 years with Buckeye Local Schools.
O’Bradovich, of Adena, officially retired on May 31 after a quarter-century in the classroom and said he was grateful for the opportunity.
“There’s always a highlight—a certain student and the things they did, a certain staff member,” he reflected.
“There are so many memories.”
He graduated from Buckeye West High School in Adena in 1977 and received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Ohio University in 1982. He would serve in district schools, both as a substitute and full-time teacher, spending time at Buckeye South buildings in Yorkville and Tiltonsville and return to West. He said he initially taught fifth-grade math and reading and continued to teach math and science, overseeing hundreds of students through the years.
“I subbed in the district and now have kids whose parents I taught in school while subbing,” he commented. “I had a chance to work with great staff and really good principals.”
O’Bradovich said he has also seen former students move on to become teachers themselves, most notably Julie Packer, who later became South Elementary Principal and is currently a district administrator. Next fall, she will serve as Buckeye Local’s assistant superintendent. He said he’s worked with at least a half-dozen principals during his tenure, from Jim Kalman at Yorkville to currently Brian DiCola at West, and he may not stray too far from the building.
“I might sub at West in the future, but I’ve worked in construction for years and my wife, Leslie, and I raise Heresford cows and Belgian horses on our farm.”
He may also spend time with his family, which includes two sons and a daughter plus four grandchildren.
Still, he looks back with fondness at his time in the district.
“I was blessed to work with really good people,” he concluded.
Boyce Found Second Home at BLHS
Posted 6/7/2024 at 5:52:38 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local High School English teacher Belinda Boyce has made the school her second home, but now she is saying a fond farewell.
Boyce wrapped up her tenure on May 31 but plans after nearly 41 years in education and will continue fulfilling her love of literature, something which led her to the classroom in the first place.
“My love of reading English literature just came easily and naturally,” she said, noting her love for bookstores and libraries to this day.
Growing up in West Virginia, she was in the last graduating class at Wellsburg High School in 1969 and received her bachelor’s degree in education and music from West Liberty State College. She returned to teach at Brooke High School for four years and was a substitute teacher for 14 years, finally finding a permanent space across the river at Buckeye Local. Boyce later earned her master’s degree in communication from West Virginia University and has been certified in grades 7-12 English, K-12 music and comprehensive communication such as drama, speech and reading.
She recalled her early days at Brooke, where she worked from 1973-77 and recalled harsh snow conditions and freezing temperatures between 1976 and 1978. Schools had closed down and snow remained until May as she trudged through the white mess while pregnant with her second child. During her first year at Buckeye Local, she was choir director and organized concerts. As she finished her final days at BLHS, she shared how teaching has invigorated her and instilled a passion for reading among her students.
“I’m 73 but don’t feel it. I think this keeps you young. I’ve been in the same room for 34 years and it’s a second home. This is my haven.”
She remembered how it had been her respite through dark times, including the deaths of her parents, brother, two sisters, a brother-in-law and her granddaughter, who was also named Haven. Boyce said her students were warm and comforting and being there has soothed her.
“Life is so out of control everywhere and this is where you have control,” she added.
“You want to get kids to love reading and to instill a love of reading into them. I love senior English. I love British literature and we always focus on works such as ‘Canterbury Tales,’ ‘Beowulf’ and ‘Macbeth.’”
She has taught them the classics from Shakespeare to Chaucer, as well as stories from local native Robin Yocum. Boyce has kept her students’ projects in her classroom, including a handmade replica of the sword from “Beowulf” and medieval posters advertising Shakespearean plays at the Globe Theatre, while she has lent books to staff and pupils alike to build their interest in the written word. The students’ projects will stay in the classroom where she has taught senior English and College Credit Plus courses.
She said there were too many highlights to name but counted working with great colleagues and serving as senior class advisor to oversee prom and graduation events among them.
“Everything has been memorable,” she added, but said one outstanding recollection was the 20th Anniversary Memorial Service of 9/11 which she coordinated as advisor of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
“I have been the advisor for many years. The service was very beautiful. Music, recounts of the events, and the pictorial video made it memorable. Most of the students had not been born yet or were too young to remember it,” she recalled.
Outside the school, she has promoted education in other ways by serving as a mentor and district coordinator in the resident educator program and co-founding the Alpha Delta Kappa Beta Epsilon Chapter in 2001 with Susan Nolan, principal at Buckeye North Elementary, and serving as chapter past president and both the regional and international music chair, the latter which involved organizing the music for events in Atlanta and now Philadelphia. Meanwhile, her musical interest has also continued with area church choir activities.
However, things may become somewhat quieter on the 108-acre farm near Dillonvale that she shares with her husband, Danny, and raises beef cattle. Days will also be filled with catching up on housework, making homemade jelly and spending some quality time with the couple’s four children and eight grandchildren.
Despite it all, she shares a final piece of advice for future students—read.
“Reading improves your vocabulary and it’s amazing. I just taught kids to love reading as much as I do,” she commented. “I think reading can take you anywhere, and there are kids who have never left their hometown.”
Photo Caption: Buckeye Local High School English teacher Belinda Boyce is saying farewell after 34 years in the school district and nearly 41 years in education. An avid reader, she has inspired countless students and encouraged a love of literature. Her last day was May 31.
BL Program Extended through June
Posted 6/6/2024 at 3:11:55 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Buckeye Local elementary students have an opportunity for learning fun during an extended summer program in June.
Dr. Susan Bachmann, program manager for the district, said activities for its Extended Learning Centers (ELC’s) will be held from June 3-27 at Buckeye North, South and West Elementary Schools with on-site events and field trips planned. Students in grades K-6 can take part in their respective schools on Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
“They will have academics with reading and math as well as STEM, arts and crafts, physical activities and guest speakers,” Dr. Bachmann said, noting that the latter includes representatives of the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County and area banks. “Every Thursday, there’s a field trip and we’re having an animal theme, so they will visit the Oglebay Zoo and Schrader Center in Wheeling, The Wilds in Zanesville and The Farm at Walnut Creek.”
Free breakfast and lunch will be provided with bus transportation also available. Dr. Bachmann said Kelley Novak acts as site coordinator and about 75 students have signed up so far.
She added that the school district received the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Learning Grant this past year to finance the before- and after-school programs, with North in Brilliant and West in Adena each gaining $100,000 and South in Tiltonsville gaining $185,000. Those programs ran from October to April from 8-8:30 a.m. and again from 3:30-6 p.m. and had about 150 students participating. The sessions included physical fitness, interventions for reading and math and instructional time on various topics while dinner was provided at the afterschool session. Students also have homework help, technology to complete classwork plus social-emotional and character development lessons. Additionally, the program is being funded for the next five years with the amount decreasing annually.
“The five-year grant required us to have 100 hours of extended learning, so we added it in June,” she explained.
For more information or to register a student, contact Novak at (740) 827-6191 or the participating schools.
Students Test Skills at Sea Air & Land Challenge
Posted 5/7/2024 at 3:32:19 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Students tested their STEM skills during the annual Sea Air & Land Challenge at Buckeye Local High School on May 3.
More than a dozen teens from Buckeye Local, Martins Ferry and Wheeling Central Catholic took part in the competition where teams completed obstacles with robots of their own design. U.S. Army recruiters Sgts. Courtney Miller and Jeremy Willie were guest speakers for the day and described how STEM plays a major role in the military.
Miller, who trained as a medic, said there were myriad high-tech tools in place to prepare him and his colleagues to treat various health conditions.
“When I was at Fort Bliss, Texas, there were mannequins with eyes that dilated and that spoke 30 languages, and you could get their blood pressure and add IV’s. At Fort Drum, N.Y., there were uses in advanced warfare. There’s lots of cool stuff out there,” he added. “Just in the medical field, they have 35-40 positions from neurosurgeons to medics, and each of those jobs have different training aids.”
He said there were educational opportunities by serving in the military and going to college on the G.I. Bill, which pay for schooling, or joining the U.S. Army Reserves and attending trainings one week a month while being a full-time college student. As a reservist, they are paid while also covering their college costs.
“Employers are looking for your experience and education. It will set you apart,” he said.
Sgt. Willie said he worked in field artillery and added that there is plenty of science-based work in advancing weapons.
“It’s always and adaptive environment and we can sit safely in vehicles with progressive systems with high-level capabilities. There are ground-penetrating radars and the Department of Defense has robotics that allow us to access a situation and dispose of IED’s,” Willie continued. “One thing I love about the military is that innovation is not always from the top down. We’ve created the RHINO system (armored shelter) for vehicles and the Duke System to [counter IED’s]. We are always advancing in field artillery and refining weapons systems.”
Then it was on to the competitions, where the robots were to complete obstacles by retrieving and carrying blocks to designated areas while team members operated remote controls and viewed activities captured on the robots’ cameras on television screens. They were judged based on written reports, brief presentations and durability and quality of the robots with points given for task completion and timeliness. At the conclusion, BLHS earned first place for the sea contest and Martins Ferry dominated the land competition while Wheeling Central land team earned the Best Innovation Award with their machine.
BLHS senior Noah Jock, who won the sea contest, said he volunteered last year but this was his first time competing. He said manning the controls came naturally to him.
“I’m a fisherman and I enjoy the sea. I also like creating and mathematics and enjoy being part of this because you build your own robot.”
His STEM capabilities and interests are also guiding his future and he intends to study architecture and minor in engineering at Kent State University.
Teammates and fellow seniors Preston Lindsay and Lizzie Stock said their team worked on their land and sea robots since January and it was their first year to participate.
“I like being competitive and it’s definitely a lot of fun,” said Lindsay.
“I liked seeing all of the different robots,” added Stock. “I also like how other schools are coming here to participate. It’s a really cool experience.”
Meanwhile, Martins Ferry’s team included juniors Haiden Merrill, Hunter Theil, Vincent West and Alex Higgs and freshman Leviathan Briggs, all of whom said the activity was fun and many of them have participated for the past three years.
Wheeling Central team members included seniors Katana Baker, Xavier Millhouse and Noah Loy and juniors Oliver Jackson, Don Crall and Zach Vitlib.
“This is my first time,” said Millhouse. “I was excited and optimistic.”
He hopes to study mechanical engineering at West Virginia University while Crall hopes to study chemical engineering.
The event was sponsored by Penn State University’s Electro-Optic Center (EOC) and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), an agency of more than 6,000 people across the world that assists the Department of Defense. Susan Zingaro, engineering outreach representative for the EOC, said the activity has been held at BLHS since 2018 and the goal was two-fold.
“Overall, it is to introduce students to engineering through robotics,” she said. “This gives them an opportunity to do hands-on engineering projects and gets them into STEM so they can decide whether they may or may not go into the field. This also allows us to apply this to schools to start a STEM school program. We want to talk about careers that support the military, but there are lots of careers in engineering and the sciences.”
(Photo Caption: Buckeye Local High School senior Noah Jock explains his water-based robot to judges at the annual Sea Air & Land Challenge at Buckeye Local High School. Schools from Ohio and West Virginia participated and teams tested their STEM skills in a series of obstacles.)
Students Going to JustWrite Competition
Posted 5/1/2024 at 8:15:11 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Three Buckeye Local High School students will share their creative talents after being invited to attend the state JustWrite competition on May 9.
BLHS Merit Scholars Creative Writing team varsity members Jasmine Yohe and McKenna Dutton, both seniors, and junior varsity member Olivia Takach, a sophomore, will be on hand for the event at The University of Findlay, where they will complete three rounds of story-writing activities in their related genre. To advance, they had to score in the top 50 percent of all the rounds.
Stephanie Crust, gifted intervention specialist at BLHS, also runs the merit scholar program and includes creative writing team students in the program.
“They practice weekly writing short stories of different genres to given prompts,” Crust said. “They enter competitions around the state and attended the JustWrite Ohio regional contest in Dublin on Feb. 10. Eight of our 10 team members competed and the three students earned first-place honors for their genre in their round. Their work is being considered for publication in the JustWrite anthology and special honors at the state competition.”
Yohe, a senior, said she has enjoyed writing since her freshman year and enjoys being part of the merit scholar program. She added that she was thrilled to head to the state event.
“There were three different rounds [at regionals] and we got a genre prompt and had to write a story in 30 minutes. There was horror, science fiction and realistic fiction with juniors and seniors on the varsity team and sophomores on the JV team,” she recalled, saying a similar setup was expected at the state competition. “I’m excited but a bit nervous.”
Dutton, who is also a senior, enjoys English and creative writing and eagerly awaits the chance to go to Findlay.
“I’m really excited. I love being creative, and getting to put my skills to the test at something like states is really exciting” she added. “I’ve always had a passion for and have loved writing. I’ve had short stories published in the JustWrite anthology.”
The trio may also take part in workshops as well as the competition during their time in Findlay. Meanwhile, other members included varsity teammates Cassie Burkhead, Reagan Lengyel, Hailey Kovalski and Bri Sellers and JV member Lizzie Stock. Crust said the gifted class includes students with a 3.5 GPA or higher and merit scholars in grades 10-12 earn an academic credit by being involved in academic team or other organizations. Crust added that BLHS students have attended JustWrite state contests at least four times in the past.
“I’ve enjoyed reading their work all year and I am very proud of their growth and accomplishments in writing and taking risks,” she said. “They are not just excellent writers, they are talented kids who excel in sports and many fields. They are all-around wonderful kids and I’m pleased to work with them.”
(Photo Caption: Buckeye Local High School seniors McKenna Dutton, left, and Jasmine Yohe will join sophomore Olivia Takach at the JustWrite state competition at The University of Findlay on May 9. The trio will test their writing skills during three rounds of contests as well as have a chance to take part in workshops. Takach is absent from the photo.)
Sudvary, Packer to Head Buckeye Local
Posted 3/20/2024 at 7:29:35 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Superintendent Coy Sudvary will continue leading Buckeye Local Schools while longtime educator Julie Packer was named assistant superintendent during the March 18 school board session.
Sudvary, treasurer Merri Matthews and Transportation Supervisor Lori Vinci each received three-year deals starting this Aug. 1 through July 31, 2027, while Packer and Dr. Susan Bachmann were respectively promoted under five-year contracts through July of 2029. Packer serves as director of preschool, special education and student services and Dr. Bachmann is presently Ohio Teacher Evaluation System (OTES) coordinator and program manager of the 21st Century Grant Afterschool Program at the elementary buildings.
Sudvary, a past teacher, assistant principal and principal at Buckeye Local High School, was thankful for his extension and said many positive things have occurred since he took the helm last year.
“I’m excited to have the support of the board and staff. I believe we’ve made a lot of great strides in the district during my time as superintendent and I want to continue it into the future,” he said.
Among the high points of his tenure thus far are working to improve facilities, working to establish communication between the central office and school buildings and working closely with the union memberships. Sudvary added that he looked forward to continuing his work with the administrative team at the central office.
“We will be adjusting roles and the administrative team for the 2024-25 school year to increase efficiency of the services to the students and staff of Buckeye Local,” he commented.
Packer, who has served with Buckeye Local Schools for a total of 11 years, worked her way up the ranks as a teacher and principal at Buckeye South Elementary to her current position.
“I feel blessed and privileged to be able to continue to make sure Buckeye Local is the best for people to educate their children,” she said.
Her new post will also include overseeing special education and preschool with the addition of federal programs, while she will also work in tandem with Dr. Bachmann on other areas.
Like Packer, Dr. Bachmann has been a longtime educator and began as a teacher at Buckeye South, Buckeye North Middle and Buckeye Local Jr. High School before joining the district administration team. She has been with Buckeye Local for 15 years and will continue overseeing the afterschool programs along with curriculum and the Ohio Improvement Process, among others.
“It’s a natural segue to the next step in administration,” she said, adding that she looks forward to continue working with Packer. “I think our first year will be a learning experience for the both of us, but I think we’ll work well together.”
Matthews has been part of the district for 21 years as an assistant to the treasurer and her current post.
“Buckeye Local is a great place to work,” she added. “I would like to thank the board of education for their continued support. I am excited to continue my career at Buckeye Local and do my part in the advancement of our students.”
Vinci, who served as a bus driver for three decades before her promotion to transportation supervisor last year, said she gained a knowledge of the bus routes and established a rapport with parents and students during her tenure, plus she served as trip coordinator for all extracurricular activities.
“I am thankful to the Buckeye Local Board of Education and our superintendent, Coy Sudvary, for their continued support by extending my contract for an additional three years,” Vinci said. “I look forward to continuing my role in the district with the students, staff and parents. I am excited about the future here at the Buckeye Local School District.”
Other extended contracts included speech therapist Whitney Ashcraft, two years; treasurer’s assistants Kimmi Pielech and Laura Saxton, both continuing; Buckeye Local High School teachers Michael DiCenzo, Luke Fabry, Alonna Morrison and Roger Roberts, five years; Byron Mayers, Lindsay Orr and Hannah Shaheen, three years; and Eric Heitzman, Ryan Ighnat, Bailey McBeth and Lauren White, one year; Buckeye Local Jr. High teachers Deanna Flint and Donald Yeager, both five years; North Elementary teachers Kimberly Arnett, Colleen Brannon, Lucy Falls, five years; Anne DeCesare, Kylene McCombs and Sandra Porter, three years; and Lindsey Breon, Rebecca Canestraro, Melissa Kendle and Stephanie Sliva, one year; South Elementary teachers Mirranda Glasgow, Pauline Irvin, Kimberly Malechowski and Kelley Novak, five years; Katie Beeman and Jerrika Gilbert, three years; and Crysta Christian and Stephanie Waggoner, one year; and West Elementary teacher Trina Pissos, three years. One-year contracts were also granted to LPN Jacqueline Miller and nurse assistant Alexis Orban with a continuing contract for West Elementary cook Sarah Lewton and one-year pacts for BLHS cook Brandy Becker, central office custodian Jodi Mackey and West Elementary cook Angela Taylor. A pupil activity contract was given to Kyle Solar as assistant baseball coach at BLHS for the 2023-24 school year while a resolution was passed to name Ashley Vitello a tutor consultant at Bishop John King Mussio. Finally, a resolution was passed to enter into a contract with Jefferson County Educational Service Center for a visually impaired teacher, three visually impaired aides, a school nurse, public relations coordinator and orientation and mobility specialists.
In other action, the board:
--Congratulated South Elementary fifth-grader Brheanna Boyles for winning the Jefferson-Harrison Regional Spelling Bee and securing a spot at the National Scripps Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. She is the first district winner in 20 years;
--Recognized two South Elementary Destination Imagination teams for winning silver awards at the recent regional event at Edison High School;
--Lauded winter sports awards recipients, including wrestlers Geno Delvecchio, Nathan Dentz, Brendon Stillion, Chase McFadden, Denvar Nelson, Shawn Jordan and Marek Hickman; girls’ basketball players Brynn McKeever, Pam Kandrach, Maddy Roset and Lizzie Stock, the seventh- and eighth-grade girls’ basketball teams as BMC runners-up; and boys’ basketball players Gavyn Romanyak and Ryder Kindberg-Colabelli;
--Praised senior bowling team members for their success at the OVAC tournament and BLHS’s production of “Beauty and the Beast Jr.”;
--Approved a dual credit memorandum of understanding with Belmont Community College for the 2024-25 school year. Sudvary noted that he also spoke to Youngstown State University and others as part of the College Credit Plus Program;
--Set the next regular meeting for April 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the administrative office in Dillonvale.
(Photo Caption: The Buckeye Local Board of Education extended contracts and promoted administrative staff during the March 18 regular meeting. Among them were three-year renewals for Superintendent Coy Sudvary, Treasurer Merri Matthews and Transportation Supervisor Lori Vinci while Director of Preschool, Special Education and Student Services Julie Packer was named assistant superintendent and OTES Coordinator and 21st Century Grant Program Manager Dr. Susan Bachmann will serve as administrative coordinator under five-year deals. Pictured are, from left, Julie Packer, Coy Sudvary, Merri Matthews, Dr. Susan Bachmann and Lori Vinci.)
Simon Electrifies Assembly at BLHS
Posted 3/19/2024 at 9:55:05 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local High School alumnus Elec Simon returned to his roots and electrified the crowd with his message of positivity on March 14.
Simon, a 1999 graduate, showed his Panther pride and shared music and motivational words with faculty, staff and grades 7-12 students in the first of his four visits to district schools. He spent that Thursday at BLHS and his former stomping grounds at Buckeye South Elementary and returned on Friday to Buckeye North and Buckeye West Elementary Schools. The Smithfield native spoke of his high school days, where he recalled spending time in the band room and congregating with Principal Luke Parsons and others.
“It started for me here, in these hallways you are walking down. I’m from Smithfield, Ohio! When you walk down the halls, know that this gym has changed and you have different things, but this was my gym first.”
He said he may have come from a small town, but he worked to fulfill his big dreams.
“I said I want to live in New York City, I did that. I said I wanted to be on HBO, I did that. I wanted to travel the world, I did that. Who wants to grow up, be broke and live a boring life? No one does!”
Following graduation, he attended Akron University and later took his chances on stardom in New York City. Simon ultimately made the cast of the high-energy musical, “STOMP,” and toured with the traveling production. He also played percussion for the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team and still does from time to time, but these days he works as a celebrity emcee at conferences and events and resides in Orlando, Fla. He has also traveled the world with legendary jazz band Pieces of a Dream. Most recently, he released his song, “Learn How to Love,” on iTunes.
“When I auditioned for ‘STOMP,’ there were 1,800 people in line. I took everything from the coaches, from Smithfield, from Akron University. I took every emotion I had because people think that people can’t make it from a small town. I made it as the fifth one cast.”
Simon has also made it his mission to spread positivity and encourage youth to reach their own goals. Among his advice was to respect each other and their teachers, surround themselves with positive people and to strive for their dreams.
“Work hard because nobody owes you nothing,” he said.
Backed by band members Robert Johnson and Chase Williams, he drummed on buckets and had some assistance from audience members and performed a portion of his song. He said despite finding success, he has not changed. Simon reflected on how he was returning to Ohio and encountered a couple from Cleveland on the plane who recognized him from his performances at the Cavaliers’ games.
“They remembered my championship season performance. When [the team] got their rings, I got one. I’m the only one from the Ohio Valley who has an NBA championship ring,” he said while showing off the bling. “It’s not from playing basketball; it’s from using my gift. I got a ring for doing something I wanted to do.”
He told the students to take pride in their school. Simon also used the weight room that day and noticed the equipment was worn, offering to obtain money and possible equipment donations to replace the current machines.
Principal Luke Parsons called the pledge a happy surprise for the school.
“Elec wanted to see his old stomping grounds and said he would get the donations. We’re very happy he’s going to take that on and I’ll help him reach that goal.”
“It tells you about the generous character Elec has,” added Superintendent Coy Sudvary.” He’s always trying to help school kids and the community any way he can. Hopefully the kids enjoyed his powerful and energetic performance.”
Meanwhile, Simon called students to the floor to help play drums and buckets and asked what they wanted to do in life. Kamdyn Cerra said he was interested in computers and welding and told the crowd to make goals and stick to them. Simon then let Lance Driscoll wear his NBA ring and called him a champion. Following a brief question-and-answer session where he described growing up in the community and his favorite place—Brazil—Simon he always wanted to motivate others.
“I was always the one who spoke, the one who always smiled at people. I’ve always tried to be the glue between everybody.”
He later said it was great to be back in his school community and to see former teachers and longtime friends.
“It was amazing that I still come back to where it all started,” he commented. “I’ll always come back.”
He can be followed at @elecsimon on Instagram.
(Photo Cutline: Smithfield native and motivational musician Elec Simon returned to Buckeye Local Schools for a series of assemblies where he discussed working to achieve success. He encouraged youth and incorporated them into his program, allowing students and educators to play with his band. He is pictured here at Buckeye Local High School and also made stops at Buckeye South, Buckeye North and Buckeye West Elementary Schools on March 14 and 15.)
Buckeye Local Eyes Unified Sports
Posted 3/18/2024 at 8:01:48 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local High School is the latest location looking to add unified sports and related activities to its program.
More than 20 students and educators took the first steps by attending the Jefferson County Side-By-Side—Unified! Youth Leadership Summit on March 13 and are seeking ideas for inclusive events. Unified sports combine typical and special education students for sporting and other activities to bolster inclusion and a spirit of compassion. So far, Indian Creek and Edison High School have joined the Special Olympics Ohio Unified Champion Schools program and developed teams while Steubenville High School has also participated in local games.
Lindsay Orr, intervention specialist at BLHS, is spearheading the new program and said it remains in its infancy.
“We had 22 go to the leadership summit but there are a lot more interested,” Orr said. “We brainstormed and are going to participate in sports at other schools in Jefferson County.”
Among them are flag football, basketball, track, bowling and miniature golf as well as potential clubs within the school.
“I’d like to be a club and not necessarily all sports,” Orr added. “They’d like to kick it off with a celebration such as a dance party or karaoke. It’s still in development. We have huge interest but we’d just like it to be a unified school, in general.”
As a Unified Champion School, BLHS would also benefit from receiving sports jerseys for their teams from the Cleveland Browns, which is a sponsor of UCS. Orr said fundraisers could also be held to offset other costs and would help students gain work and life skills.
“Fundraisers teach responsibility and donations are welcome. We are open to suggestions, ideas and partnerships and we want to see unified sports with everything we do here.”
Some of her students agreed, saying it would be a great experience that would help form friendships.
“I think it’s fun,” said eighth-grader Ryan Cook, adding that it was exciting to interact and participate in activities.
Eighth-grader Brad Abshire said he would enjoy unified wrestling while junior Emily Harris was interested in cornhole, bowling and miniature golf.
“Some of the kids who participated the most at the leadership summit were surprising to me because they were the most interested,” Orr noted. “I was proud to see it. That was some of the most excitement I’d seen on the students’ faces all year.”
Elec Simon Returning to Buckeye Local
Posted 3/7/2024 at 5:26:06 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Percussionist and Buckeye Local alum Elec Simon will be bringing his message and music back to the district with a series of appearances at local schools next week.
Simon, a Smithfield native and Buckeye Local High School graduate, is scheduled to speak at Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School in Connorville at 12:30 p.m. and South Elementary in Tiltonsville at 2 p.m. on March 14 and North Elementary in Brilliant at 9:30 a.m. and West Elementary in Adena at 1:30 p.m. on March 15. Simon is known for entertaining crowds off Broadway and in travelling shows for “STOMP,” but he has often returned to his roots at Buckeye Local to share his program and display his percussion talents with some audience participation.
Simon took his chance on the Great White Way after departing the University of Akron in 2002, performing on the streets and in subway platforms before becoming part of the hit off-Broadway show. He then spent more than a decade touring the country and settled in Canton, where he decided to give back to the community. Inspired by his friend’s death as a youth, Simon began speaking in schools and incorporates rhythm into an anti-bullying program by performing with a full band.
Superintendent Coy Sudvary said it will be a tremendous event and Simon has captivated students with his wisdom, energy and his musical abilities.
“It’s a great opportunity. Elec reached out to us and was going to be back in Ohio. It’s been a few years since he’s been back in the district and he’s such a dynamic speaker,” Sudvary said. “It’s always good for the kids to see his success and hear his positive message.”
Simon will be appearing at other schools in the area this month, including Malvern in Carroll County. In addition to his stage performances, Simon currently has music on iTunes with the song “Learn How to Love.”
He currently resides in Orlando, Fla.
BL Seeking Bids for Stadium Upgrades
Posted 2/26/2024 at 7:03:25 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-The Buckeye Local School District has designs on making some much-needed improvements to World War II Memorial Stadium, and work could get underway this summer.
During the school board meeting on Feb. 20, officials agreed to accept bids to renovate the Yorkville site and could begin the process within the next month. Superintendent Coy Sudvary said the updates were greatly needed and work had not been completed at the stadium for about two decades.
“They are going to redo the drainage and sprinklers, re-crown the field and replace the sod,” said Sudvary. “It’s been 20 years since work has been done.”
He explained there were issues with water not properly draining at the facility and creating pools, plus there are areas where holes have formed that pose a hazard for athletes.
“There are plenty of holes and uneven surfaces, and that obviously becomes a safety issue for the players,” Sudvary added. “Hopefully we will start the project on June 1 and will be taking bids within the next month.”
Meanwhile, the board accepted the resignation of longtime teacher Belinda Boyce, who plans to retire on May 31. Sudvary said Boyce has spent more than 30 years with the district instructing English and advising a series of student groups from chorus and drama to Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). He touted Boyce for her efforts and said she would be greatly missed.
“Mrs. Boyce’s contributions to the Buckeye Local School District over the last 34 years are a testament to her skilled teaching and devotion to her students,” he commented. “She has been a pillar of the district and we wish her a well-deserved and relaxing retirement. Thank you for having a positive impact on the students and staff at Buckeye Local.”
Buckeye West Elementary Principal Brian DiCola also recognized kindergarten teacher Danica Guthrie, who received the L.A.W.S. Movement Teacher Impact Award for 2024. Guthrie was nominated by former student Alexis Slie for the distinction and both were on hand for the meeting.
In other personnel matters, the board agreed to employ Katie Rogers as a teacher for the remainder of the 2023-24 and on a one-year limited contract for the 2024-25 term; employed Chris Kiedaisch as a teacher on a one-year limited contract for the 2024-25 school year and with supplemental duties as head football coach at BLHS; hired Trevor Zanes and Mike Kovalski as baseball volunteers and Kyle Solar as assistant football coach at the high school for the 2024-25 season; accepted Trevor Zanes’ resignation as a softball volunteer for the current season; hired Mallory Uscio as long-term substitute teacher and Patricia Kanoski as a substitute cook/secretary; and employed Stefanie Lindsay as an educational aide on a six-month probationary period.
Among other business, the board:
--Learned district schools received an NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant totaling $57,000 for food services. BLHS gained $46,000 for a hot-and-cold food bar, South earned $6,000 for a hot food bar and $5,000 was allotted to West for a refrigerator;
--Approved an addendum to the sale of property to Wells Township near North Elementary. The deal included an amended contract allowing trustees to renovate the garage building by the former football field instead of razing the structure;
--Lauded Sondra Lachendro of BLHS, Cindy Norman of Buckeye Local Jr. High, Amber Mellott of Buckeye North Elementary, Nikki Sellers of Buckeye South Elementary and Danica Guthrie of Buckeye West as Employees of the Month for January;
--Applauded district spelling bee winners who will compete at the Jefferson-Harrison Regional Spelling Bee at North on March 9. The students include Tiana King of North, Brheanna Boyles of South, Peyton McNeil of BLJHS, Ellie Ricer of South, Isabella Glauser of West and alternate Kinohi Asuncion-Kahoalii of North;
--Approved an athletic trainer services agreement with Wheeling Hospital, Inc., and a memorandum of understanding with Trinity Health Systems to provide two mental health counselors for students throughout the district;
--Approved an MOU with the Buckeye Local Classroom Teachers Association for the 2024-25 calendar year;
--Approved the first reading of the school calendar for 2024-25;
--Set the next meeting for March 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the administrative offices in Dillonvale.
BLHS Preserves the Past at Culture Fair
Posted 2/26/2024 at 6:57:13 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-People went around the world in a matter of minutes during the 19th Annual International Culture Fair at Buckeye Local High School on Thursday.
Hundreds of spectators appeared to enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of nearly 40 countries spanning from the Americas to Europe and beyond. Co-advisors Bonnie Soos and Savana Granat said this year’s theme was “Preserving the Past” and highlighted the history and architecture of each country.
“We had displays, food and landmarks from every country,” said Soos. “This year, we let the public vote for their favorite display, favorite food and favorite structure.”
“The seniors loved the historical aspect,” said Granat. “They wanted to focus on the architecture.”
Attendants purchased tickets for 25 cents each for the food-tasting while concessions and a 50-50 raffle were also held. Proceeds benefitted the Foreign Language Club for field trips and cultural experiences and Soos said each fair has been successful.
“It’s all about bringing the community into the school,” she added. “It’s a great community event.”
She and Granat also praised the students for their hard work on the exhibits and performances.
“I’m very proud of them, especially their work on the structures,” Granat chimed.
“We didn’t know what to expect,” added Soos. “I think they’ve done an excellent job.”
People had an opportunity to view many handmade models depicting the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, the Matterhorn of Switzerland, Stonehenge in England, the Puente De Boyaca bridge in Colombia and more; check out displays with details about countries from the United States to Uruguay, Argentina to Australia and Germany to Romania, to name a few; sample delights from each country, including Rasta Pasta from Jamaica, spice cake from Turks and Caicos, dalgona coffee from South Korea and petit fours sweets from France to Papitas de Leche treats from Venezuela; and enjoy performances in the theater, such as Spanglish, Hebrew, Spanish, Scottish and French songs, a violin solo, tango, Laendler (Austrian), Indian, Chinese Fan and Tinikling (Filipino) folk dances and a Parade of Nations. Meanwhile, children’s activities and music from accordionist Dave Milovac rounded out the evening.
Many students also donned costumes representing their chosen countries said some said they learned a lot as they prepared for the festivities.
Juniors Alexis Burress and Arielle Orban represented Japan and featured details about the country’s geography and history. The students also prepared chicken and beef ramen and different flavored mochi (rice cakes) for people to taste.
“It’s a really good thing to do,” said Burress of participating in the fair.
Orban added that they also spotlighted the importance of the cherry blossom tree and she also gained interest in the country’s artwork.
“I think the most interesting one is ‘The Wave of Kangawa’ painting. My favorite part of Japan is the art,” Orban said.
Freshman Chastity Stewart chose Costa Rica for her project and highlighted historical and other facts from that nation, plus she served up banana bread, Picadillo de Papa (a meat and vegetable dish), chimichurri sauce and more.
“I was interested and wanted to learn more about it,” she said of the country.
Junior Sydney Snyder selected Italy and provided pasta, Tiramisu dessert and Italian cream soda to the public.
“I thought it would be really fun,” she said of her choice.
It was all Greek to seniors Raygan Lengyel and Jasmine Yohe, who chose the Mediterranean country for their theme and promoted its culture and cuisine, with the latter ranging from baklava to tzatziki sauce and pita chips.
“Greece has such an amazing background,” Yohe commented.
“We also love the Greek mythology,” Lengyel noted.
(Photo Caption: Buckeye Local High School students, from left, Samantha Ankrom, Brynn McKeever and Elizabeth Stock donned Egyptian attire and served up some facts and foods during the 19th Annual International Culture Fair on Thursday. Hundreds of people turned out to learn about the architecture, culture and cuisine of nearly 40 countries with proceeds benefitting the school’s Foreign Language Club.)
BLJHS Literacy Night Explores Cryptid Folklore
Posted 2/26/2024 at 6:42:00 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Bigfoot. Mothman. The Loveland Frogman.
Communities throughout the Tri-State Area and the world have drawn interest with tales of mysterious creatures living among us, and Buckeye Local Jr. High School is spotlighting those stories during its literacy night festivities in March. “Folklore and Cryptids” will be featured on March 25 from 6-8 p.m. and the free event is open to the public.
Principal Jason Kovalski said the event offers something uniquely different and caps off a monthlong March Madness-type observance with activities for students.
“We’re doing something different this year because some teachers and I have an interest in cryptids such as Sasquatch, Mothman and the Loveland Frogman,” Kovalski said. “The students are going to be doing projects and researching six cryptids, plus there will be a guest speaker, displays and games for grades 7-8.”
He has been a longtime enthusiast, traveling throughout Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania to research Bigfoot, plus he is a Bigfoot Field Research Organization (BFRO) investigator.
“I have been doing research on Sasquatch for over 20 years. One of the teachers asked me to do a presentation for a class and the kids really liked it, so there is interest,” he added. “We’d also like to get people from the community to attend. We hope to draw interest in the students and the public.”
He is working with other BLJHS educators and said the topics will also include the Loch Ness Monster, Minerva Monster, Dover Demon, Chupacabra, Grafton Monster and Hopkinsville Goblins.
Science teacher Julie Kuchan has attended myriad area festivals for the Loveland Frogman, the Mothman of Point Pleasant, W.Va., and more.
“The Loveland Frogman was first spotted in the 1970s by cops in Loveland, Ohio, near Cincinnati who said it was a two-legged creature,” she said. “There was a second sighting in 2016 by kids playing Pokemon Go!”
She came up with the idea for the literacy night event and said English Literature Arts teachers will also provide activities for students, such as drawing the Loch Ness Monster and presentations. Kuchan added that the program aligns with state Language Arts standards. Meanwhile, the school will highlight March Madness with Cryptids starting March 1 and continue throughout the month, culminating with the literacy night event.
Contributions Growing for Disney Trip
Posted 2/6/2024 at 1:45:27 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Students planning to attend a culinary competition at Disney World this spring are getting an abundance of support through generous community contributions.
Teacher Luke Fabry and eight students from his Foods 2 class are planning to attend the Cook Around the World Competition at Disney World Epcot in Orlando on April 26-29. Participants receive a protein and ingredients and select a random envelope featuring a culture on which to base their dish. The contest gives high schoolers a chance to compete in a hands-on culinary experience and hear from representatives of top colleges and universities about career opportunities in the culinary and hospitality fields, plus they can learn and hear from top celebrity chefs. Judges include representatives from Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida and Valencia College in Orlando while professional chef Jet Tila is the celebrity mentor. The students will also attend a leadership seminar and spend their free time enjoying the parks and amenities.
The BLHS students have nearly reached their goal by conducting fundraisers both in-school and for the public and the most recent was a Jan. 21 soup dinner benefit which proved to be quite fruitful.
“The soup benefit was hugely successful and we made $1,600 in three hours,” Fabry said. “We raised $12,000 in four months.”
Other fundraisers included selling macaroni and cheese and pulled pork meals, making lunches for teachers and holding bake sales at the school. Donations have also been accepted and the community has been gracious, sending checks from $50 to $1,500 to help finance the journey. Fabry cited companies, churches, organizations and residents including the Hopewell United Methodist Church, Lamont and Esther McCoy, Roger and Margaret Warren, the Buckeye Ruritans, Wells Township Haunted House and Intex Services LLC and said more contributions were being accepted.
“We made a payment for the trip and are saving for transportation,” Fabry added. “We are also going to get kids things to remember the experience.”
Fabry said he always wanted to have students take part in competitions and field trips and the district administration has been very supportive. He hopes to attend the Florida contest every other year and provide other opportunities for his classes. He and his Food 2 students, which include seniors Samantha Ankrom, Kiarra Eastham, Skylar Ebright, Shayleigh Hornyak, Ryder Kinberg-Colabelli, Preston Lindsey and Nyja Short and junior Brennin Takach, are also sending thank-you letters to those who have contributed.
Eastham and Hornyak said they were thrilled to attend and would enjoy the event.
“I am very excited,” said Eastham. “I’m looking forward to the whole experience. I’m going to enjoy watching
“It’s definitely a great experience,” said Hornyak. “Our school never gets an opportunity to do this and it’s nice that we get to go.”
Anyone interested in donating for the trip may send a check payable to the Buckeye Local School District, in care of Luke Fabry, to Buckeye Local High School, 10692 State Route 150, Rayland, Ohio, 43943.
(Photo Caption: Buckeye Local High School seniors Kiarra Eastham, left, and Shayleigh Hornyak are among eight Foods 2 students attending the Cook Around the World competition at Disney World Epcot this April. The group has been holding fundraisers to make the trip and supporters have generously given to the cause. More moneymakers are being planned and donations are still being accepted at the school.)
BL’s Guthrie Earns Teacher Impact Award
Posted 2/5/2024 at 1:40:23 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
ADENA-Educators not only teach children about grammar, mathematics and the like, they also hope to motivate young minds and develop good stewards for the future.
For Danica Guthrie, a kindergarten teacher at Buckeye West Elementary, she has certainly served as an inspiration by gaining the 2024 Teacher Impact Award through the Lee Alexander West Spiritual (L.A.W.S.) Movement, which was founded by Cookie West in honor of her late son, Lee. Guthrie was among six people selected for the honor out of 144 nominations which were made by area high school students in grades 9-12.
She was nominated by Alexis Slie, her former student and a freshman at Buckeye Local High School, and took part in the annual ceremony on Jan. 31. Guthrie was touched to be recognized, especially by one of her past pupils.
“I am honored that a student would think so highly of me so many years later that they would write that I have made a positive impact in their lives,” she said. “Sometimes as teachers, we wonder if we matter to our students. Knowing that I made a difference with my students helps motivate me to do my best in the classroom.”
Guthrie, who resides near Mount Pleasant, has been teaching for the past 15 years and said she became an educator to help students grow and learn.
“Learning didn’t come easy for me when I was in school. When I decided to become a teacher, it was because I wanted students to enjoy being in school and to show all the tricks and strategies that helped me through the years,” she added. “I don’t feel that I have any special tools, but I focus on the basic skills, especially in the early years of school. I also feel that I have a lot of energy to bring to my classroom and making a connection to your students helps make your classroom successful.”
She graduated from Buckeye Local High School and earned her degree in early childhood education from Ohio University. Guthrie, who also has two children ages 2 and 4, also taught third grade before heading the kindergarten class and looks to inspire her young charges each and every day.
“One of my favorite things I learned to love about teaching is having your students see the way they grow over the years. This is something that you don’t learn until you have some time in the classroom. I miss most of my students after I have them in my class and it is so heartwarming when your previous students stop and talk to you the following school year. I love to hear how they like their classes, new friends and just anything they want to share. It is also really nice to see how they transform as they enter high school then college.”
West Elementary Principal Brian DiCola said Guthrie exemplifies the heart of a teacher.
“She is one of the best teachers I've worked with both here and in other districts. So, in a positive way, this award comes as no surprise. Her impact on her students is evident every day she's here, and the fact that she made a mark on a student still after all these years is a testament to her. She gets to know, empathizes with and values every single one of her students. She's one of the most compassionate, yet demanding teachers I've met and she fully deserves this honor,” DiCola commented.
“Mrs. Guthrie is our first elementary teacher we’ve honored over the years. When we realized she was an elementary teacher, it really blessed our hearts,” said Cookie West. “Alexis, a ninth grader, remembered the impact Mrs. Guthrie had made on her life. She submitted a powerful and eloquent nomination. Mrs. Guthrie said the night of the ceremony that she was wondering if she was ‘making an impact in her students' lives.’ She received her answer.”
L.A.W.S. began after Lee Alexander West passed away in 2012 and has since presented 61 awards to teachers, community members and first responders. More Teacher Impact Award winners this year included Christina Henderson, Amanda Coldebella, Jessie Clark and Samantha Fornsaglio while the Bay Six Project received the Village Impact Award and the Wintersville Fire and Rescue along with Chief Rob Herrington gained the Heart Award for first responders.
“It's our pleasure to share Lee's heart of service, love and honor with our award recipients,” West said. “We are excited to share his heart with our recipients each year.”
(Photo Caption: Buckeye West Elementary kindergarten teacher Danica Guthrie is pictured with former student Alexis Slie, who nominated her for the 2024 Teacher Impact Award through the Lee Alexander West Spiritual Movement, and L.A.W.S. founder Cookie West. Guthrie was among six educators selected from 144 nominations by area high schoolers and was recognized along with community groups and first responders on Jan. 31.)
Literacy Leads the Way at Buckeye South
Posted 1/26/2024 at 9:47:13 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
TILTONSVILLE-Literacy is leading the way at Buckeye South Elementary by promoting reading with a variety of activities.
The school has been raising funds to add a book vending machine for grades PreK-6 and is just shy of reaching the $6,300 goal. Principal Lori Roberts said sales and public contributions have been filling the till and donations are still being accepted. Hopes are to acquire the machine this year to distribute books for student birthdays to Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) rewards.
“Last year when we had our Scholastic Book Fair, we discussed getting a book vending machine,” Roberts said. “We have a community engagement committee that sent letters to organizations and companies in town.”
Those efforts drew $500 donations from the Yorkville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4811 and the Super C gas station in Smithfield, a $100 contribution from McDonald’s in Martins Ferry and $1,000 from MarkWest Energy. In addition, the school has held fundraisers by selling Smillows scented pillows, candygrams and lollipops and conducting penny wars.
“We’re pretty close and need $1,000,” Roberts continued, saying Buckeye Local High School teacher Dan Davis will help create a customized decorative wrap for the machine and about 220 new books will be supplied through points earned from the book fair.
Meanwhile, activities are set throughout the month to enhance literacy. Among them are a “Stop, Drop and Read” program, where students to take a break in class and read for a brief time, and a Mario Bros.-themed literacy night titled “Reading is Super!” on Feb. 29. Roberts said fifth-graders in the afterschool program have ventured down to the Tiltonsville Branch Library for field trips while library officials have also supported initiatives by attending open houses.
Another event is the unveiling of the “Little Libraries for Big Learners” project led by kindergarten teacher Jenny Potts to spread a love of reading both inside and outside the school. Potts received more than $600 through the Jefferson County Educational Service Center’s Best Practice Grant program to acquire small decorative boxes which will contain age-appropriate books in a sharing program. About 320 students as well as the community can benefit, and pupils can access books before and after school as well as during lunch or recess and designated title times, plus they can take, borrow and leave a book for another person to enjoy. Potts also plans to unveil the boxes with ribbon cuttings during the month and students and the public can easily access books.
“We are trying to promote literacy in the community,” she said. “We will have boxes on every floor of the building and outside, and you don’t have to buy a new book to love it.”
She has accepted donated books from students and the public and will also include coloring books with lessons on letters and words. Her hope is that all ages will gain a pleasure for prose.
Anyone interested in donating to the book vending machine project may make checks payable to the Buckeye South Elementary PTO, 100 Walden Ave., Tiltonsville, Ohio, 43963, while those wanting to donate a gently used book for the Little Libraries project may bring them to the building. For more information about either project, contact the school at (740) 859-2800.
(Photo Cutline: Kindergarteners Camryn Boughan, Easton Clutter and Kynleigh Kalman display one of the new Little Libraries for Big Learners boxes being added at Buckeye South Elementary in Tiltonsville, where the school is promoting literacy through a series of activities throughout February. The boxes will be available inside and outside the building for students and the public to access gently used literature for free in a shared format while a fundraiser is underway to acquire a book vending machine to reward new prose as prizes. In addition, reading activities and a literacy night are also being planned.)
International Culture Fair is “Preserving the Past”
Posted 1/19/2024 at 11:26:57 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local High School’s Foreign Language Club is taking a look back as it prepares for the 19th Annual International Culture Fair.
This year’s event, which is themed “Preserving the Past,” is set for Feb. 22 from 5-8 p.m. and will include plenty of food and festivities. Bonnie Soos, who shares co-advisory duties with Savana Granat, said admission is free but food-tasting tickets will be sold for 25 cents each to sample fare from around the world.
Tables will dot the commons area featuring exhibits from the Americas and Europe to Asia and beyond, while students will provide ethnic dishes based upon the countries they represent. The food tasting will occur from 5-7 p.m. followed by a theatrical performance in the theater at 8 p.m.
“Our Foreign Language club officers chose the theme because they love history,” Soos explained. “There will be food tasting and cultural displays from 40 different countries, live international music by Jason Garczyk, children’s activities, theatrical performances and a 50-50 raffle.”
She continued that about 100 club members will participate by creating the displays, dressing as historical figures and working at the fair.
“Each group is asked to construct a historical landmark that represents their country and the public will be judging their favorite structure, along with their favorite display and international cuisine.”
Proceeds from the food tasting and raffle support field trips and cultural events for the student organization. The fair has drawn hundreds of people each year, and hopefully the upcoming festivities will include a similar response.
“This is such a huge community event and there’s definitely a few hundred people in attendance. It gets bigger each year and there is a constant line at the door.”
Soos concluded that the event has been held for nearly two decades and organizers were thankful for the ongoing support.
“I, along with my former colleagues, began it in 2005 and I am very proud of what it has become. It is a BLHS tradition,” she said. “I thank the community for their constant support over the years. I, along with my co-worker/co-advisor, Savana Granat, are very excited to see how this year's fair takes shape. Our club members do an amazing job every year. We love their enthusiasm, creativity and their passion towards culture.”
BLBOE Organizes for Year
Posted 1/11/2024 at 9:49:23 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-The Buckeye Local Board of Education regrouped and took official action during its first meeting of 2024.
Ashley West was re-elected president with Teresa George named vice president during the organizational session and the board approved various operational policies to run the district. A series of actions were taken during the subsequent regular session, which primarily included approving personnel.
Among employment matters, the board approved classified contracts with bus driver Gary Lucas obtaining a one-year pact for the district and maintenance worker Jackson Otto and aide Samantha Yanik receiving continuing contracts for the district and Buckeye North Elementary, respectively. Resolutions were also approved to hire Karen Barcus, Brooklynn Miller, Greta Gazda-Roe and Hailee Nelson as long-term substitute teachers for additional subsequent semester for the second semester of the 2023-24 school year, as well as to employ Jason Merryman as head cross country coach and Sam Jones as head golf coach at Buckeye Local High School.
Superintendent Coy Sudvary then honored officials for School Board Recognition Month for January and said the Ohio School Boards Association had certificates of appreciation for members. Nutrition, Inc. also provided dinner for members that evening and Sudvary lauded the leaders for their work.
“We appreciate your time and sacrifices for the students at Buckeye Local,” he said. “It’s a breath of fresh air to have a board that supports the staff, students and administration, so we appreciate you.”
He also recognized December Employees of the Month including Luke Fabry at BLHS, Bob Fetty at Buckeye Local Jr. High, Lindsey Breon at Buckeye North, Cindy Dompa at Buckeye South and Rebecca Donley at Buckeye West. He further announced no school on Jan. 15 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Feb. 19 for President’s Day, parent-teacher conferences on Jan. 18 at BLJSHS at 3:30-7 p.m. and the elementary schools from 4:30-8 p.m. and report cards on Jan. 20; said a District Leadership Team session was moved to Feb. 20; and announced that teachers and administrators would be attending the Ohio Tech Conference for the first time in years to learn about advancements in the classroom and other technology.
Meanwhile, district Maintenance and Safety Director Tony Panepucci that paintwork was underway at the district office with plans set for the board room. He also added that several line breaks occurred over Christmas break which were likely linked to the Tri-County Water System’s line break, but they were repaired. Panepucci then announced a safety meeting was set for Jan. 24 at 2:30 p.m. at the building, weather permitting.
Board member Melissa Supanik then asked if the new cement added at school buildings would be damaged by the use of salt to treat ice during the winter. Panepucci responded that the material was an eco-friendly mix and it should not affect it.
--The board thanked Wells Township road crew and ABC Lawn Care for transporting and spreading mulch around the playground areas at South Elementary;
--Officials touted third-graders at South who were selected to be published in this spring’s “Spooky Sagas” book;
--Buckeye Local Classroom Teachers Association President Gen Varkony said the organization received a wellness grant from the Eastern Ohio Education Association. She added that the BLCTA will also give two scholarships to graduates this year, including one for education majors and another for the grandchild of a past or current member;
--Sudvary asked for thoughts and prayers for the family of volunteer bowling coach James Lish, who recently passed away;
--The board held an executive session on personnel and legal matters with no action officially taken;
--The next regular meeting was reset for Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the district office.
(Photo Caption: The Buckeye Local Board of Education regrouped for 2024 and named Ashley West and Teresa George as president and vice president for the year. Officials conducted a brief organizational meeting followed by a regular session to approve items for operation over the 2023-24 school term, plus leaders were honored for School Board Recognition Month for January. Pictured are, front from left, Teresa George and Ashley West. Back: Brooke Stingle, Clint Powell and Melissa Supanik.)
Elementary Programs Gaining Momentum
Posted 12/28/2023 at 12:27:54 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Students are taking advantage of before-and-after school programs at Buckeye Local’s three elementary buildings with plans eyed to create another session this summer.
School board members met on Monday and heard from Dr. Susan Bachmann, program manager for the district, who updated officials on the status of activities at Buckeye North, South and West after the district received the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Learning Grant this past year. Buckeye Local was among 142 applicants that was awarded with North in Brilliant and West in Adena each gaining $100,000 and South in Tiltonsville gaining $185,000. Programs run from October to April from 8-8:30 a.m. and again from 3:30-6 p.m., but officials are looking to add another in June.
Dr. Bachmann shared attendance numbers, saying West and North each had an average of 30 students taking part while South yielded about 40-50 pupils. She added that the sessions include physical fitness, interventions for reading and math and instructional time on various topics while dinner was provided at the afterschool session. Students also have homework help, technology to complete classwork plus social-emotional and character development lessons. Additionally, the program is being funded for the next five years with the amount decreasing annually.
Among other action, the board:
--Conducted an executive session on property matters with no action taken;
--Passed a resolution for the treasurer to purchase an employee dishonesty and faithful performance of duty policy through the Ohio School Plan to provide coverage for those school officers, employees, or appointees who are otherwise required by law to acquire a surety bond before entering upon the discharge of public duties;
--Authorized the district to participate in the 2023-2024 Close-Up Foundation Program to be held March 3-8, 2024. The board would agree to sponsor two Buckeye Local students;
--Approved an overseas trip for foreign language students to Spain on March 21-28 and an overnight trip to Disney World on April 26-29 for students to participate in an international culinary contest;
--Accepted the resignation of Tori Luyster as a volunteer softball coach; approved one-year classified contracts for secretary Amanda Price and aide Ashlyn Haught, both at North; hired Katie Rogers as long-term substitute teacher for the second semester of the 2023-24 school year; approved pupil activity contracts to Joe Soos and Stevie Roberts, co-freshman boys’ basketball coaches at BLHS and Abbey Otto Wilson, head volleyball coach at BLHS;
--Named Melissa Supanik as president pro tempore for the organizational meeting on Jan. 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the district office.
“Ambitious Abbey” Returns to Buckeye West
Posted 12/4/2023 at 10:15:34 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
ADENA-Local author Abbey Duplaga made a return to Buckeye West Elementary in Adena to read her latest tale, “Ambitious Abbey Gets Organized.”
Duplaga, a St. Clairsville native who now resides in Bridgeport, delighted youngsters with the story of her childhood self as she is inspired—and inspires others—to spruce up their lives with some simple cleaning efforts. Little Abbey decides to tidy up her room one day and leads her parents and siblings to do the same.
“The book is based on the trait of responsibility,” she explained. “A lot of times we lead by our actions, and just by being responsible and doing what we’re supposed to do...it inspires people.”
“Ambitious Abbey Gets Organized” is the fourth in her planned 10-book, rhyme-style series, and she said each one is both fun and educational.
“I feel like there are so many active kids’ minds and these stories bring virtues, morals and character back to them,” she explained. “I was led by the Lord to bring character building the kids.”
Duplaga served as a public accountant for a decade when she was driven to write children’s stories through some divine intervention. She took that leap of faith and for the past six years has generated four tomes that also include the eponymously named “Ambitious Abbey,” “Ambitious Abbey Tries Again” and “Ambitious Abbey Takes the Lead.” She has also traveled around Ohio and West Virginia to as far as Deleware and North Carolina to share her stories and their morals.
She completed her reading with a question-and-answer session with the students and noted examples of being responsible, such as being nicer to other kids, performing school work and doing chores at home. One student asked how long it took to complete a book and Duplaga replied between 2 ½ to 4 ½ hours. She continued that the characters were based on herself and her family and readers will see their continuity in future publications.
Some exciting news may be coming down the pike with “Ambitious Abbey” becoming an animated series as Duplaga said her illustrator is looking to develop a show, but that is a future goal. For now, the writer is working on her next 32-page tale that is due in 2025.
“It’s called ‘Ambitious Abbey and the Balancing Act’ and is about juggling activities such as sports, gymnastics and school. She has to decide which activity she would continue doing,” Duplaga commented. “I just [write] to pour out love on pages.”
Meanwhile, students had an opportunity to purchase copies of her books during the visit. They can also be found at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart.com and at ambitiousabbey.com.
(Photo Caption: Local children’s author Abbey Duplaga delighted students at Buckeye West Elementary with the latest installment in her “Ambitious Abbey” series, returning to the school to read “Ambitious Abbey Gets Organized.” Students also took part in a question-and-answer session and had a chance to purchase some of her books during the visit.)
West Elementary Giving Meals to Families
Posted 11/15/2023 at 1:48:17 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
ADENA-Buckeye West Elementary School is doing its part to fill the tables of local families this Thanksgiving by gathering items for its second-annual holiday food drive.
The school began collecting non-perishable goods and will provide turkeys with all the trimmings to some its own families this holiday. School nurse Mandi Cook is spearheading the effort and said meals will be distributed prior to Thanksgiving break.
“We started on Nov. 2 and will continue until the 17th,” Cook said. “We want to be able to provide for 20 families. It went really well last year and it’s something we discussed doing yearly.”
Turkeys were also donated while the children were tasked with bringing boxed and packaged foods. Preschoolers were responsible for canned fruit, kindergarten collecting muffin or cornbread mix, first-grade in charge of gravy packets, second-graders gathering noodles, third-graders collecting cranberry sauce, fourth-graders handling stuffing, fifth-graders bringing macaroni and cheese and sixth-graders overseeing boxed desserts, canned pie filling and boxed pie crusts. Officials said the goal was to ensure all of the families have a meal to share together for Thanksgiving, and to make it extra fun the classes have an incentive to raise the most food items. Cook said the one with the highest amount will earn an ice cream party, but the real reward is simply giving back to the community.
“[The purpose] is to be able to provide a meal for the families so all of us can enjoy one on Thanksgiving. It does benefit all of the families from this elementary school,” she noted.
The meals will be distributed to families on Nov. 20 and 21, and for those who cannot collect them at the school Cook and Principal Brian DiCola will deliver the boxes to their homes.
DiCola said a few extra households will be helped since last year but the school was excited to make a difference.
“We have a couple more families this year and we try to take care of everybody,” he concluded.
(Photo Caption: Buckeye West Elementary School in Adena is helping its own by holding a Thanksgiving food drive for 20 families this holiday. Turkey and all the trimmings are being donated to help those within the school community and classes are racing to gather the most goods to win an ice cream party, but the real reward is simply to give back. Pictured with some of the items are, front from left, Lukas Stoltey, Remington Fellure, Maverick Opic and Ma’leek Smith. Middle: Mia Kovalski, Sammie Jo Foldi and Rylee Becker. Back: Principal Brian DiCola, Isabella Glauser, school nurse Mandi Cook and Robert Glauser.)
DARE Program Keeps Kids on Track
Posted 10/20/2023 at 11:53:04 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Each week, Wells Township Police Chief Sean Norman steps into classrooms at Buckeye Local Schools and dons a different title, that of DARE officer.
He has been speaking to second-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders at Buckeye North in Brilliant and eighth-graders at Buckeye Local Jr. High School in Connorville for nearly two decades, and even though the audiences have changed the message has remained the same: making good decisions and having a good character. Chief Norman spends his Tuesdays at North for a 10-week period and Thursdays at the junior high for the entire year and delivers age-appropriate programs designed to help kids stay on the right path.
DARE stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, but Chief Norman applies real-life scenarios to a wide variety of topics. His most recent session on BLJHS dealt with communication and conflict and one story centered on peer pressure to drink alcohol and more topics range from taking risks to what people believe is happening versus the truth. He also identified a decision-making model that includes defining or describing a situation, assessing choices, responding with a strategy and evaluating what happened and if the strategy worked.
“We’re asking them to make split-second decisions and they need to practice and learn. It doesn’t help to tell them to be assertive without giving them the teaching tools to do so,” he said. “Every single action has a consequence and they can control them.”
Chief Norman delves into different topics with the various grades and builds upon them throughout the sessions.
“The lessons are all age-appropriate and I will work with second-graders on good touch and bad touch, the buddy system and stranger danger. Fourth-grade discusses safety and fifth-grade has a lesson on over-the-counter prescription medication and reading drug facts. Sixth-grade classes are more interactive.”
He has been providing the program since around 2005 and said the goal is to build character and make good choices.
“They are really getting it and they understand. They are learning and using what they are learning,” he added. “It’s not math, science or social studies, but they are getting it.”
Several eighth-graders said they liked working with him and have been learning a lot from the sessions.
“It’s fun. I’m learning a bunch of stuff,” said James Yoho.
“He is fun and it’s very helpful,” added Jacob Piatt.
“He jokes with us and interacts with us,” added Brooke Driscoll.
“He jokes with us but we actually learn a lot,” commented Allee Polanski.
Meanwhile, Chief Norman said he has enjoyed leading the program and it would not be successful without the support of the teachers.
“I’m stepping into their world, so their guidance throughout the years has been crucial.”
(Photo Caption: Wells Township Police Chief Sean Norman has spent nearly two decades as DARE officer for the Buckeye Local School District and makes weekly visits to Buckeye North Elementary and Buckeye Local Jr. High School, where he addresses students about making good choices in life and avoiding drugs. He is pictured during one of his sessions with eighth-graders at BLJHS.)
BLBOE Talks Pact, Projects
Posted 9/25/2023 at 10:30:17 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-A recent agreement with its teachers’ union and upcoming projects topped the most recent Buckeye Local Board of Education meeting on Sept. 18.
Gen Varkony, president of the Buckeye Local Classroom Teachers Association, thanked the board for approving the pact with the union during a Sept. 7 special session. The board had passed the plan, which included some pay increases to meet a state law change mandating a $35,000 minimum teachers’ salary that was included in H.B. 33, the state biennial budget.
Superintendent Coy Sudvary said the change impacted 21 employees’ steps on the district salary schedule, but teachers who were not affected received a comparable increase in their step as well. The change was effective for the 2023-24 year.
“We complied with state standards and have taken steps to make sure it was corrected,” Sudvary added. “This has been an issue in other districts, as well.”
In other business:
--District Maintenance Supervisor Tony Panepucci updated officials on work on the sewer plant at the high school to replace a majority of the functions over the next week. Panepucci also hoped to see repairs begin soon on the mechanical systems of bleachers in the Panther gym;
--Resolutions were passed in personnel matters to employ Courtney Miller as a part-time teacher and Stephanie Waggoner as a teacher on one-year limited contracts; to correct a measure reflecting the supplemental duty of Sam Jones as Bowling Club co-advisor; to name 21st Century Grant After School Program Site Coordinators Amy McCutcheon at Buckeye North Elementary, Kelley Novak at South and Julie Packer at West; to employ returning substitutes Sarah Lewton and Johni Miller as educational aides and Franki McNeil as a cook/educational aide; add new substitutes Jenna Carpenter and Amanda Dickey as cooks/educational aides/secretaries, Stefanie Lindsay as an educational aide and Carrie Smith as a cook; to give supplemental duties to Jason Merryman as assistant boys’ and girls’ track coach at Buckeye Local Jr. High, Amanda Gruber as sophomore class advisor, Hannah Shaheen as freshman class advisor and Ryan Ighnat as academic challenge advisor at BLHS; to employ Gary Dulkoski as eighth-grade girls’ basketball coach and Amanda Polanski as seventh-grade girls’ basketball coach at BLJHS; Jim Lish, volunteer bowling coach; Jabari Williams, assistant boys’ track coach; Albert Stock, assistant girls’ track coach; Timothy Jacob and Luke Vinci, assistant baseball coaches; J.D. Barath, Alan Burkett and Matthew Scott, volunteer baseball coaches; Joe Soos and Brooklynn Miller and Amanda Polanski, assistant softball coaches; and Tori Luyster and Trevor Zanes, volunteer softball coaches, all at BLHS. Officials also accepted resignations from teacher Lauren Neer and junior high girls’ basketball coach Gary Dulkowski, as well as the retirement of longtime teacher Robert Fetty Jr. effective May 31, 2024. Sudvary thanked Fetty for his service and said he has been an integral part of the school community;
--District Treasurer Merri Matthews reported that a new condensing unit would be purchased for South Elementary, which has faced issues with its walk-in freezer;
--The board approved permanent appropriations for Fiscal Year 2024;
--The board approved an agreement with the Jefferson County Juvenile Court School Liaison Program from Sept. 1, 2023, to Aug. 31, 2024;
--The second reading was approved on a series of board policies;
--The board mentioned the involvement of the BLHS Marching Band and Buckeye North students at the Wellsburg Bridge dedication on Sept. 20, with Sudvary calling it a “once-in-a-lifetime” event;
--Officials recognized 2023 Homecoming Court members Sam Ankrom, Pam Kandrach, Lizzie Stock, Tessah Zeroski, Brynn McKeever, Shayleigh Hornyak, Carson Basich, Nathan Long, Noah Jock, A.J. Devore, Ryder Colabelli and Skyler Ebright. The king will be crowned during the powder puff game on Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium with the queen to be named at the homecoming game on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. The dance is scheduled for Sept. 30 at the high school.
BL Staff Undergoes Safety Training
Posted 8/24/2023 at 10:41:53 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE- Faculty and staff members in the Buckeye Local School District underwent safety training as they prepared for the new school year.
About 135 employees from throughout the district got an overview of the new SaferWatch program, learned maneuvers as part of the ALICE initiative and gained insight on deescalating situations as part of their professional development session at Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School on Monday. Jefferson County 911 Director Rob Herrington shared details about the SaferWatch initiative that allows the 911 center to access school cameras and locate an intruder. It also provides an app that teachers can download with a panic button for fires or other emergencies.
Herrington described the app and a wearable fob that instantly notifies 911. He tested the app, which sent an alert of an “active incident” at Buckeye Local to 911 within seconds. Herrington added that SaferWatch helps provide real-time intelligence to responders that is critical when rendering aid.
“Our goal is to get somebody to you as quickly as we can,” Herrington said. “There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work to be prepared. We’re going to test the response to every school this year...and we’re going to be constantly working on this.”
He explained that with the press of a button, officials can get an accurate pinpoint of where the emergency is. Safety forces have maps of all the schools and have coordinates of cameras in the buildings.
“The way we’re going to work is we’re going to have 1,500 cameras streaming to the school. There will be an activation, and if there is an emergency we’ll make your cameras hot at 911. It’s important for law enforcement to have information, so streams will be sent [to them] when there is an incident.”
Herrington clarified that the cameras will only record during actual emergencies. Meanwhile, officials were looking at cell service issues to improve communication and a class roster to track students during evacuations.
“Our goal is to be ready for this school year,” he concluded. “We are the first county in Ohio to do this.”
Next, Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr. refreshed veteran teachers and informed new staff about the ALICE method, which stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate, to respond to active intruders. It involves alerting people to an active intruder, locking down the facility, properly informing in real time, countering the attacker with barricades, distractions and fighting back and evacuating the premises, if possible. He also stressed situational awareness and outlined the Cooper Color Code of Awareness with white, yellow, orange, red and black to denote levels. White signifies one who is oblivious to their environment; yellow is relaxed and alert; orange is prepared to take action; red is one who responds to a dangerous situation; and black is someone who is stressed and not prepared.
“We want you to keep repeating and repeating this training. The more we do it, the more it will become ingrained as an instinct,” he said. “We will also do Stop The Bleed trainings and SaferWatch is important to have. We want to get into the younger classrooms with elementary kids and teach them in a way they can understand.”
He said the growing number of incidents across the nation has sparked the need for more preparedness.
“This is everyday life. Everyday across this country there are active shootings in schools and in the workplace.”
He said teachers also should be vigilant of behaviors and to reach out to the SRO and law enforcement with concerns about students. Help could be rendered sooner and deescalate a potentially violent situation. The sheriff followed up the lesson with several scenarios in which faculty and staff barricaded themselves inside of classrooms or evacuated at the report of an intruder. He and Deputy Rodney Roe, school resource officer, then checked the rooms and advised the groups of how they can improve upon their methods.
Rounding out the day was a session on deescalating situations by helping students with disruptive behaviors calm down and deter violence. Kristen Robinson and Bre Long of Kendall Behavioral Solutions of Martins Ferry led a discussion on how to diffuse situations through a “Help, Prompt and Wait” approach. The Help approach is effective when the agitated person may be expressing a need or want and something can be given within reason; the Prompt strategy is enforced by requesting a specific alternative to the challenging behavior, such as taking a walk or slow breaths; and the Wait strategy monitors the situation and gives the person time to settle. The strategies may be flexible and interchanged to achieve the appropriate result.
Common factors affecting behavior include development and lifespan, which includes children learning how to meet basic needs, adolescents adapting to physical changes, increased cognitive ability and onset of puberty, adults having the greatest chance of independence and seniors experiencing a transition to lessened independence due to changes in memory, mobility and more; psychiatric, neurological, medical and physical conditions; traumatic experiences; social learning and identity factors; and strengths and limitations from cognition and sensory to communication and self-management. Robinson explained the “ABC’s of Behavior,” citing the antecedent (whatever happens before the behavior), the behavior (what the person does) and the consequence (what happens after the behavior).
She said a consequence that results in something the person likes or wants can result in a reinforcement, which can include praise, an activity or a snack or tangible reward. Robinson also cited techniques for staff behavior when dealing with a challenge. Communicating respectfully, clearly and in a positive manner is a plus, while listening to the student and using confident physical behavior and a safety stance were also recommended. Those who continue to struggle with the situation may also step away and let another adult handle the situation.
“In most cases, de-escalation is most effective when done as early as possible,” she said.
At the conclusion, district leaders said the safety lessons were important to maintain a secure school environment.
“We’ve got a lot of things planned for the school year,” said district Safety Coordinator Tony Panepucci. “We are talking with agencies about types of trainings. I think everybody’s been receptive to trainings and unfortunately [school violence] is a common thing you see in the news. I don’t know if we can be fully prepared, but we will be as prepared as we can be. I think we’ve stepped up our emphasis on safety.”
“Today was to welcome everyone back and to keep in mind that the safety of students is the first priority,” said Superintendent Coy Sudvary.
(Photo Caption: About 135 faculty and staff members underwent safety training at Buckeye Local High School on Monday, where they learned about SaferWatch, ALICE and de-escalation methods. Pictured is Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr. reviewing a barricaded classroom during a scenario.)
Supanik Joins BLBOE
Posted 8/23/2023 at 3:08:16 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Superintendent Coy Sudvary held his first official meeting with the Buckeye Local School Board of Education on Monday, but a new board member was also added following the appointment longtime educator Melissa Supanik.
Supanik, of Tiltonsville, was named during the Aug. 21 session to fulfill the remaining term of Greg Glover, who was absent from the session but cited personal reasons for his departure in an official resignation letter. Following a brief executive session, the board accepted his resignation and appointed Supanik to complete the term ending this Dec. 31.
BLBOE President Ashley West said it was only fitting since Supanik was running for Glover’s vacant seat in the Nov. 7 general election
“We decided it was in the best interest of the district to appoint Melissa Supanik to occupy the seat for the remainder of the term,” West said. “We’re excited about having her expertise on the board. She was running in the fall and it made sense to bring her on. She’ll be sworn in at the next meeting.”
West also thanked Glover, who served for one term on the school board, for his service and wished him well.
For her part, Supanik retired after more than three decades as a teacher and administrator for Buckeye Local Schools but said she was excited to serve in a different capacity.
“I have spent 35 years in the district and this is a continuation of my background,” she said. “I retired in May. All my life, I’ve been in Buckeye Local.”
She attended district schools and later served as a handicapped preschool, Title I reading and technology teacher at Buckeye North, South and West Elementary, plus she was principal at West for three years and South for one year between 2007-12. Supanik has also lived in the area with her husband Bob and two stepchildren, Charlie and Bobby, and now enjoys time with her grandson, Kade. But she also sees returning to the district as a thrilling opportunity to bring her experience to the table.
“I felt I could bring my experience to the board from the other side as a teacher. I just want to make sure Buckeye Local’s the best it can be. I feel under the leadership we have, we can go places.”
Supanik is expected to be sworn in prior to the next school board meeting on Sept. 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the district office in Dillonvale. Her name remains on the fall ballot along with incumbent Teresa George, who is running unopposed for her board seat, to fill a four-year term starting Jan. 1.
Among other matters:
--The board addressed concerns with a dilapidated structure at the Buckeye North campus that was part of property recently acquired by Wells Township. District Treasurer Merri Matthews said the township had plans to utilize a former bus garage that has fallen into disrepair, although the sales contract included the removal of the structure. She, Sudvary and North Elementary Principal Susan Nolan all agreed it was in poor condition and should be razed. Matthews said she had spoken with township officials and the district’s attorney would reach out to the township’s counsel about enforcing the contract with the board’s approval. The board later agreed to proceed;
--Matthews announced a negotiating team meeting with the Buckeye Local Classroom Teachers Association on Aug. 30 at the district office;
--Personnel matters were approved with the resignations of teacher Miranda Wesley and bus driver and supplemental bus coordinator Lori Vinci, the latter who became district transportation supervisor; the re-employment of Stephanie Waggoner and Angelee Kokosinski; the employment of long-term substitute teachers Karen Barcus, Cheryl DeYarmon, Brooklynn Miller, Hailee Nelson, Allison Trekal and Greta Gazda-Roe as long-term substitute teachers, bus driver Gary Lucas and Beth Petrosino as district supplemental bus coordinator; the continuing contract of custodian Danny McComb; cooks Angela Taylor and Brian Young, custodians Dustin Jarvis, Mark Olenar, Dominic Panepucci and Leroy Strupe, educational aides Emily Beck, Danielle DaGrava and Kelly Sutphin and educational aide/secretary Caryn Porter as returning substitutes; cook and educational aides Rachel Blower and Rene Fields, cooks Paula Brown, Stephanie Lindsay, Heather Mullins, Carol Nestor and Michelle Steffik and cook, educational aide and secretary Jordan Brookins; and supplemental duties for Donald Yeager for head girls’ track coach at BLHS, Lucas Fabry as assistant bowling coach at BLHS and Bowling Club co-advisor at BLJHS, Katie Beeman as assistant girls’ basketball coach at BLHS, Stephanie Sliva as volunteer girls’ basketball coach and Alonna Morrison as National Honor Society advisor at BLHS; am Jackson Otto as assistant wrestling coach at BLHS, Joe Soos as assistant boys’ basketball coach at BLHS and Richard Bolock II as volunteer football coach at BLJHS;
--Officials also approved the retirement of cook Toni Fillippi, with Sudvary thanking her for her many years of service to the students and staff of Buckeye Local Schools. She was wished the best in her endeavors;
--The board named West as a delegate and Brooke Stingle as alternate to serve the district at the annual Ohio School Boards Association in November;
--Leaders congratulated Susan Nolan for the successful Back-to-School Bash, recognized Kaitlyn Merkel as the Jefferson County Fair Queen, lauded students involved in the fair program and wished everyone good luck in the new school year.
Autism Unit Started at Buckeye Local
Posted 8/11/2023 at 12:38:25 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Buckeye Local students with autism have a learning space for themselves with the formation of a new unit at Buckeye North Elementary.
A classroom and sensory room have been created in the Brilliant building and eight pupils will obtain their education while remaining within the district. Julie Packer, district director of preschool, special education and student services, said it was a matter of fulfilling a growing need.
“We are opening an autism unit, and because of a special education law we can only hold eight kids and it’s already full. There is a high need for it right now,” Packer said. “It was my first big project [since taking the district post last year]. There aren’t enough facilities in our area to service the kids we have.”
The facility is staffed with teacher Stephanie Sliva and three aides and the sensory room offers swings, sensory tubs, a relaxation corner, a music and movement corner and tactile sensory items to desensitize affected students. She added that the items can be swapped out at any time for more individualized care and the program is being funded through the district. An open house was recently held to showcase the site and Packer hopes to enhance the program at the high school and two other elementary schools.
“Our goal is to have enough units available to deescalate and reinvigorate those students. I’m very excited about it,” Packer concluded. “I’m looking forward to expanding to the junior-senior high school and adding more units in the future. It will require more trained staff to make it the best possible for the kids.”
(Photo Cutline: A new autism unit has been established at Buckeye North Elementary where students can obtain their education while also providing a sensory room complete with swings, a relaxation corner, tactile sensory items and other equipment for individualized care. Julie Packer, district director of preschool, special education and student services, said the site will fill a growing need within Buckeye Local Schools and plans are to expand the program in the future.)
Vinci Takes the Wheel as Supervisor
Posted 8/3/2023 at 9:39:10 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Longtime bus driver Lori Vinci is taking the wheel as the new transportation supervisor for Buckeye Local Schools.
Vinci, of Bloomingdale, began her duties on Aug. 1 and will celebrate 31 years with the district this October. She has driven hundreds of students in grades K-12 during her tenure, including Buckeye Local, Jefferson County Joint Vocational School or area Catholic and Christian school attendants, and while she was ecstatic about taking this next step she said it also was a bit bittersweet.
“I’ve loved driving the bus and it was the best decision I ever made. The hardest part was known I would be leaving the kids,” she said. “The bus kids were my kids. I had a lot of special needs kids with autism and watched them grow into the people they are.”
Vinci said the job combined her love of kids and an enjoyment for driving and she gained more knowledge about routes and operations through the years. She most recently helped as trip coordinator under the administration of Superintendent Scott Celestin.
“Scott was retiring and I helped him for the last several years with runs, new students and as trip coordinator. I applied for this position and was hired in June.”
Until recently, transportation fell under the umbrella of Celestin’s duties. Now that it is a separate position once again, Vinci wants to put her sole focus on ways to efficiently run the department, which includes about 16 drivers and a fleet of 20 vehicles that cover 128 square miles and transport an estimated 1,470 students. She said one plan is to refine routes for smoother operations.
“I’m looking forward to riding the routes and refining them and getting things back on track,” she said. “It will be a great year and we have a good staff, and I want to do my best for the district and the kids.”
(Photo Cutline: Longtime bus driver Lori Vinci is taking the wheel as the new transportation supervisor at Buckeye Local Schools. Among her hopes are to make the department operate more efficiently by refining bus routes and other areas.)
Sudvary Begins New Role as BL Superintendent
Posted 8/2/2023 at 9:56:53 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Coy Sudvary officially began his first day as the new superintendent in the Buckeye Local School District on Aug. 1, but for him it is familiar territory.
Sudvary received a one-year contract to head the district and spent time in July working with Superintendent Scott Celestin to become acclimated during the transitional period, but he is already knowledgeable about the facilities and many staff members since he is a Panther alum and worked in the district for 18 years. That aspect gives him a distinct advantage into filling the role.
“It feels great. It’s very exciting and I’ve felt so grateful to transition from principal to superintendent,” he said. “I worked with Scott Celestin for 10 days in July and he’s been very helpful throughout my career and during my transition.”
The Rayland native graduated from BLHS in 1995 and earned a history degree from Franciscan University, then he received his master’s in administration from Salem International University. He was a student teacher and long-term substitute at Buckeye Local and then taught history at the high school beginning in the Fall of 2001. He was later employed at Buckeye North Middle School but returned to BLHS, where he also coached junior high and varsity basketball plus junior high football and track and went on to become the assistant principal and principal. Sudvary moved on as principal of Wellsville High School, where he was employed for the past four years, and has resided in Steubenville with his wife, Jessica, and their three daughters, Arabel, Leila and Sylvia.
Now that he has returned, Sudvary hopes to observe and familiarize himself with the district and make any necessary improvements over time. He said he has been in talks with school officials about future projects but wants to be fiscally responsible with district funds.
“There are a lot of exciting things happening now. We have renovation projects going on [that began under Celestin’s administration] and we’ve had conversations about improving facilities, but we need to do some strategic planning and prioritize improvements in the buildings,” he commented. “I’m also getting up to speed on programs and staffing.”
Current updates range from bathrooms, a pyramid roof and gym floor at the high school to the removal of the preschool modular buildings at Buckeye West Elementary with the incorporation of those classes inside the main building, in addition to concrete repairs and replacement at North and South Elementary. His experience with technology led to high-tech upgrades while he led BLHS and he hopes to eventually provide more STEM education in grades K-12 and professional development to incorporate the teaching staff. Meanwhile, he praised the maintenance staff for their diligence in preparing the sites for the first day of classes on Aug. 24 and said professional development days are scheduled for Aug. 21-23 for further district organization. Sudvary noted that school staffing has been mostly filled but there is always a need for substitute teachers, custodians, secretaries and other employees and anyone interested may contact Jelene Creamer at the district office at (740) 769-7395.
Sudvary said he was pleased to be back at Buckeye Local and it feels like home in many ways.
“I spent 18 years here and there are a lot of familiar faces and good people doing good things. I’m excited for the opportunity to be superintendent,” he continued. “I want to be there as a support mechanism for the staff and students and also make sure we are being accountable. [Celestin] got the district moving in a positive direction and I want to carry that forward.”
(Photo Caption: Coy Sudvary has returned to Buckeye Local Schools in a new role as superintendent and is getting acclimated to the inner workings of the district. The former teacher and high school principal said he is glad to be back and hopes to keep moving the district in a positive direction.)
Vendors Sought for BL Bash
Posted 6/27/2023 at 1:13:32 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-School may be out for summer, but the Buckeye Local School District is already looking ahead with the annual Back to School Bash in August.
This year’s fete is set for Aug. 6 from 3-5 p.m. at Buckeye Local High School and chairperson Susan Nolan, who serves as principal at Buckeye North Elementary, said letters have been sent throughout the community seeking interest in vendors while donations of money, door prizes and school supplies are also being accepted.
“I have about 10 [vendors] on the list but we just started getting the ball rolling,” Nolan said. “I have mailed out about 130 letters. The purpose of the bash is to provide students and families school supplies to start the year off right. It also promotes the exposure of activities and items available to students.”
Vendors are invited to have a table or booth and provide activities or free information about their organization or business. The cost is $10 if they bring a table or $15 if one must be supplied for them, and participants are also asked to donate a door prize for the event.
The bash focuses on education, health, wellness and safety and also has featured music from the BLHS Marching Band to a dunking booth. It made its return last August following a two-year hiatus during the COVID pandemic and attracted hundreds of people to enjoy free items, treats, face painting, prize drawings and emergency vehicle displays by local safety forces, plus attendants purchased goods from crafts to jewelry and met teachers and principals from Buckeye North, South and West Elementary, Buckeye Local Jr. High, BLHS as well as district leaders.
Nolan said the bash has been held for more than a decade and organizers try to add something different each year.
“We are trying to incorporate a few new things but plan on having free haircuts and an ice cream stand and McDonald’s is going to have a table,” she added. “We usually have about 25 to 40 tables and vendors range from churches and school organizations to outside agencies, plus we’ve had about 400-600 students with parents, family and friends attending as well.”
She was grateful to those who have backed the bash and the students through the years.
“We appreciate all that they do to support the Buckeye Local School District,” she added.
Contact Nolan by July 10 to reserve a spot, mail in donations or arrange for items to be collected at their business. Checks should be made payable to the Buckeye Local School District and mailed to Jelene Creamer at the district office at 6899 State Highway 150, Dillonvale, Ohio, 43917. For more information, contact Nolan at (740) 381-0517.
BLJHS Adds Outdoor Recreation Area
Posted 6/6/2023 at 9:49:02 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local Jr. High School students have a place to go for respite with the addition of an outdoor recreation area.
Principal Jason Kovalski said the $60,000 project funded through the Brightway Foundation includes a basketball court, benches and a pavilion with picnic tables for kids to enjoy the outdoors. Kovalski applied for grant funding through the foundation and said the facility located at the southeast end of the campus is a testament to the organization’s namesake, Kara Bright, who was a teacher and coach at the school and a mentor to area youth.
“I applied for the funding, and with the school year ending we have completed most of the project,” he said. “We have a digital billboard and pavilion and the basketball hoops were installed.”
He added that Dave Lucas’ carpentry students at the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School constructed the park-style benches and picnic tables as part of the project. Erb Electric of Bridgeport added the digital billboard on the front of the school building while Valley City Supply of Valley City, Ohio, provided the pavilion and Zeroski Excavating of Adena installed the concrete and hoops on the court. Work began in April and mostly wrapped up in May, but the final step includes sealing the pavement and adding lines on the court over the summer.
The grant was given last year before the organization was reformed as the Kara Bright Foundation, and Bright was a former Buckeye Local teacher and coach who helped kids through the Brightway Center in Smithfield. Kovalski, who knew Bright as “Cobby,” previously worked on the board and remembered him as an inspiration. Bright had been his junior high physical education teacher and a family friend, and Kovalski said the creation of the Brightway Center helped area youth. Bright, a 1945 graduate of Smithfield High School, taught and coached at Buckeye Local in addition to Virginia and North Carolina. He also founded the Ohio Fellowship of Christian Athletes and served as Ohio Sports World director for Sports World Ministry, but his largest contribution to the community was the conversion of his 180-acre Smithfield farm into the Brightway Center in 1997. It served as a Christian retreat and activity center and offered opportunities for both youth and families. The organization carried on Bright’s mission following his death in 2005 and continued to support youth for a quarter century. The Smithfield property was sold in 2021 and the Brightway Foundation dissolved last year, but the Kara Bright Foundation was developed to maintain his legacy.
It will certainly live on at Buckeye Local, where students will have a chance to enjoy facilities both inside and outside the school. In addition to the recreational site, work is beginning on the Kara Bright Court in the Panther Gym at BLHS with a new basketball court and fresh coat of paint in an estimated $80,000 upgrade starting this month. It will also include a mural by the Barn Artist and extra funding comes from the high school’s PRIDE campaign. That project should be finished by the start of the new school year.
Meanwhile, Kovalski was grateful for the foundation board’s support in seeing his plan come to life.
“I’d like to thank the board from the Brightway Center for allowing us to have this opportunity to carry on the name of Coach Kara Bright here at Buckeye Local Jr. High School. The project was completed and the staff and students have been enjoying the generous donation.”
(Photo Cutline: Students Jayce Carter and James Yoho square off at basketball while students Josh Bucey, Samantha Swiger and teacher Hailee Nelson (pictured second from right) relax at the new outdoor recreational site created at Buckeye Local Jr. High School. Funding was given through the Brightway Foundation and Principal Jason Kovalski said it will carry on the legacy of past teacher, coach and organization founder Kara Bright. The $60,000 project includes a pavilion, basketball court, benches, picnic tables and a digital sign with some pavement work set to wrap up soon.)
Celestin Completing Final Year at Buckeye Local
Posted 6/5/2023 at 9:35:48 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-As the 2022-23 school year draws to a close, Scott Celestin is capping off his final term as superintendent of Buckeye Local Schools.
Celestin will submit his formal letter during the June 26 school board meeting with plans to officially step down on July 31, but he looks back with pride upon the people he’s worked with and the students he’s served during his nearly two-decade tenure with the district. Buckeye Local includes an estimated 1,700 students and 200 teachers and staff and he said creating a positive learning climate was of utmost importance.
“One of the goals in my career was to be a superintendent, and the board was gracious enough to give me a chance. I wanted to get Buckeye Local in a good place financially and culturally and I feel like I’ve achieved that,” he said. “When I say ‘I,’ I mean my team—the schools and the unions. When things go better in the district, it’s everyone working together from the teachers to the board.”
He has been an educator for the past 34 years but spent 19 of them at Buckeye Local, serving as the high school principal in 2004 and later becoming district director of transportation and student services. He held those titles from 2011-2017, after which he was named an assistant superintendent. Celestin served as superintendent since December of 2020 and his tenure was extended through the current school year in a non-contractual agreement with the school board as they sought a permanent replacement. With former Buckeye Local High School Principal Coy Sudvary named as successor, Celestin will pass the reins come August.
“Mr. Sudvary is a very able, smart man that can handle this,” he said. “We’ll work together this summer during the transition, but I know he’ll continue to do great things for the district.”
Sudvary recalled working for Celestin as a teacher and then as assistant principal before succeeding him as BLHS principal. He praised Celestin’s capabilities and said he did an amazing job for the district.
“He’s always been great to work with. He was always willing to help and give advice and he was beneficial to me with my career,” Sudvary commented. “He’s done everything that’s been asked of him by the district and has always been there for the kids and staff.”
Celestin has seen many changes during his time from staffing to building upgrades but said the students have made his experience incredible.
“The highlights are always going to be the students. I meet kids who amaze me with their compassion when they’ve raised money to help others and helped the special needs kids at our annual Olympics,” he added. “The students at Buckeye Local are nice young men and women, and everywhere they go they inspire people.”
Celestin said he was fortunate to work with many great people both inside and outside the schools.
“We have an amazing staff and it’s a great community. I’ve enjoyed seeing the facilities upgraded and giving principals the ability to think outside the box to come up with grants and ways to update the buildings. I’ve worked with the school board, administrators, staff and community to make the facilities enjoyable for the students to give them a sense of pride.”
Celestin thanked the school board for the opportunity and board President Ashley West responded in kind. Speaking on behalf of the panel, she said he was a tremendous asset to the district and wished him well.
“The board appreciates working with him and he’s always been willing to step up when he’s needed. We appreciate all of the roles he’s done through the years and express our gratitude,” West said. “We wish him the best.”
“I made a lot of memories and experiences,” Celestin concluded. “Like John Wayne, I want to ride off into the sunset.”
(Photo Cutline: Scott Celestin will mark his final day as superintendent at Buckeye Local School District on July 31 but looks back fondly on nearly two decades with the school district, saying his time with the people has made it all memorable. He will be succeeded by Coy Sudvary in August.)
BLJHS Explores Energy Opportunities with MOLU
Posted 5/21/2023 at 6:11:11 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local Jr. High School students explored opportunities and careers with a visit from the Mobile Oilfield Learning Unit on May 10.
About 200 students in grades 5-8 took part and teamed up in pairs to complete interactive lessons. The MOLU, which is sponsored by the American Petroleum Institute and Energy Education Foundation, is a traveling exhibit designed to teach middle-school students about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and expose them to an array of careers offered in the energy industry through educational activities. It contains six mobile units with a total of 24 activities and students rotate around each unit to complete the lessons in timed sessions. Topics include safety, engineering, the oil industry, microorganisms, seismology, robotics and more and students learned about everything from fractional distillation to petroleum products.
According to the MOLU website, students are tested to establish baseline knowledge before interacting with the stations, and then they complete a “post-test” to determine what they have learned. On average, student scores improve by 50 percent following the lessons. The program became popular in Texas and Louisiana, inspiring energy firms Cabot, Shell, Schlumberger, Southwestern Energy and Williams to fund the creation of a new unit that is now based in the Appalachian Basin and serves Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
“This program is new to Ohio,” said BLJHS Principal Jason Kovalski. “We held four, 80-minute sessions and there were groups of students who worked in pairs and moved through four parts of each station.”
The students received booklets corresponding with the activities to help them learn about the products created and how the process works.
Ben Marter, vice president of communications and public affairs for API, said the organization partnered with the Energy Education Fund to bring the exhibit to school districts and the program was created to teach middle school students about STEM and the many careers available in the industry.
“This has been around for a few years but this is a new partnership between API and the Energy Education Foundation with a goal of educating 10,000 in the 2023 calendar year,” Marter added. “[The program has visited] 16 different school districts and 26 total visits in several states. We’ve had 2,760 students, 315 adults or teachers and volunteers interact with the MOLU so far.”
He said students have enjoyed engaging with the MOLU and completed a pre-exhibit survey before touring the MOLU, and in turn have improved their understanding of the industry by 24 percent. The MOLU will make stops throughout Ohio for the remainder of the school year.
(Photo Cutline: About 200 seventh-and eighth-graders at Buckeye Local Jr. High School participated in the Mobile Oilfield Learning Unit which visited May 10. The traveling exhibit is sponsored by the American Petroleum Institute and Energy Education Foundation and introduces students in grades 5-8 to STEM activities and available careers in the energy industry in a series of six stations. Pictured are eighth-graders Derek Porter and Brandon Keller working in tandem at one of the stations.)
Buckeye Local Kids Go to Camp
Posted 5/12/2023 at 9:43:55 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
Sixth-grade students from Buckeye West, North and South Elementary Schools headed to Ohio FFA Camp Muskingum in Carrollton on May 5 to learn all about the great outdoors in fun and interactive sessions. Among the activities were lessons on nature, building fires and shelters and recycling and composting plus archery, fishing and games. Pictured are West students Brody Bikoski, left, and Mac Boroski during a session.
Buckeye Local Kids Go to Camp
Posted 5/12/2023 at 9:43:54 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
Sixth-grade students from Buckeye West, North and South Elementary Schools headed to Ohio FFA Camp Muskingum in Carrollton on May 5 to learn all about the great outdoors in fun and interactive sessions. Among the activities were lessons on nature, building fires and shelters and recycling and composting plus archery, fishing and games. Pictured are West students Brody Bikoski, left, and Mac Boroski during a session.
BLHS Looks to Boost Math Scores with Project Ignite
Posted 5/12/2023 at 9:39:28 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local High School is looking to improve students’ math scores through the Project Ignite initiative.
Principal Luke Parsons said the school is partnering with Battelle for Kids and the Ohio Department of Education for Project Ignite, an alliance of schools for innovation, and the goal is to implement strategies designed to bolster students’ end-of-course exam scores. The district received a three-year grant through the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund, making the program free to the high school.
Parsons said the school has worked to improve its low math scores and being involved in the program will help officials fulfill their plan.
“Battelle joined with ODE to offer trainings for schools on focus to achieve the goals they are setting. It will give us access to resources, communication and support so we can work to get students’ math scores up,” Parsons said. “Our goal is to raise math proficiency scores. Our test scores are very low and we’ve been working to raise them over the past several years.”
He said the prospect came to light following a discussion with incoming Buckeye Local Schools Superintendent Coy Sudvary, who currently acts as principal at Wellsville High School.
“Coy and I were talking and he said Wellsville did this,” Parsons added, saying a zoom meeting followed and BLHS signed on with the program. “It’s a great thing because it will provide what we need. Project Ignite will help us with our goals and will give coaching and professional development.”
Parsons recently met with officials in a Zoom session while he and several math teachers will undergo training during the summer.
“We discussed our school, community, students and teachers, and we dug into what needs changed and what direction we would like to head. We gave them information on our goals and they will create a plan for us that we will implement,” Parsons noted. “The next step is another meeting to go over the plan and see what we like and what might need to be revised. The process was easy and informative and I am really looking forward to seeing what the future holds.”
The plan could be completed by the end of the month with implementation over the next school year.
Teams Show Skills at Sea Air & Land Challenge
Posted 5/2/2023 at 10:35:25 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Teams from Ohio and West Virginia put their STEM knowledge to use during the sixth-annual Sea Air & Land Challenge at Buckeye Local High School on April 28.
The event was sponsored by the Penn State University Electro-Optics Center (EOC) and drew teams from BLHS, Martins Ferry, Wheeling Central Catholic and Mount Vernon to compete in a series of water-, air- and land-based obstacles. Activities were held in both school gyms and outdoors and students operated remote-controlled robots they designed and had to complete timed tasks under the watchful eye of judges. At the conclusion, trophies were dispersed and BLHS Sea Team 6 won the sea challenge, the Martins Ferry Purple Knights led the air challenge and earned the Innovation Award and Wheeling Central Dinoco team won the land contest.
Jeff Merrill, a BLHS math teacher who helped create the school’s STEM program, organized the competition and praised the teams for their hard work and ingenuity.
“A lot of the scores were really close,” Merrill said. “The kids did an amazing job and it was great to see them working together.”
Susan Zingaro, coordinator of workforce development for the Penn State Applied Research Center, congratulated the teams on all they accomplished and said the event also helped determine if STEM careers were in their future.
“One of the goals is to give you the opportunity to see what it’s like to do an engineering project, if you want to go into engineering and if you want to go into STEM,” Zingaro said. “The second goal is to let you know about the tremendous amount of opportunities in the Department of Defense.”
She noted that the Sea Air & Land Challenge was sponsored by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), an agency of more than 6,000 people across the world who assist the U.S. Department of Defense.
“It is to deter, prevent and prevail and they want to recruit a lot of smart minds and sponsor events for students. They have military and civilian members working in the agency and help allies understand what’s a potential threat for the country.”
Zingaro said many fields were available in the DTRA, from engineering and organizing to linguistics and coding software, while an outreach program was offered for thinkers who understand technology. She also cited internships, scholarships and other opportunities that were available. The Sea Air & Land Challenge was first created at the EOC, but Buckeye Local was invited to participate and school officials began their own event in 2018, attracting 100 students from throughout the Tri-State Area.
(Photo Caption: The Buckeye Local High School Sea Team 6 earned honors during the Sea Air & Land Challenge at the school on April 28. Teams from Ohio and West Virginia took part in a series of robotic challenges under the watchful eye of judges and officials said scores were very close. Pictured are Sea Team 6 member Dayne Carter in the foreground with the tether while Jacob Gonze uses a monitor to operate a remote control in the back. Also pictured are teammates Garrett Devore, Paige Martin and Cori Griffith as well as Susan Zingaro of the Penn State University Applied Research Center looking on.)
Sea Air & Land Challenge Set at BLHS
Posted 4/17/2023 at 12:45:41 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-STEM students will put their skills on display during the sixth-annual Sea Air and Land Challenge at Buckeye Local High School.
The event, which is sponsored by Penn State University’s Electro-Optics Center (EOC), is set for April 28 from 8:30 a.m. to about 2 p.m. and includes a featured speaker in the auditorium followed by a series of challenges, lunch and an awards ceremony. Organizer Jeff Merrill, a BLHS math teacher who also helped establish the school’s STEM program, said activities will be held in both school gyms and outside in the athletic wing parking lot.
Participating teams include local high schools from Buckeye Local, Martins Ferry and Wheeling Central as well as Bedford High School from Michigan and Mt. Vernon High School as the newest entrant.
“Five teams are attending,” Merrill added. “There will be sea, air and land challenges with the same competition as last year. The courses are similar with a few new twists for competitors.”
Teams compete by operating remote-controlled robots they designed and must finish timed tasks on land, under water and by air with experts judging the activities. The teams will break for lunch at 11 a.m. with more challenges resuming at 11:45 a.m. Surveys and a wrap-up of events are scheduled for 1 p.m. with trophies to be dispersed around 1:30 p.m.
Now in its sixth year, the challenge was first created at the EOC but Buckeye Local was invited to participate, then BLHS officials opted to begin their own event in 2018 and attracted 100 students from throughout the Tri-State Area.
According to the EOC, the Sea Air and Land Challenge is an Office of Naval Research-sponsored program in which teams of high school-aged students learn about the engineering process through the design and build of a robotic system. The systems are then used to compete in challenges relevant to the Department of Defense which mimic missions encountered by the military, national security agencies and first responders. The challenge provides the opportunity for high school students to tackle a difficult engineering task while working with educators and engineering mentors. The teams have 12 to 16 weeks (one semester) to design and build unmanned vehicles and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) payloads to compete in the challenge of their choice. Teams may build submersibles for the sea challenge, drones for the air challenge or rovers for the land challenge. The challenges are designed by engineers at the Penn State’s Applied Research Laboratory and by some of the country’s finest Navy SEALs and Green Berets. Officials noted that STEM was a growing job field and the military plays a vital role through national security. It also introduces students to career opportunities and helps educators implement a successful program in their school districts.
Buckeye Local Staff Schooled on Preparedness
Posted 3/31/2023 at 11:25:41 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-In the days following the tragic shooting at Covenant School in Nashville, staff members at Buckeye Local Schools are doing what they can to prepare for an active situation.
The district closed schools while an estimated 193 administrators, teachers and other personnel gathered at Buckeye Local High School on Wednesday for professional development and certification which encompassed Stop The Bleed, AED and ALICE training. The timing of the training was coincidental, given the shooting in Tennessee. Leaders actually planned after Buckeye Local received $500,000 in state K-12 School Safety Grant Program funding to add security film, updated cameras and other measures to protect the district’s estimated 1,450 students and 250 employees.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and WVU Medicine/Wheeling Hospital were involved in the professional development sessions and school leaders said it was another way to ensure the buildings were secure. Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr., with help from sheriff’s officials, led a brief PowerPoint presentation in the theater with a series of scenarios during the ALICE training. He said he spoke with school leaders about the importance of being proactive.
“We discussed what we could do with what we’ve got. We know down here in this district that the buildings are remote,” he added, saying training was an effective way to know how to respond in a dangerous situation.
He outlined the basis for ALICE, and said the purpose was to empower the staff with knowledge whether they could safely evacuate or lockdown, barricade and fight. He outlined Cooper Color Code of Awareness, which includes white, yellow, orange, red and black to denote levels of awareness. White signifies one who is oblivious to their environment; yellow is one who is relaxed and alert; orange is someone who is prepared to take action; red is one who responds to a dangerous situation; and black is someone who is stressed and not prepared.
Sheriff Abdalla explained the different parts of ALICE, which stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate, from alerting people to an active intruder and locking down the facility to properly informing in real time, countering the attacker with barricades, distractions and fighting back and evacuating the premises, if possible. He said one goal is to visit elementary students and teach them the ALICE technique at a level they can understand. Following more discussion, the staff was divided into groups of 10 people based upon their schools and sent to assigned classrooms for the scenarios. Sheriff’s officials and Buckeye Local School Resource Officer Deputy Rodney Roe attempted to access barricaded rooms while others managed to flee the building. In the end, leaders praised everyone for their efforts and said more training would be offered. The sheriff was joined by representatives of Special Tactics and Rescue Training (S.T.A.R.T.) of Mingo Junction and the Ohio School Safety Center Zone III and closed with a question-and-answer session.
Wheeling Hospital officials led a Stop The Bleed presentation as American Heart Association Coordinator Kelly Matusik schooled participants on the “ABC’s of bleeding”—alert, bleeding and compression. Matusik said those on hand could contact 911, assess the bleeding and compress the wounds with pressure, packing or tourniquets. She said various tourniquet models were available but bandanas, T-shirts and belts would also work, adding that it may not save someone’s limb but it could ultimately save a life. She also provided tips about dressing wounds at key points on the arms, legs, armpits, neck, groin and body and said tourniquets should be placed two to three inches above the wound and tightly bound to reduce bleeding. Officials noted that the only thing more tragic than a death is one that could have been prevented.
“Make sure of your personal safety first, then survey the scene, call 911, find the bleeding, compress the wound and wait for help,” Matusik added. “Remember, this is someone’s life you are trying to save.”
Hands-on training followed in the Panther Gym, where school staff practiced using tourniquets and packing wounds on each other and faux limbs.
District Nurse Mary Kay Mayle also discussed the new Lifepak CR2 AED equipment available in the district. Schools are still utilizing some of the older versions, but the newer devices have been converted to Wifi and can be used on children ages 1 and over as well as adults. An automated voice guides users and also alerts officials if a device is being utilized or has mechanical problems. So far, there are eight units in the district and officials are eyeing more.
“We received these before Christmas and need to train the staff,” she added. “We would like to have two in each elementary building.”
In addition to Wednesday’s events, Buckeye Local leaders also underwent Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) training with representatives of the Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center. It was held March 23 with 20 district administrators, principals, teachers, nurses and the school resource officer learning to identify transient and serious threats and courses of action. Leaders said the upgrades and sessions were all measures for safer schools.
District Maintenance Director Tony Panepucci, who has assisted with school safety plans through his expertise as Mount Pleasant Fire Chief, said another drill was eyed with school staff prior to the start of the new school term, while another full-scale scenario may be done with the students.
“Right now, we’re getting the staff to learn what to do prior to the students being here. Once they have that under their belt, we’re probably going to get the students involved,” he commented. “Hopefully, we can incorporate fire and EMS personnel because they would be heavily involved if something happened. Everybody needs to be on the same page.”
Superintendent Scott Celestin said it was all part of the district’s mission to be proactive.
“It’s one more measure to keep students and staff at Buckeye Local safe,” Celestin said. “I don’t know if we can ever prevent something from happening, but we can try the best we can. We’ll address it more in the future and find ways to make it safer.”
(Photo Caption: Capt. Tommy Koehnlein, school building safety coordinator for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and Buckeye Local High School Resource Officer Rodney Roe review a barricaded classroom during an ALICE training at BLHS on Wednesday. About 193 school staff members also took part in Stop the Bleed and AED sessions as an added measure of safety for their schools, while training was planned before this week’s tragic shooting in Nashville.)
Buckeye Local Benefits from $1M in Energy Royalties
Posted 3/30/2023 at 12:40:21 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Buckeye Local Schools are reaping the benefits of a recent $1 million windfall in oil and gas royalties with plans to improve district buildings and education over the next school year.
Officials received a check totaling $1,008,572 from Gulfport Energy this past month, which is the first one Buckeye Local has received since the energy company began drilling on district-owned property, and the revenue is based upon production from September through December of 2022. Board members recently met with their attorney, Lawrence Piergallini, about the funding and also discussed ideas for projects to better serve staff and students. Among impending plans are a $200,000 upgrade of the sewer plant at Buckeye Local High School and the purchase of a new elementary English/Language Arts (ELA) curriculum for an estimated $383,000, but the overall goal is to maintain sustainability by improving cost efficiency.
“I’m thrilled Buckeye Local can get some projects done and not spend general fund money,” said Superintendent Scott Celestin.
Leaders agreed that the amount was not a regular occurrence, but the royalties were added to the district’s permanent improvement fund for upgrades and other educational needs. District Treasurer Merri Matthews was excited by the news and said the royalties are among the latest the district received following a payment from Ascent Resources. She continued that Ascent royalties yielded a total of $279,000 for district coffers from July 1 to this past February and leaders will review necessary improvements at each school building.
“This funding is not always guaranteed, so we will save it for more permanent projects,” Matthews added. “Gas and oil royalties have gone up and our plan is to prioritize the needs of the district. We’ve asked each building to give us a wish list and we’ll take care of what we can.”
A number of projects are coming down the pipeline at BLHS with existing funds, including an upgrade of the HVAC unit and restrooms, replacement of the pyramid roof above the commons area as well as the sewer plant update. The dome has already been replaced at the building while the parking lot and exterior lights have breen improved. Additionally, the district office upgraded its heating and air conditioning equipment.
“We did purchase a new dump truck, pickup truck and van for the maintenance fleet this year,” Matthews added, saying a mixture of federal money, general funds, gas and oil revenue and permanent improvement funds were being used in the projects.
Maintenance Director Tony Panepucci noted that the largest endeavor would be upgrading the sewer plant, which is original to the high school.
“There have been significant upgrades to the sewer plant, and this actually makes it more functional to the current population at the school,” Panepucci said. “We’re essentially creating two plants that could run back and forth or switch over if maintenance is needed. The sewer plant is unique to the district because we are the only one that has it. This improvement will help a lot in the long run.”
He added that the commons roof project would also quell issues in the future.
“It’s a new roof and the original was 32 years old. We’ve had a few leaks, so that work will help out tremendously to prevent further damage.”
Panepucci continued that other buildings could also be seeing updates on the horizon.
“There are things on everybody’s wish list,” he commented. “It’s going to be a busy summer districtwide.”
Also on the list is the purchase of a new ELA curriculum for grades K-5. The move will cost $383,000 and adds some new learning tools for the first time since 2011. District Director of Special Education, Preschool and Student Services Julie Packer said a committee of educators selected the curriculum with input from elementary staff and is also looking at more resources for the junior high and high schools.
“There was a committee formed and we looked at five different companies. We circulated the material through the five buildings and looked at two choices,” she said, adding that a version from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt was selected. “We will be purchasing new materials for all the other schools in grades 6-12.”
Packer continued that the sixth-grade will utilize similar material as the elementary schools while officials are reviewing supplemental English and grammar resources for grades 7-8 and ELA items for grades 9-12, and the latter will be taken to the school board for approval. She noted that officials will update materials in a six-year cycle.
“We’re starting a rotation for curriculum each year,” she said. “We will look at each core department and make the necessary upgrades we can do at the time.”
Meanwhile, incoming Superintendent Coy Sudvary said the district will be positively impacted well into the foreseeable future.
“We’re very grateful to receive the funds. It will give us the flexibility to assist in upgrading the curriculum and facilities,” Sudvary said. “We’re going to be patient and look at the needs of the district to make sure we’re efficiently spending the funds. This is a major opportunity for the district to continue moving forward.”
Buckeye Local Granted More Security Funds
Posted 3/8/2023 at 10:02:23 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-More security funding has come to Buckeye Local Schools to add further protection to its facilities.
Julie Packer, district director of special education, preschool and student services, said another $300,000 was approved in Ohio K-12 School Safety Grants through the Ohio Facilities Construction, bringing the district’s overall allocation to a half-million dollars. The grants are part of a $100 million competitive program and will be expended in 57 counties for security cameras, public address systems, visitor badging systems, automatic door locks and exterior lighting.
Packer said she and district Treasurer Merri Matthews were notified in February that the district benefitted from the latest funding round and now Buckeye North Elementary in Brilliant, Buckeye West Elementary in Adena, Buckeye South Elementary in Tiltonsville and Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School in Connorville have all received allocations.
“They went back and reallocated funding and all four schools received grants. We will get reflective film at the junior high and high school building and spirit wrap and reflective film at the elementary schools. We also need to do more fencing at South and West. We have a lot to talk about on where to spend the money.”
The district initially sought the total amount of $500,000 but received $200,000 late last year to update North and West Elementary with upgraded cameras, new communication equipment and window coverings. She noted that some work had previously taken place and the grants are retroactive to Jan. 1, 2022, for an approved list of items. Reflective film was since added to the first floor of both schools over the holiday break with more coverings being added on the upper levels. North was also eyed for safety training and traffic-related signage in addition to the fencing for the playground at West.
“West and North should be finished by the end of the school year,” she commented. “We will try to get the other schools done throughout the summer and we hope to have them done by August.”
High Tech Security of Colerain was contracted to install the cameras on the interior and exterior of the buildings. Packer said the two schools currently have outdated analog cameras which will be updated to more modern Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) versions and can hold up to 30 days of recordings. Exterior doors had also been rekeyed and leaders were looking at replacing doors and adding to-go buckets for emergencies as well as continued training and possible vape sensors at the junior high.
Packer collaborated with Superintendent Scott Celestin and Maintenance Director Tony Panepucci on the grant with help from Bill Petrozzi, a substitute teacher with security experience who assessed the buildings.
Meanwhile, Celestin was grateful for the allocation and said it will bring another layer of safety to the school buildings.
“Getting the second round of funding gives us an opportunity to do updates that will make the buildings safer for the students,” he said. “We can do more with that extra funding.”
He noted that more sessions were in the works for Stop the Bleed, Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) and ALICE training and will most likely occur later this month, plus more safety drills may be planned for students. Celestin is working with Panepucci, who also serves as the Mount Pleasant fire chief, to address the district’s safety.
“It’s encouraging to have someone with the expertise, knowledge and contacts with first responders,” he said. “We can host EMS trainings and possibly the sheriff’s office to familiarize them with the buildings.”
Elementary Schools Mark Right to Read Week
Posted 2/27/2023 at 2:13:35 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
TILTONSVILLE-Buckeye Local Schools’ elementary buildings are ramping up some book-based fun as they mark Right to Read Week on Feb. 27-March 3.
Buckeye South, Buckeye West and Buckeye North Elementary will hold fun learning events including literacy night with themed activities and Scholastic Book Fairs to sell literature and other merchandise.
South Elementary is offering some baseball-based fun with dress-up days, which kicked off with comfy clothes for “Prepare for the Game” on Monday; wearing favorite team attire for “Team Pride Day” on Tuesday; donning their favorite toppers for “Hat’s Off to Reading” on Wednesday; wearing black and gold for “Home Run Day” on Thursday; and going patriotic in red, white and blue for “Baseball is America’s Game” on Friday.
The school will also host its annual literacy night on March 2 from 5-7 p.m. This year’s theme is “Take Me Out to the Ballgame—Reading is a Home Run” and organizers said there will be plenty for students and their families to do.
“This will be a very special event,” said Jenny Potts, a kindergarten teacher and organizer. “We will kick off our reading program and if kids read for 1,000 minutes, which is 20 minutes a day for two months, they will earn free tickets to watch a Washington Wild Things game.”
In addition to activities, Potts said a special guest will also attend to generate some excitement about reading and there will be raffles with chances for kids to win books. The community is also invited to attend and there will be appearances by local softball and high school baseball athletes.
“It’s a party to share that reading and learning can be fun,” Potts continued. “Our ultimate goal is to give kids a book vending machine.”
West Elementary in Adena is still planning activities for its weeklong celebration which is slated for March 13-17. Principal Brian DiCola said the school will follow a similar theme based on South’s use of America’s favorite pastime and a literacy night event was set for March 16 from 5:30-7 p.m.
“We will have a book fair all week and there will be literacy and other activities throughout the week,” he commented.
North Elementary Principal Susan Nolan said her school will highlight Right to Read and Read Across America with a spirit week centering on Dr. Seuss tomes. Monday featured “The Cat in the Hat” with kids donning fun caps; Tuesday includes “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” by dressing in future career or college attire; Wednesday is “Wacky Wednesday” and features silly clothes that may also be mismatched or worn backwards, followed by literacy night from 5-7 p.m.; Thursday includes “Fox in Socks” with a silly sock day; and Friday concludes with “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish,” where kids in red or blue and show their Panther pride.
(Photo Cutline: Buckeye South Elementary kindergarteners Ashley Beranek and Kenna McCabe get their reading on as schools in the Buckeye Local School District prepare to mark Right to Read Week on Feb. 27-March 3. Events are set in each elementary school including literacy night and book-based fun.)
BLHS Students Learn to Stop The Bleed
Posted 2/23/2023 at 8:49:09 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local High School students learned the ABC’s of lifesaving during a Stop The Bleed session on Tuesday.
About 350-400 students in grades 9-12 took part in the event led by WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital. Dr. Jim Comerci helmed a 30-minute presentation in the theatre with hands-on training in the Panther Gym along with hospital personnel and the Yorkville, Dillonvale and Mount Pleasant E-Squads. Officials instructed teens on proper treatment of wounds with compression through packing and tourniquets and Comerci said people should know basic skills to help save a life.
“Why we are bringing this to you as school students...is because there is a difference between first responders such as fire departments, EMT’s and police and what we call ‘immediate responders,’” he said. “You are the first ones on the scene and often it’s the immediate responder who can save lives.”
Students learned the literal ABC’s of response—alerting 911, bleeding detection and compression. Quick action could make a significant difference by calling 911 to share details of what happened and what help is needed; locating wounds; and applying pressure, packing them with gauze or clothing and/or using tourniquets. Sites include arms and legs, the neck, armpits and groin and the body while compression should continue until first responders arrive. Comerci said immediate responders should ensure their own safety first and move the victim if they can, then they should wear protective gloves while rendering aid. If they do expose themselves to blood, they should inform first responders and follow directions to clean up. He also cited common mistakes such as not using tourniquets right away or tying them tightly.
Among the tips were to place tourniquets two to three inches above a wound but not on knees or elbows while children under age 8 should only have basic compression and packing. Comerci said larger impaled object should remain in place since they could control the bleed and students should also write the time compression was added on the person so medical personnel could treat them accordingly.
“A lot of things we talk about come from services taught to soldiers on the field,” he added. “The No. 1 cause of preventable death in mass shootings, car accidents and industrial and farm accidents is bleeding. We can save a lot of lives if we can control the bleeding. Even if you don’t think you can do it, make sure you know the skills so you can tell someone else what to do. Learn how to do this because when something happens, it happens quickly.”
Comerci concluded by stressing the need for help in the healthcare field. He said opportunities were available for ages 15 and up to become volunteers and those 18 and older could obtain entry-level jobs as nursing aides and assistants which could lead to great careers.
BLHS Principal Luke Parsons said the goal was to share knowledge so the youth would know how to respond.
“I think everything went very well. The students were engaged and this will enable them to help one another should the time come, but I hope it never does.”
Parsons said another Stop the Bleed training session was set for teachers next month.
Stop the Bleed, which is administered by The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma, is a worldwide effort to improve care of injured patients in society and raise awareness of basic actions to stop life-threatening bleeding following everyday emergencies and man-made and natural disasters. More information is available at
www.stopthebleed.org.
(Photo Cutline: Dr. Jim Comerci of WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital demonstrates how to pack a wound as seniors Courtney Cominsky, James Siburt and Julia Orban look on during a Stop The Bleed training session at Buckeye Local High School on Tuesday. About 350-400 students in grades 9-12 learned how to help others as immediate responders during emergencies and also assisting were members of the Yorkville, Dillonvale and Mount Pleasant E-Squads.)
Students, Teachers Learning to STOP THE BLEED
Posted 2/22/2023 at 2:13:23 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local High School students and teachers are getting a lesson in lifesaving with a special STOP THE BLEED training session this Tuesday.
Officials with WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital will conduct the session beginning at 9 a.m. in the school theatre. BLHS Principal Luke Parsons said medical personnel will speak to faculty and pupils in grades 9-12 and provide a video before hands-on training gets underway in the Panther gym.
STOP THE BLEED is a worldwide effort to help severely injured people with an estimated 2.4 million people taking part in sessions. The program is administered by The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma and is an effort to improve care of injured patients in society. According to the STOP THE BLEED website, its purpose is to better prepare the public to save lives by raising awareness of basic actions to stop life-threatening bleeding following everyday emergencies and man-made and natural disasters.
District staff members underwent a similar course in the past but Parsons said this time students can get educated.
“This is just another way that students can help,” he added, saying about 350-400 teens are expected to get a lesson in rendering First Aid.
He said the program came to fruition after a hospital official contacted school counselor Krista Kinyo.
“[Kinyo] thought it was a great idea and we talked about it, then we thought it would be something great for the students,” Parsons continued. “We are looking for a future date to do CPR training for students. We’re just trying to give as much training to them as we can to better their lives and better the school.”
Outdoor Recreation Project in Bright’s Honor
Posted 2/10/2023 at 9:51:59 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local Jr. High School is adding a new outdoor recreational area as a lasting tribute to a longtime educator and coach who was dedicated to serving youth.
Principal Jason Kovalski said the Brightway Foundation contributed $60,000 for the project, which should be completed this summer at the southeast end of the building. It will feature a basketball court, pavilion, picnic tables and benches and will provide respite and recreation for students. Zeroski Excavating of Adena will oversee the concrete and basketball hoop installation, Valley City Supply of Valley City, Ohio, is in charge of the pavilion with tables and benches being constructed by the carpentry program at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School in Bloomingdale. Additionally, Erb Electric of Bridgeport will install a digital sign on the front of the school building.
Kovalski said the funding was given last year before the organization was reformed as the Kara Bright Foundation, and Bright was a former Buckeye Local teacher and coach who made his mark helping kids through the Brightway Center in Smithfield.
“Through a donation from the Brightway Foundation, the junior high is building an outdoor recreation area four our students in memory of Kara Bright. I’m also securing funding [from the foundation] for a digital billboard to go on the front of Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School,” he added. “The project will begin in April and everything should be completed by the end of June.”
Kovalski recalled Bright, who was known as “Cobby,” as someone who inspired students and everyone around him.
“He was my physical education and health teacher at Buckeye Central Jr. High in Dillonvale in the 1980s and a family friend. He initially got me involved with Brightway Center when it was being created,” he said. “[Bright] was always about helping youth in the area. He was a teacher and coach kids would go and talk to about life’s challenges and offered inspirational words.”
Bright, a 1945 graduate of Smithfield High School, taught and coached within the Buckeye Local School system in addition to Virginia and North Carolina. He also founded the Ohio Fellowship of Christian Athletes and served as Ohio Sports World director for Sports World Ministry, but his largest contribution to the community was the conversion of his 180-acre Smithfield farm into the Brightway Center in 1997. It served as a Christian retreat and activity center and offered opportunities for both youth and families. The organization carried on Bright’s mission following his death in 2005 and continued to support youth for a quarter century. The Smithfield property was sold in 2021 and the Brightway Foundation dissolved last year, but the Kara Bright Foundation was developed to maintain his legacy.
Bright is also being recognized through the formation of the Kara Bright Court that gets underway this June in the senior high school’s Panther gymnasium. That facility will receive fresh paint, a new basketball court and mural by the Barn Artist in an $80,000 project which was financed through the Kara Bright Foundation with extra funding from the high school’s PRIDE campaign.
Talks began following a fortuitous meeting between former district teacher Jodee Vohevec and Brightway Foundation Treasurer George Spack and eventually developed into the impending updates, and Kovalski lauded Verhovec for initiating discussions and the board for supporting the plans. The court project is one way to honor Bright and Kovalski said the outdoor area at BLJHS will do the same.
“Through his memory, I’d like to continue to be there for students in need and inspire them when they are struggling,” he added. “Although he’s been gone for several years, I’d like for his memory to be alive for generations to come.”
A dedication ceremony will be held to formally open the site.
(Photo Cutline: Kara Bright, pictured with an athlete in this dated photo, was a longtime educator and coach who served Buckeye Local Schools and later developed the Brightway Center on his Smithfield farm. His legacy will live on with updates at Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School, the newest being an outdoor recreation area near the junior high building. The Brightway Foundation is providing $60,000 for the project as well as a digital billboard and work should be completed this summer.)
P.A.W. Workshops Available at BLHS
Posted 2/7/2023 at 3:37:38 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Students have more opportunities to achieve their academic goals with the implementation of a new program.
Buckeye Local High School offers the Panther Academic Workshop, or P.A.W., two days a week from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Students who need assistance to pass their end-of-course (EOC) exams are asked to attend on Tuesdays and Thursdays and three sessions are being conducted this school year. The first session was held from October through December and focused on Algebra I skills and objectives while the second portion is centered on ACT Prep and is currently underway through Feb. 23. The final workshop is geared towards spring EOC’s and runs from March 14-April 20.
“We are using IXL (a curriculum for personalized learning), which was through a grant from the Jefferson County Educational Service Center,” said Principal Lucas Parsons. “They meet in the media center and break down into four groups: science, mathematics, English/Language Arts (ELA) and special education.”
Teachers Amy Basinger, Casey Maxon, Stephanie Crust and Miranda Glasgow assist with the workshops and about 22 students are involved. Parsons said the workshops were developed this year to help bolster learning and achieve better scores.
“[The first session] was a way to achieve academic goals and improve their math scores,” he added. “We decided with the ACT coming up in March that our second session should focus on ACT Prep. The third session will be a refresher for our end-of-course exams in the spring.”
BL Showing Pride with New Signage
Posted 2/6/2023 at 3:31:25 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local High School is showing its pride with a brand-new sign on the building.
The lighted signage features the school’s initials and Panther logo and was part of an ongoing fund-raising campaign to improve and beautify the grounds. Principal Lucas Parsons said roughly $20,000 was raised for the endeavor and he was appreciative to those who supported the project.
“This was the main item of the PRIDE campaign. It was to have a lighted sign on the school building and we were able to raise the money to do that,” Parsons said. “It’s been in production for the last few months and we’re really excited.”
C.B. Orange Athletic Solutions of Pittsburgh was responsible for the sign’s installation. Funding also enabled officials to add new flags along the driveway to follow the theme while protective window film will also be installed, and Parsons said there will be more branding throughout the building.
He initially contacted stakeholders via letter seeking support for the cause and donors have ranged from businesses and organizations to parents and BLHS alumni. Parsons noted the site received a much-needed facelift and follows other improvements made by the district, including a new HVAC system, exterior lighting, tree removal and trimming, improved drainage and fresh blacktop along Panther Drive and the school parking lot.
School officials also updated the trophy case and made plans to transform the media center into a student lounge for students as part of the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program. The idea was to tie it into the PBIS-related Class Cup program and each week winners could utilize the space during their flex period.
Parsons said the overall goal is to bolster support of the school system.
“We just want to bring pride back to Buckeye Local,” he said.
(Photo Caption: A brand-new lighted sign was installed at the Buckeye Local High School after funds were raised through an ongoing PRIDE campaign. Crews from C.B. Orange Athletic Solutions of Pittsburgh installed the sign and the moneymaker also defrayed costs for new flags on the campus drive, protective window film and branding throughout the building.)
BLHS Celebrates New Year at Culture Fair
Posted 1/30/2023 at 11:08:59 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local High School and community members celebrated New Year’s around the world during the 18th annual International Culture Fair on Jan. 25.
The BLHS Foreign Language Club turned back the clock a bit to showcase global traditions with displays, music and dancing and a fundraising food tasting to benefit the student organization. Hundreds of people turned out for the event, which was themed “In the Midnight Hour,” and some even donned festive fashions for the occasion. They learned about nearly 40 countries from Argentina to Zimbabwe while children’s activities and a 50-50 raffle were also held in the school commons, followed by musical and dance performances and a Parade of Nations in the theatre. Additionally, live music was provided by accordionist Jason Garczyk. Admission was free but attendants could purchase tickets for 25 cents each for the food tasting and sample everything from Scottish shortbread to Swedish meatballs.
Bonnie Soos, who co-advises the club with Savana Granat, was amazed by the crowd and said it was possibly the largest in the event’s nearly two-decade history.
“It’s unbelievable. I think this is the largest crowd in our 18 years,” Soos added. “I presented the idea [to do a New Year’s theme] and we took and it ran with it. The members select the country they want to represent and research their traditions and basic information such as geography and history. I’m amazed by how it’s turned out. We had people come [an hour early]...and it was wonderful.”
The teens also prepared the food from their representative nation and some dressed in costume while others wore more formal attire to match the holiday theme. Soos said 36 countries were exhibited with the newest being Zimbabwe.
Among the countries exhibited were the United States by Elizabeth Stock, Melina Monogioudis and Brynn McKeever; Canada by Cai McKeever and Ava Zelek; Mexico by Lydia Boyd and Keira Panepucci; Cuba by Hana Summers and Maddie Zeroski; Jamaica by Allison Jarrell, Remy Badia and Braelyn Knox; The Bahamas by Noah Jock and Adam Blackwell; Puerto Rico by Nyja Short; Colombia by Madison Roset and Avah Williams; Argentina by Anne Vargo and Tatum Walker; Brazil by Hayleigh Carlier and McKenna Halicky; Ireland by McKenna Dutton, Riley Angel and Sierra Cominsky; Scotland by Carly Long and Kaydence Kinyo; United Kingdom by Sydney Snyder, Melissa Smith and Lena Anderson; Portugal by Robert Carpenter and Kylie Stewart; Spain by Haydn Boyce, Adison Muldrew and Alex McDiffitt; France by Emily McDiffitt and Abbey Berze; Switzerland by Autumn Wharton, Addyson Bonomo and Lizzie Bolock; Austria by Bella Russell and Sammi Westfall; Germany by Lexi Burress and Lexie Leach; Italy by Julia Orban and Arielle Orban; Romania by Savannah Bookman and Shayla Ralston; Serbia by Jesse Vitek and Josey Meddles; Norway by Alyssa Dailey and Koltn Roush; Sweden by Hailey Kovalski, Harmony Woodland and Addison Jones; the Czech Republic by Desiree Ruzek; Poland by Olivia Kovalski and Maddie Wilt; Ukraine by Hannah Langsdorf, Haley Langsdorf and Lyndsee Malechowski; Hungary by Allison Emfield and Madison Palmer; Greece by Addie Erwin, Emma McHugh and Kaitlynn Merkel; China by Pacey Hill, Cassie Burkhead and Jasmine Yohe; Thailand by Brooke Kovalski, Kylie Watt and Jack Newell; South Korea by Megan Burrier and Thomas Beranek; Japan by Sydnee Yanok, Abigail Meeker and Kierra Starcher; Zimbabwe by Austin Blake; and Australia by Andrew Devore.
Sophomores Megan Burrier and Thomas Beranek added a personal touch to their South Korea exhibit: native Dongyeon “Jake” Kim, a family friend who provided his dog tags and jacket from his stint in the South Korean Army and was on hand to take queries from the public about his homeland. In addition, Burrier and Beranek had Korean Milkis, which is a type of sodapop, plus Squid Game cookies and Korean potatoes, as well as items tied to the Chinese New Year that all Asian countries celebrate. She said 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit.
“I thought it was a cool country,” Burrier said. “On their actual traditional day, the women come out and sing traditional songs, hold hands and walk around town.”
Seniors Carly Long and Kaydence Kinyo selected Scotland as their country, and Long said she had family ties since her grandmother hailed from the Highlands. Their display included photos, British currency, memorabilia and shortbread.
“In Scotland, they call New Year’s ‘Hogmanay,’ and they take ashes from the fire and sing ‘Auld Lang Syne.’ Robert Burns wrote the song and is from there,” Long commented.
Freshmen Robert Carpenter and Kylie Stewart chose Portugal and provided biscuits and icing and rice pudding.
“They have a superstition where they keep money in their pocket, wallet and shoes for New Year’s [for good luck],
said Carpenter.
Meanwhile, Soos was beyond thrilled with the efforts of the 112 club members, which she said was among the largest numbers to date.
“I’m so proud of our members,” she said.
All of the proceeds fund field trips and other cultural events and she noted that plans for the 2024 fair were already in the works.
(Photo Caption: Hundreds of people turned out to learn about New Year’s traditions around the world and sample native fare during the 18th annual International Culture Fair at Buckeye Local High School. About 40 countries were represented and events included displays, food tasting, music, dancing, children’s activities and more with proceeds benefiting the BLHS Foreign Language Club. Organizers said this was possibly the largest turnout to date and plans are already in the works for 2024.)
BL District Spelling Bee Winners
Posted 1/24/2023 at 9:49:40 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
Twenty-five students competed in the Buckeye Local School District Spelling Bee on Jan. 18 at Buckeye Local High School. Cameron Knight of Buckeye West Elementary took first place after correctly spelling the word Leander, which is the name of a Greek youth and classical mythological figure and also means “lion man.” Knight is pictured, front from left, with Jonas Eddy of Buckeye Local Jr. High School, second; Janelle Cooper of South Elementary, third; Chyanne Crothers of North Elementary, fourth; and Brooke Patterson of BLJHS, fifth. Back: Kyle Beranek of South, sixth; Daizy Thompson of West, seventh; Ryder Tibbs of BLJHS, eighth. Emma Vitek of North, first alternate, and Jocelyn Matthews of West, second alternate. The Jefferson-Harrison County Regional Spelling Bee will be held at North Elementary on March 11 with students from local school districts, parochial and home schools competing to advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. on May 31.
QPR Training Back at Buckeye Local
Posted 1/22/2023 at 10:35:02 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-More training is underway for staff and students at Buckeye Local High School which could help save a life.
For the third year, the school has partnered with Family Recovery Center of Steubenville to provide lessons in suicide prevention through the QPR Institute. Prevention Specialist Doug Murray will be on hand Jan. 25 at 10:30 a.m. and will address those who are interested in becoming gatekeepers to help others. QPR, which stands for Question Persuade Refer, helps identify people who may be experiencing suicidal ideations and shares tools to assist those in crisis.
BLHS Principal Luke Parsons said students can sign up to receive the training, which will help recognize signs and taking steps to help.
“[Murray] is probably our biggest community asset,” Parsons added. “We’ve trained students and teachers and I initially opened it up to seniors, but now it’s open to grades 9-12. Kids are going through a lot today, and the more people who keep an eye on that the better we are.”
Murray, who is a certified QPR gatekeeper trainer, said students have shown interest in getting involved and the training is being held on a volunteer basis.
“We will go over signs, symptoms, behavioral clues, situational clues and verbal clues that maybe someone at school, home or in the community could have, and this will give tools to recognize those signs and persuade and refer them to get help,” he added. “At the end of the day, they will get certificates as gatekeepers. Then they will split into groups and discuss how they would approach a scenario.”
He said refresher courses are held every two to three years because statistics and outcomes change. According to figures, there were 13.8 suicides per 100,000 people and an average of 1,644 deaths in Ohio during 2020; however, that is a decrease over 2019, where the average was 15.5 per 100,000.
“With the pandemic, we thought the suicide rate would go up but it went down,” he noted. “Until then, the rates had increased since 2007. There were over 1,800 suicide deaths and it was the leading cause among 10- to 14-year-olds.”
Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the state and 78 percent are male. Murray attributes the latter to a lack of mental health awareness for men.
“In Ohio, about five people die every day,” he continued. “In the U.S., the number is 14.5 per 100,000 or 134 per day.”
Murray said resources are available and people should take advantage.
“I think one of the biggest things to live by is that it’s okay not to be okay and there is help out there.”
DARE Program Continues at Buckeye Local
Posted 1/21/2023 at 9:25:08 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Students at Buckeye Local Jr. High School are learning about good decision-making and the consequences of their actions as the DARE program continues within the district.
Wells Township Police Chief Sean Norman is in his 18th year as DARE officer and has been speaking to eighth-graders at BLJHS as well as second-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade classes at Buckeye North Elementary in Brilliant about good character habits since the beginning of the present term. The sixth and eighth grades have sessions all year while the lower grades already completed their 10-week programs. He visits North on Tuesdays and alternates his time at BLJHS between mornings and afternoons every Thursday.
Chief Norman said while DARE stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, the lessons he shares apply in many life situations.
“It’s mistakenly thought of as an anti-drug program, but we want to arm students with knowledge and capabilities when it happens. It’s about making good decisions.”
A recent session with the junior high students centered on feelings, particularly how to recognize and cope with them in real life.
“It’s understanding unique feelings and if those feelings are valid, having to identify feelings and handle them,” he said. “I try to speak to kids on their level so they know that every single choice they make has a consequence.”
Past lessons ranged from drugs and peer pressure to stranger danger and are age-appropriate according to the pupil, and the subjects become more intensive for the upper grades and reflect upon responding to pressure and making safe and responsible choices under the theme “Keeping It Real.” More recently, BLJHS students have addressed risk and assertiveness to ways of refusing, and he said there were many ways to say no. He said the program also instills positive interaction between youth and law enforcement, but his goal is that the students apply those valuable lessons in the long run.
“I hope if they are asked at the end of the year what they have learned, they’d say, ‘I know that making choices has consequences.”
(Photo Caption: Wells Township Police Chief Sean Norman is in his 18th year as DARE officer for the Buckeye Local School District. He addresses students at Buckeye North Elementary and Buckeye Local Jr. High School about making good decisions not only to refuse drugs, but in situations throughout life. He is pictured here addressing eighth graders at BLJHS on the subject of identifying and dealing with feelings.)
West, Powell to Lead Buckeye Local BOE
Posted 1/17/2023 at 1:38:59 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Ashley West and Clint Powell were tapped to lead the Buckeye Local Board of Education for 2023 and the panel had a full slate of topics to discuss at their recent session.
The board conducted an organizational meeting where West and Powell were selected as leaders for the new year, but an array of issues dominated the subsequent regular session that ranged from school updates to safety. Officials approved an agreement with STAN and Associates to oversee the design and related construction administration services for an HVAC improvement project at Buckeye Local High School.
Superintendent Scott Celestin said the firm, which is based in Dayton, will receive $204,000 for its services and the project should occur this year. The update is being financed through Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding.
“The air conditioning and heat at the high school hasn’t worked properly for some time,” he explained, adding the unit was about 30 years old. “Instead of constantly fixing and putting a Band-Aid on it, we received ESSER funds which were allowed to be used for this. It has to be done before 2024 but it will be put out to bid. I’d hope it would be done by the next school year.”
Celestin said the school building has adequate heat and air conditioning now and it is constantly monitored.
Meanwhile, security issues were discussed and Celestin said the monthly safety meeting was set for Jan. 17. Building improvements were underway and he is placing a focus back on safety with help from district Maintenance Supervisor Tony Panepucci, who serves as Mt. Pleasant Fire Chief.
“Tony will help me with contacts and first responders and we’ll get back to running drills and making these schools as safe as possible for students and staff,” he added.
Panepucci was also meeting with Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr. to set up an ALICE training session and planned to address it with administrators. Celestin said he and Panepucci have spoken since Christmas and he offered to assist with safety.
“I’m starting to tap into his expertise,” he added, saying it would be discussed further at that meeting.
Celestin continued that the district received praise from Sheriff Abdalla for taking action on improving security in schools.
“We’re far above and beyond and Tony has the knowledge in safety, so we’ll get it moving quickly,” he added.
Meanwhile, the district recently obtained a $200,000 Ohio K-12 School Safety Grant and?North Elementary in Brilliant and West Elementary in Adena will each receive protective window coverings, upgraded cameras and new communication equipment. The two schools currently have outdated analog cameras which will be updated to more modern Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) versions on the interior and exterior of the buildings. Celestin said work was on track while more plans were being eyed for South Elementary in Tiltonsville.
“The first-floor windows were tinted at North and West and their second and third floors will have Spirit Wrap similar to the high school. We’re trying to find finding to continue a similar project at South.”
The board also discussed a staff survey to gauge thoughts on school safety, and while some area schools have either implemented or considered utilizing armed personnel Celestin said that plan is not under consideration at this time.
“We sent the survey to seek their comfort level with active shooters and emergencies to see what training we should include, such as CPR and AED (automatic external defibrillation) and Epipens. Any plans for arming staff are not on the agenda now.”
Among other matters:
--The board held a moment of silence for longtime teacher and coach Dan Signorini who recently passed away;
--Officials approved hiring Melissa Mills as an intervention specialist at South; Eric Lawson, Jessica Zeigler, Kyle Solar, Greta Gazda-Roe, Karen Barcus, Danielle Gibeson as long-term substitute teachers; and Shana Schubert as a returning sub secretary/cook and Kelly Sutphin as a new substitute aide;
--Board committees were named including Teresa George and Brooke Stingle for athletic/extracurricular; Powell and West, maintenance/building and grounds/safety; Thomas and West, finance; Powell and George, negotiations/labor relations; Thomas and West, curriculum; and West and Powell, evaluations. Moreover, George was named legislative liaison and Stingle was selected as student achievement liaison for the Ohio School Board Association;
--Panepucci said a waterline was repaired at West and remediation was ongoing with the insurance company while another break occurred at the stadium. However, it was repaired with a simple fix with no damage. Additionally, water fountains and bottle fillers were purchased and will be placed in each school;
--A resolution was passed to notify the board of all overnight conferences;
--The next meeting was scheduled for Feb. 27 at 5:30 p.m. in the board office.
(Photo Caption: The Buckeye Local Board of Education reorganized for 2023 and named Ashley West and Clint Powell as president and vice president. Pictured are, from left, Brooke Stingle, Teresa George, West, Powell and April Thomas.)
Culture Fair Toasts New Year’s Traditions
Posted 1/11/2023 at 10:16:26 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-The Buckeye Local High School Foreign Language Club is highlighting New Year’s traditions at 18th annual International Culture Fair on Jan. 25.
“In the Midnight Hour” is the theme of this year’s fete, which will be held from 5-8 p.m. Admission is free but tickets cost 25 cents each for the food-tasting event. The first portion of the festivities will be held in the school commons area and students will provide exhibits and dishes from Argentina to Zimbabwe while children’s activities, live music from Jason Garczyk and a 50-50 raffle are also set. The second part of the fair will be conducted in the theater at 7 p.m. and will feature an array of Latin, French, Spanish and Italian music plus ballet, tap, salsa, polka and Chinese dragon dances and the Parade of Nations.
Bonnie Soos, who shares co-advisor duties with Savana Granat, said formal attire is recommended in keeping with the holiday theme and proceeds will benefit the club’s field trips and cultural events.
“The theme is ‘In the Midnight Hour’ and it will recognize New Year’s Eve traditions around the world,” Soos explained. “It is going to be a formal event with lots of glitz and glamour and we recommend formal attire, if possible.”
About 37 countries will be represented including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, The Bahamas, Cuba, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Ireland, Scotland, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Serbia, Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, China, Thailand, North Korea, South Korea, Australia and Zimbabwe. Students typically select the countries and work in small groups while club members will also assist with duties such as tickets and refreshments.
Soos said the fair has drawn several hundred attendants in the past with last year’s attracting its largest crowd to date. The event has generally been held around March but was moved this time because of the theme and Garczyk joins this year as the new accordionist.
The Foreign Language Club presently includes 112 members and Soos was thrilled with their efforts at each event.
“I am very proud of our FLC members. Every year they amaze me with their beautiful displays, their delicious food, their talent and their dedication to culture and language,” she said. “I cannot wait to see what this year's fair brings. I already have a country list started for the fair in 2024!”
BLJHS Students Spread Warmth, Holiday Cheer
Posted 1/3/2023 at 9:55:06 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
ADENA-Buckeye Local Jr. High School Student Council members extended their reach into the community to keep local seniors warm this winter.
The group collected new blankets and socks as well as lotion and holiday cards over the past month and donated 40 gift bags of items to the residents at Sienna Hills Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation in Adena. BLJHS Principal Jason Kovalski said he’d hoped to instill a sense of good citizenship in his students with more community outreach and the collection was one way of doing just that, particularly post-COVID.
"We are still trying to hit the reset button with community service projects at Buckeye Local Jr. High. COVID deterred our community service projects over the last few years and we are trying to get back out into the community to show that we care,” Kovalski said.
He, Student Council Advisor Jennifer Panepucci and school bus driver Beth Petrosino joined students Mylie Richter, Chloe Vanchure, Jayse Carter and Michael Kovalski to deliver the gifts to Sienna Hills on December 20. The group followed health guidelines by donning masks while they visited with a few of the residents.
"It was great to see the excitement in the eyes of the residents and smiles on their faces when our students walked into the activities room,” he added.
The students chatted with several residents and even gave a few hugs. Facility officials also expressed how thankful they were to see the residents remembered during the Christmas season.
Meanwhile, Kovalski said more outreach activities will be planned throughout the year.
(Photo Caption: Buckeye Local Jr. High School Student Council members and school leaders visited Sienna Hills Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation in Adena prior to the holiday break, where they visited residents and donated 40 gift bags of blankets, socks and cards to spread some warmth and cheer. Pictured are, from left, student council member Mylie Richter, BLJHS Principal Jason Kovalski, student council advisor Jennifer Panepucci, members Chloe Vanchure, Jayse Carter and Michael Kovalski and bus driver Beth Petrosino.)
Lions Clubs, DQ Treat BLJHS Students for Holidays
Posted 12/28/2022 at 11:18:47 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Local Lions Clubs have teamed up once again with the Rayland Dairy Queen to give gift cards to Buckeye Local Jr. High School students for the holidays.
For the second year in a row, organizations from Warren Township, Brilliant, Dillonvale-Mt. Pleasant and Adena collaborated with businessowner Emilee Vargo to provide $5 gift cards redeemable at the Rayland location. More than 200 seventh- and eighth-graders will benefit from the gift and can enjoy the treats at any time. The Warren Twp. group had provided items for needy students since 2016 and also co-hosted the Drive By with Santa at the Dairy Queen for the past three years, but BLJHS Principal Jason Kovalski asked all of the organizations to unite since the students reside within their areas.
“We used to have Breakfast with Santa [at Dairy Queen], but during COVID we did the Drive By with Santa and DQ again Dec. 11 and provided treats, so it morphed into this to include the junior high kids. All the clubs are involved and Emilee Vargo provided the gift certificates,” said Warren Twp. Lions Club President Roger Warren. “Jason wanted to include all of the kids and all of the clubs contribute because the children are within their communities. Everybody’s been cooperative with giving them a special meal and Emilee is so supportive.”
He added that the groups were simply living by their motto, “We Serve.”
“As Lions, we serve, and there’s nothing better than serving the youth of the area. Hopefully they pay it forward someday.”
“That’s the theme: We Serve” added Brilliant Lions Club President Butch Ford. “Anything we can do to help out with projects for children, [we’ll do] whatever it takes.”
Vargo said the cause has always been special to her and she was happy to help.
“There are kids I know who are less fortunate who come every year, and I know this helps them,” she said. “It’s a privilege to be able to do this. To serve something to every kid is nice and I enjoy it.”
The gift cards can be redeemed at any time at the Rayland location and no purchase is necessary.
Kovalski was pleased that the civic organizations pulled together once again to benefit the students in his school.
“I’ve worked with the Lions Clubs and churches since I’ve became an administrator at Buckeye Local, which will be 13 years. No matter what I ask, they are always open to help Buckeye Local Jr. High.”
(Photo Caption: Local Lions Clubs have joined forces with the Rayland Dairy Queen for the second year to provide $5 gift cards to Buckeye Local Jr. High School students for the holidays. More than 200 seventh-and eighth-graders can redeem the cards at the Rayland site and enjoy a meal at any time. Pictured are, front from left, Rayland Dairy Queen owner Emilee Vargo, seventh-grader Loraina Hess, seventh-grader Codey Sellers, Warren Township Lions Club President Roger Warren and eighth-grader Paige Dombroski. Back: Brilliant Lions Club Second Vice President Ralph Nickoson, Brilliant Lions Club President Butch Ford, Warren Twp. Lions Club Vice President Tom Thomas and eighth-grader Derek Porter.)
Glauser Gets Perfect Scores
Posted 12/27/2022 at 11:08:59 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
Isabella Glauser, a fifth-grade student at Buckeye West Elementary in Adena, was recognized by the Buckeye Local School Board for obtaining perfect scores on her Ohio State Summative Assessments. Glauser, pictured here with Superintendent Scott Celestin and West Principal Brian DiCola, earned top scores in third-grade English and Language Arts (ELA) and fourth-grade math and ELA tests. She is the daughter of Melissa Glauser of Dillonvale.
Students Raise Money to Help Housefire Victims
Posted 12/9/2022 at 7:45:36 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Some Buckeye Local High School students are reaching out to help one of their own following a devastating housefire in November.
Freshmen John Frank and Olivia Takach have organized several fundraisers to support a fellow student and his family who were left homeless following a fire last month and garnered more than $900 to help. Frank and Takach took it upon themselves to lend a hand and received permission from administrators, then they quickly made plans to sell soda and sweets at the high school to help offset some of the family’s expenses. The duo, with the help of schoolmates Kiarra Eastham, Jackie Richardson and Lizzie Frank, set up their sales table in the second-floor corridor of the building to peddle pop on Nov. 21 and 22 and resumed with another moneymaker with soda and treats on Dec. 1 and 2.
“Someone recently had a housefire and the damage was bad enough that they have been living in a hotel,” Takach explained.
“We thought we’d raise money to get them through the tough times,” Frank added. “We plan to do more but we haven’t decided what.”
The second sale included a bevy of baked goods from apple fritters and Rice Krispies treats to fudge and mini eclairs. Frank said they made nearly $200 alone on the soda fundraiser and earned about $725 from the most recent moneymaker, and they know every cent will help.
“We really enjoy it,” said Takach. “It’s nice to see other people be happy that someone thought of them and is doing something.”
(Photo Caption: Buckeye Local High School freshmen John Frank and Olivia Takach set up a table to sell soda and sweets to benefit a fellow student and his family whose home was damaged in a fire last month. The duo conducted two fundraising sales with pop and baked goods to assist the family and raised $925, plus they may have more plans in the works.)
Buckeye Local Earmarks Safety Grant for Schools
Posted 12/7/2022 at 10:03:19 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-A total of $200,000 is coming to the Buckeye Local School District for security purposes and two buildings will benefit from improvements.
The district recently learned it was among 708 sites selected for Ohio K-12 School Safety Grants through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. The grants are part of a $100 million program and will be expended in 57 counties for security cameras, public address systems, automatic door locks, visitor badging systems and exterior lighting.?
Julie Packer, district director of special education, preschool and student services, said she completed the application with Superintendent Scott Celestin and Maintenance Director Tony Panepucci with help from Bill Petrozzi, a substitute teacher with a background in security who assessed the buildings. Officials applied for $500,000 this past October to upgrade all of the schools but she was pleased to see some much-needed upgrades coming to Buckeye North and West Elementary Schools over the coming year.
“We had to apply for each building and these were the two that received grants,” she said. “This was the second or third round for the safety grant and we sought $500,000, but it was a competitive grant.”
North Elementary in Brilliant and West Elementary in Adena will each receive $100,000 to obtain protective window coverings, upgraded cameras and new communication equipment to ensure safety for students and staff.
“Both buildings will get mirrored film installed on the first-floor windows and covering with the school name that blocks people from looking in,” Packer added. “Both schools will get upgrades with their cameras and security systems, and we will also get fencing around the playground at West while North is getting safety training and signage for traffic flow.”
Upgrades will begin immediately since funding is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2022, for an approved list of items.
“We were able to get bigger, better radios that were installed in the summer and bill back for that,” she explained. “The mirrored film is being installed at West over the holiday break and phase one will also include first-floor windows at West. Maybe we’ll start at North, but that will take longer because there are more windows. Both of them should be done by the end of January.”
The second phase involves the installation of new security cameras by High Tech Security of Colerain and work could occur over the next two or three months. Packer said the two schools currently have outdated analog cameras which will be updated to more modern Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) versions on the interior and exterior of the buildings.
“There will be a total redo at North. We completed it at South last year out of the district budget for $17,000 and also upgraded the high school and district, but North’s project will be for $20,000 and West’s is for $7,000,” she noted. “The cameras can hold up to 30 days of recordings.”
Packer said the ultimate goal is to ensure that staff and students feel secure at school.
“We’re here to educate the kids, so we have to provide an environment where they can feel safe. When they are with us, they are our No. 1 priority.”
North Elementary Principal Susan Nolan was appreciative of the funding and said it will make a difference at her school.
“It will help us make improvements because we’ve had cameras that were outdated, and this money allows us to have security camera improvements. I also love the idea of getting the safety screens on the windows. It’s just wonderful to upgrade the security to keep our kids even more safe.”
West Elementary Principal Brian DiCola agreed and credited Packer for her hard work to see it through.
“We're thankful for her and her diligence to get this grant. Our students' safety is our first priority. We have a good culture but we're always looking for ways to improve and their safety is the most important,” he said. “This grant and these security updates will help us ensure we can continue to keep them safe. We're looking forward to the new security updates.”
Meanwhile, Celestin said he was grateful to see the projects getting underway and work will continue to incorporate similar improvements at South Elementary in Tiltonsville.
“I am thankful for the grant money and the opportunity to upgrade some of the safety issues at the buildings,” he concluded. “Ms. Packer worked hard on these grants and I am glad to see her efforts rewarded. In case the community is wondering about South Elementary, since they did not get the grant money, we will work diligently to come up with the funds to make the same improvements at their building.”
NHS Making an Impact with Projects
Posted 12/7/2022 at 9:44:31 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-The Buckeye Local High School National Honor Society is making an impact by undertaking a series of community service projects this year.
The 29-member student organization is following this year’s service theme of “Making an Impact” by reaching out to help its school and local community. The group is currently heading up a clothing drive to develop a thrift store at the school through Dec. 9 and advisor Alonna Morrison said NHS co-President Cai McKeever and Vice President Jaelee Thompson are organizing the effort. The group is seeking clean, gently worn items to benefit the ongoing PRIDE campaign to update and beautify the school. Among the upgrades are replacing flags on poles at the school entrance, adding more safety film designs on the first floor, placing a lighted sign at the front of the building and revamping the media center into a student lounge to use as a Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) reward.
“It's really more of a student thrift store, but we're trying to keep prices low and will be donating any unsold items,” Morrison said. “We are holding a drive from Dec. 5-9 to collect gently used clothing from students. We are not accepting socks, undergarments or inappropriate clothing. We will then price all clothing and sell it in a thrift store to our high school students at low prices. Any funds raised go to the PRIDE campaign and any leftover items will be donated to students who need them or a local Salvation Army.”
NHS members will sort and price the clothes and the store should be open around Dec. 14-16. She added that McKeever and Thompson researched how to complete the project and discussed details with the members. The thrift store will be open at the high school for students only. Clothing can be dropped off to any teacher but organizers are mostly taking donations from students.
“Jaelee and Cai have done a fantastic job in leading this project. They researched all the details, wrote a letter for the [school] app, teachers and announcements, talked to our principal about the project and spoke with one of our teachers to help make posters to advertise. Cai, Jaelee and our other NHS students will help out by collecting and counting donations, helping to price clothing and working in the thrift store. This is one of the more detailed projects we've done and I'm excited to see how it turns out. “
The clothing drive comes on the heels of a holiday food drive which wrapped up Dec. 2 and gathered more than 400 items for the Smithfield Food Pantry. Morrison said that collection began Nov. 28 and included nonperishable food items and personal hygiene products such as toothbrushes and deodorant. It was among a series of community service projects the student organization has completed, including a toy drive last year for WVU Medicine’s Pediatrics Unit at Wheeling Hospital, a collection for the Jefferson County Humane Society and Christmas story times at the elementary schools, among others. This fall, students also painted at the district office and added some Panther art to the walls for school pride, plus they volunteered at Buckeye South Elementary’s Fall Festival. Morrison continued that a blanket and toy drive are also possibly in the works and everything ties into this year’s NHS service theme of “Making an Impact”—something her group has definitely achieved thus far.
“This year, NHS has 29 members, which is the largest chapter we’ve had in a while. I think that our NHS members have a lot of fun with these projects. They get to choose and design almost all of our projects, so they have a lot of freedom to make decisions and they do a great job at showing leadership,” she continued. “I am so proud of the leadership that these students have taken on throughout this project. This year's service theme is ‘Making an Impact’ and they are absolutely on a mission!”
NHS is a national organization that recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding scholarship, leadership, service and character.
(Photo Caption: Buckeye Local High School National Honor Society Vice President Jaelee Thompson, left, and Co-President Cai McKeever are organizing a clothing drive this week to create a school thrift store for students. Items will be taken until Dec. 9 and offered at a low price while excess goods will be donated to students or the local Salvation Army. The project, which will benefit the PRIDE campaign to beautify and upgrade the school, is one of many community service events following the organization’s theme of “Making an Impact” this year.)
BLJHS Student Council Reaching out to Seniors
Posted 11/29/2022 at 10:14:23 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-The Buckeye Local Jr. High School Student Council is making it their mission to give back to the community by sharing the warmth with senior citizens.
Principal Jason Kovalski said the organization’s 30 members, who are led by advisor Jennifer Panepucci, are collecting throw blankets to holiday cards and will distribute the items at local senior facilities within the district including nursing homes and senior citizen centers. The collection will last until Dec. 16 and sent to the sites to counter the colder temperatures.
Kovalski said this was the student council’s first act of community service post-COVID and more projects are expected throughout the next year.
“We were looking for a community outreach project that shows the elderly community that younger citizens do care about them,” he said. “They are going to collect items in the office and through their flex (homeroom) teachers, and we are going to take a group of students and vjsit a few facilities to deliver them.”
Goods being collected include throw blankets, fuzzy socks, slippers, pajama sets, lotions and moisturizers, personal health care items and holiday cards. All of the items must be brand new with original packaging and parents and the public are encouraged to either send them with their student or drop them off at the school during business hours. All of the items must be received by Dec. 16 for distribution.
Kovalski said he wanted the school to become more involved with outreach and this was a great way to begin.
“My personal goal this year is for us [at BLJHS] to build a community involvement and outreach projects,” he added. “This is probably our first time post-COVID.”
He is seeking potential sites to benefit from the drive and noted that anyone who wanted to recommend a site or make a donation may contact him at (740) 859-2196 or via email at
[email protected].
Aubrey Making Her Mark at Buckeye West
Posted 11/3/2022 at 9:38:23 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
ADENA-Walk through Buckeye West Elementary School in Adena and you may notice some new decorations adorning the walls.
Art teacher Jennifer Aubrey painted a design at the request of Principal Brian DiCola, and her handiwork is giving the building a little lift and the students some added inspiration.
“Mr. DiCola approached me and asked if I was willing to start thinking of some ways to brighten up the walls and spaces around the school. We began scouring Pinterest and the internet to find some fun quotes, drawings and designs we could add around the building,” she said. “I painted our first mural and used some student work to complete the scene. Eventually, I would like to have students help paint different pictures throughout the school.”
Her initial effort depicts the character of Vashti from the Peter H. Reynolds book, “The Dot,” while students in grades PreK-6 provided their own talents by creating the dots that trail from Vashti’s paintbrush.
She said the project is literally leaving an indelible mark upon her and the school itself.
“I was so excited when Mr. DiCola brought this to my attention. The thought of leaving a mark on West Elementary is extremely inspiring. I am trying to find ways to incorporate artists we are learning about, styles we are studying, inspiring quotations and fun, welcoming colors. Art is a great way to reach out and make the school a fun environment for everyone.”
Aubrey has spent the past two decades working for Buckeye Local Schools as an intervention specialist and teaching second- and third-grade classes, but she began instructing art at Buckeye West, North and South Elementary Schools this year. She said only one mural exists at West now, but plans are in the works to add more throughout the year. However, her program is on a rotation schedule with computer and music classes and she is available at each of the three district elementary schools for three weeks out of each quarter, which means her murals will take some time to complete. Aubrey also plans to add or change some of the displays each year.
Still, she finds the prospect very exciting.
“I am thrilled to see the new energy and ideas that are coming to Buckeye Local right now, and Mr. DiCola and this project are the perfect examples of that. I am honored that I can be a part of this project,” she said.
(Photo Cutline: Art teacher Jennifer Aubrey is showing off her handiwork by adding murals to the walls of Buckeye West Elementary School in Adena. Aubrey, a longtime teacher at Buckeye Local Schools, plans to add more designs throughout the year and beyond.)
BL Students Shine at Olympic Challenge
Posted 10/28/2022 at 1:01:24 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Students had their moment in the sun partaking in the Buckeye Local School District’s Olympic Challenge on Thursday.
Nearly 200 people including students, teachers, parents and volunteers gathered at Buckeye Local High School’s two gymnasiums for activities throughout the day. The challenge was open to grades K-6 students with individual education plans, or IEP’s, and more than 60 kids attended from Buckeye North, South and West Elementary and Buckeye Local Jr. High Schools. They were divided into five groups each for grades K-3 and 4-6 and completed an Olympiad obstacle course, long jump, super dash and cornhole in the Panther Gym, plus they enjoyed crafts and face painting in the small gym. Following lunch, awards were doled out with medals for first-place recipients and ribbons for second- and third-place finishers. Family members were invited to witness the festivities while members of the BLHS Student Council, Foreign Language Club, National Honors Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes volunteered to assist the festivities.
BLHS Principal Luke Parsons, who organized this year’s event, said it was a way to unite the students and give them the spotlight.
“We’ve been on a hiatus for the past few years due to COVID and other reasons but were very excited to bring it back this year,” Parsons said. “It’s a great way for the elementary students to visit the school and gives my students a chance to shine, as well. Today was about the elementary kids, and we think it was a fantastic day.”
Parsons also thanked BLHS officials and staff for their support, including Superintendent Scott Celestin, high school Assistant Principal Janelle Windsheimer, district Special Education Director Julie Packer, retired teacher MaryEllen Bolock, teachers Mike DiCenzo, Belinda Boyce and Bonnie Soos, Savanna Granat and Amanda Gruber, Buckeye North Elementary Principal Susan Nolan, South Elementary Principal Lori Roberts and West Elementary Principal Brian DiCola and the elementary special education teachers.
Celestin and Buckeye Local Board of Education member Clint Powell were also on hand and said it was a wonderful opportunity for the kids.
“This is a great day for Buckeye Local to see these students making friends and uniting for fun, and it’s an opportunity for them to shine,” said Celestin. “I want to thank Mr. Parsons and the high school for not only putting this on, but also for the way they are accepting these students and showing that they care.”
Celestin was involved in organizing previous events and said the Olympic Challenge has been held for about 20 years. This time, he gave all of the credit to BLHS officials and students.
“They’ve embraced this and look forward to doing it,” he said.
“I want to commend the district and all of the building principals, teachers, students and even the juniors and seniors helping with the event,” Powell added. “The events were put together to help build self-esteem and confidence in students. It’s just another positive event put on by the Buckeye Local School District to impact and benefit our students.”
Meanwhile, some of the young participants noted their enjoyment with the experience.
“I get to play games,” said Anastaysha Davis, a fourth-grader at West Elementary.
North Elementary kindergartener Isaiah King said he liked playing cornhole and making crafts and he had lots of fun.
But South Elementary first-grader Antonio Pepe was even more excited.
“I’m never gonna leave this place,” he said matter-of-factly.
(Photo Cutline: Buckeye South Elementary second-grader Jerycho Hartz makes her way through the Olympiad obstacle course during the Olympic Challenge at Buckeye Local High School on Thursday. More than 60 kids in grades K-6 completed a series of events including long jump, cornhole and a super dash plus they enjoyed face painting and crafts. The day ended with medals and ribbons awarded to first-through third-place recipients.)
Funding Contributes to Sign Project at North
Posted 10/13/2022 at 10:34:05 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
BRILLIANT-A local family has made a $9,000 monetary contribution in tribute to their brother which will leave a lasting legacy at Buckeye North Elementary.
Dave and Darlene Devore made the donation in memory of their sibling, Fred, who passed away three years ago but had been active in the community.
“My brother was a longtime member of the Wells Township Sportsman’s Club and he’s donated in the past. The sportsman’s club had also donated in his name,” Dave Devore said. “We hoped to donate to the school. We went to school there and I figured we would do this. I feel great about it and know it could go somewhere useful.”
Devore added that Fred enjoyed working with kids during events at the club and giving money for the sign was a wonderful way to carry on the tradition. Principal Susan Nolan said the contribution will help make a wish come true by updating the outdated sign on the campus with a digital marquee.
“We were working on getting a new electronic sign out front for about year. The sportsman’s club previously donated $5,000 and they also helped with our playground that was installed three years ago. They’ve also bought more than 40 kids new bicycles for Christmas and screen protectors for the desks during COVID,” Nolan said. “They’ve been very generous and they did it in Fred Devore’s name. He loved kids.”
Nolan thanked the Devores and said she hoped to acquire the sign and have it installed this spring.
(Photo Caption: Siblings Dave and Darlene Devore donated $9,000 to Buckeye North Elementary School which will be used to upgrade signage on the campus to a digital format. The contribution was made in the name of Fred Devore, the siblings’ brother who passed away three years ago but was a longtime supporter and benefactor. Pictured are, from left, Principal Susan Nolan, Dave Devore, Darlene Devore and Superintendent Scott Celestin.)
Ascent Resources Donates STEM Boxes to Schools
Posted 10/12/2022 at 10:28:57 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
BRILLIANT-Students in Buckeye Local Schools have the benefit of STEM learning thanks to a donation from Ascent Resources.
Company officials contributed dozens of boxes for fourth-to sixth-grade students to utilize in their classrooms. Amanda Finn, director of external affairs for Ascent Resources, said 67 boxes were distributed and will benefit more than 402 students in area schools. Finn continued that boxes went to 11 schools in a five-county area including Jefferson, Harrison, Guernsey and Belmont.
“It’s a STEM science experiment box with six learning projects. It’s teaching them science and about oil and gas since it’s in our area,” Finn said. “It includes a pipeline test, one on building a rig, another teaching them how to frack a well and a weighty problems test.”
She said the STEM boxes were born upon the beliefs of company CEO Jeff Fisher, who has supported education in the company’s home base of Oklahoma.
“Our CEO is a large proponent of STEM and he wanted us to work on something. He’s had programs in Oklahoma and this is what we decided to do.”
Leaders at Buckeye North, West and South Elementary Schools said they were grateful for the gifts.
Buckeye North Elementary Principal Susan Nolan said they were another tool to enhance student learning, but this wasn’t the first time the company has supported the district.
“They had also donated the cinch sacks for our Back to School Bash,” she commented.
West Elementary Principal Brian DiCola noted his gratitude, saying the company has always supported the school system.
“It’s amazing. They are working so well with us,” DiCola added. “It’s important to have STEM and open students’ eyes to science careers and see a lot of the work Ascent does around here. It makes learning fun and gives our staff another resource to teach the kids.”
South Elementary Principal Lori Roberts was also appreciative and said they will be implemented in the science classes.
“Our science teachers are really excited about using them and the hands-on learning it offers the kids.”
(Photo Caption: Students at Buckeye North Elementary display boxes donated by Ascent Resources to provide a series of STEM projects for fourth-to-sixth-graders. Pictured are, from left, Emma Saylor, Jayden Mossor, Mason Patterson, Declan Vasconcellos, Kamryn Arnett and Zyriah Velez with Principal Susan Nolan. Boxes were also donated to South Elementary in Tiltonsville and West Elementary in Adena.)
ARPA Funds Supply Needy Students
Posted 8/26/2022 at 10:50:07 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Buckeye Local Schools will put some federal funding to use to help students in need.
Superintendent Scott Celestin said the district opted to use an estimated $7,100 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Homeless grant allocation to supply low-income students with hygiene products, learning materials and other items. The grant, which is part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund, is disbursed through the Ohio Department of Education and generally earmarked for homeless students. Celestin said at least half of the student population are eligible to receive free and reduced lunches and leaders opted to benefit underprivileged youth in another way.
“We get ESSER funds for homeless students and the administration decided to put it to use. [District Treasurer Merri Matthews] bought food, hygiene products and other items. We want the families to know it is available,” Celestin said. “It’s for the kids who are socioeconomically disadvantaged and it’s stuff they can take home.”
Officials used the estimated $7,100 allocation to purchase school supplies, laundry detergent and toiletries such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, shampoo, conditioner, soap, feminine products, shaving cream, razors, lotion, combs, brushes, towels and washcloths, as well as socks, blankets and food products including snacks, cereal, breakfast bars, fruit bars, macaroni and cheese and Ramen noodles, water and milk that does not require refrigeration. Additionally, elementary-aged students received underwear and reusable lunch bags.
Celestin said the supplies were made available at Buckeye North, South and West Elementary and Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High Schools for the start of the year. Students returned to class on Aug. 24.
“They were distributed to the schools so they are available for the kids,” he concluded.
(Photo Caption: The Buckeye Local School District opted to use state American Rescue Plan Act funds totaling $7,100 to purchase school supplies, hygiene products, food and other goods to support homeless and socioeconomically disadvantaged students. The items were distributed to the district’s four school buildings and will be given to youth as needed.)
A Fun Day
Posted 5/26/2022 at 10:42:41 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
Buckeye North Elementary students enjoyed a day in the sun during the annual School-wide Olympics event on Monday. Kids in grades K-6 were divided into blended teams and completed relay races such as a balloon pop and bunny hop as well as tug-of-war. Twenty-five Buckeye Local High School students volunteered to assist and the top three teams included teachers Jane Kleineke’s Werewolves, Jennifer Aubrey’s Elves and Melissa Kernen’s Krakens. Pictured is third-grader Ada Price racing to give freshman Gavin Edgell in a straw skirt during a tropical-themed dress-up race.
BL Seniors Gain Scholarships
Posted 5/25/2022 at 10:37:44 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local High School seniors received more than $65,000 in scholarships during the annual Senior Awards Assembly on May 10.
Organizations and schools provided awards totaling $65,750 in addition to academic scholarships from local colleges and universities during the event to help graduates pursue higher education.
Among this year’s recipients were Allison Trekal with the Alpha Delta Kappa Scholarship for $500; Cameron Best and Adrianna Blazeski, the Buckeye Local Jr. Panthers Scholarship for $500 each; Jacob Phillis, the Leon Berze Memorial Scholarship for $500; James Hornyak, Ethan McHugh and Jacob Phillis, Brilliant Lions Club Scholarship for $500; Mariah Pelkey, the Buckeye Local Board of Education and Buckeye Local Football Alumni Scholarships for $500 each; Kylie Gura, Buckeye Local Classroom Teacher Association Scholarship for $500; Adrianna Blazeski, Brooklyn Lengyel, Brianna Merkel and Matthew Scott, Dillonvale High School Alumni Association Scholarship for $750 each; Hannah Reynolds, From the Heart Anonymous Scholarship for $750; Jacob Phillis, Eastern Gateway Community College’s Jefferson County Academic Scholarship for tuition, books and supplies; Cameron Best, Nathan W. Finney Memorial Scholarship for $500; Hunter McFadden and Hannah Reynolds, Cody Griffith Life Improvement Award for $750 each; Hunter McFadden, Heske Family Award (for most improved GPA) for $400; Cameron Best, Adrianna Blazeski and Brianna Merkel, Indian Club Scholarship for $1,000 each; Cameron Best and Bailey Ebright, Jefferson County Farm Bureau Scholarship; Kylie Gura and Aivri Ruttencutter, Kontogiannis Family Scholarship for $5,000 each; Brooklyn Lengyel, Maderia Family Scholarship for $1,000; Adrianna Blazeski, Isabella Hepburn, Kylie Gura and Kassidy George, Jessica Marie Mayle Memorial Volleyball Scholarship for $1,000 each; Allison Trekal and Ethan McHugh, Bill Mazeroski Baseball Scholarship for $4,000 each; Kaydence Angel and Kylie Gura, Brad W. McFadden Memorial Scholarship for $500 each; Adrianna Blazeski, Josh Merriman Memorial Scholarship for $500; Aivri Ruttencutter and Rylie White, Russ Moran Memorial Scholarship for $500 each; Matthew Scott and Rylie White, Mt. Pleasant-Dillonvale Lion’s Club Scholarship for $500 each; Brooklyn Lengyel, Mt. Pleasant High School Class Alumni Association Scholarship for $1,000; Kaden Bednarek and Adrianna Blazeski, Joseph Nieb ‘43’ Memorial Scholarship for $1,000 each; Cameron Best, North Elementary Robert Dalrymple Memorial Scholarship for $1,000; Adrianna Blazeski and Shaelynn Cesario, OAPSE Scholarship for $200 each; Adrianna Blazeski and Hester Lambright, Freshmen Academic Scholarships from Ohio University Eastern.
Ohio High School Athletics Association (OHSAA) Athletic Awards were also given to the following: Cameron Best and Adrianna Blazeski, Scholar Athletes; Trevor Herbert and Allison Trekal, Courageous Student Award; Ethan McHugh, Justin Driscoll, Kassidy George and Mariah Pelkey, NFHS National Award of Excellence; Cameron Best and Adrianna Blazeski, the Archie Griffin Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award.
Three $3,000 scholarships went to Kaden Bednarek, Brooklyn Lengyel and Brooke Shaffer from the Charles and Thelma Pugliese Charitable Foundation while the Sons of the American Legion Squadron Post 525 presented $500 scholarships to Kaden Bednarek, Hester Lambright and Allison Trekal. More honors included Mallory Kujawa with the Special Friends Scholarship for $500; Demetria Christian, the Edward J. Stanko Memorial Scholarship for $250; Robert Ellis, the Steven E. Strupe Memorial Scholarship for $2,000; Jacob Phillis, the Mike Tolliver Memorial Scholarship for $750.
Touchdown Club Scholarship winners included Justin Driscoll with the Pete Ziniach Scholarship for $500; Ethan McHugh, the Bill McHugh Scholarship for $500; and Mariah Pelkey, the Dick Thurnes Scholarship for $500. The V.A.L.E.S. Scholarship was awarded to Ethan McHugh and Mariah Pelkey for $750 each while Cameron Best and Isabella Hepburn each received the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4811 Scholarship for $500. Other recipients included Kaden Bednarek and Brooklyn Lengyel, Warren Township Lion’s Club Scholarship for $500 each; Allison Trekal, the Nora Webb-Winstead Memorial Scholarship for $1,000; Mallory Kujawa, Doyle R. Weldon Memorial Band Scholarship for $1,000; Kaden Bednarek and Hannah Reynolds, Wells Township Haunted House Scholarship for $100 for each year they volunteered; Brianna Merkel, Wheeling Hospital Auxiliary for $1,000 for four years; and Adrianna Blazeski and Bailey Ebright, Woman’s Club of Adena Scholarship for $500 each.
South Raises Money for Autism Awareness
Posted 5/25/2022 at 10:32:18 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
Buckeye South Elementary showed its support for autism awareness by raising $734 for the Autism Speaks organization. School speech pathologist Vanessa Maurer spearheaded fundraisers complete with T-shirt sales and activities throughout April, which incidentally was Autism Awareness Month. Among the activities were themed dress-up days for a donation, a door-decorating contest with Jenny Potts’ first-grade class earning a pizza party and free planning time for the teacher and a Kids and Coins for Autism monetary collection with Madison Legros’s first-grade class being the top moneymaker. As a result, they received free outside time and a chance to toss water balloons at Principal Julie Packer. Maurer said the coin collection funds went to the organization while $630 in T-shirt sales proceeds will provide South students with sensory items and supplies to aid social skills. She was pleased with the response and looks forward to holding more events next year. Pictured are teachers and students standing in formation as the infinity symbol—one of the symbols for autism—in a show of solidarity.
BL Kids Attend Camp
Posted 5/17/2022 at 10:13:14 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
Seventy-three students from Buckeye North, West and South Elementary Schools attended FFA Camp Muskingum near Carrollton on May 3-6. There they had a chance to participate in archery, outdoor science lessons, nature hikes and other activities. They also learned about team building and leadership and met their future classmates when they attend Buckeye Local Jr. High School next fall.
Art Show Winds Down
Posted 5/15/2022 at 10:50:23 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
More than 80 pieces were on display during the 2022 Spring Art Show on May 10-13 at Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School. Students in grades 9-12 showcased watercolor and acrylic paintings as well as charcoal drawings and sculptures they completed throughout the school year. Their works were exhibited in the theatre with a public viewing that Monday and the show was open to staff and students during school hours for the rest of the week. Art teacher Amanda Gruber said the event has been held for more than a decade but was preempted by the COVID pandemic.
Moving Up
Posted 5/14/2022 at 10:43:39 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
About 100 sixth-graders from Buckeye North, South and West Elementary Schools converged upon Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School May 12 to tour the facilities. Student Council members led groups throughout the building to familiarize them with classrooms and other surroundings before moving up to seventh grade in the fall. Pictured is eighth-grader Kamden Kinyo guiding some of the underclassmen during the event.
Celestin Remains Interim Superintendent
Posted 5/4/2022 at 11:45:10 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Interim Superintendent Scott Celestin will remain in his position for another year following talks with the Buckeye Local Board of Education.
Celestin’s service was extended through the 2022-23 school year in a non-contractual agreement at the April 25 board meeting and officials made the announcement following an executive session. Board President Teresa George was pleased to see Celestin continue at the helm and said it will give leaders a greater opportunity to select a permanent replacement.
“We feel with Scott continuing on the current path as interim superintendent that it will allow the board to take time to choose a new superintendent,” George said. “We don’t want to rush it; we want time to choose a superintendent who is the right fit for the district.”
She praised Celestin for his efforts to carry the district through the current year and said he has the support of stakeholders and staff alike.
“I think Scott is doing a phenomenal job. He has the support of staff and administrators, and with the assistance of [Assistant Superintendent William Luther], the district is going in the direction it needs to be.”
Celestin, who has been an educator for the past 34 years, spent 18 of them at Buckeye Local Schools. He served as principal at Buckeye Local High School in 2004 and later became district director of transportation and student services. He held those titles from 2011-2017, after which he was named assistant superintendent along with Luther. Celestin has served in an interim capacity since December of 2020 and was grateful to continue his tenure.
“I think it’s a great district and the staff and students here are amazing,” he said. “There are good things coming for Buckeye Local and I'm glad to be part of it.”
The district includes an estimated 1,700 students and 200 teachers and staff and Celestin said one of his goals is to get everyone working together and show them that they are appreciated. Meanwhile, more plans are coming down the pike with nearly $500,000 in improvements at the high school. The first phase of heating and cooling updates was recently completed at a cost of $163,181 and upcoming projects include a new public announcement system, exterior lighting replacements and paving along Panther Drive and the parking lot for approximately $330,000. The HVAC project was financed using federal ESSER money while the remaining expenses will be covered under the district’s general fund. Other improvements entail a new radio system for school and bus communication for about $135,000 and updating the reading series across the district.
Annual Sea Air & Land Challenge at BLHS
Posted 5/3/2022 at 12:43:49 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Students will put their STEM knowledge to work during the fourth annual Sea Air and Land Challenge at Buckeye Local High School on May 6.
The event, which is sponsored by Penn State University’s Electro-Optics Center (EOC), runs from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and begins with a brief gathering in the auditorium while the challenges follow with land and air events in the gym and sea activities scheduled outside in tented areas. Teams compete with members operating remote-controlled robots they designed to finish timed tasks on land, under water and by air with experts judging all of the activities. The teams will break for lunch, after which trophies will be given for top performers in each challenge as well as an Innovation Award. In addition, Navy Chief Chris Lange will be featured as keynote speaker. BLHS will have three teams competing while other schools expected are Martins Ferry, Wheeling Central and potentially Bedford High School from Michigan.
Organizer Jeff Merrill, a math teacher at BLHS who also helped establish the school’s STEM program, said the challenge was first created at the EOC and Buckeye Local was invited to participate. BLHS officials were inspired to host their own event in 2018 which attracted about 100 students from Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
“The Sea Air and Land Challenge is an Office of Naval Research-sponsored program in which teams of high school-aged students learn about the engineering process through the design and build of a robotic system. The systems are then used to compete in challenges relevant to the Department of Defense which mimic missions encountered by the military, national security agencies and first responders,” he explained. “The challenge provides the opportunity for high school students to tackle a difficult engineering task while working with educators and engineering mentors. The teams have 12 to 16 weeks (one semester) to design and build unmanned vehicles and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) payloads to compete in the challenge of their choice. Teams may build submersibles for the sea challenge, drones for the air challenge or rovers for the land challenge. The challenges are designed by engineers at the Penn State’s Applied Research Laboratory and by some of the country’s finest Navy SEALs and Green Berets.”
He added that STEM was a growing job field and the military plays a vital role through national security. It also introduces students to career opportunities and helps educators implement a successful program in their school districts.
Merrill commented that the teams were excited to showcase the skills they’ve learned along the way.
“Students love the challenge of building the robots to meet the criteria of the challenges given to them,” he said.
BLHS Art Club Donates to Ukraine
Posted 4/27/2022 at 9:50:09 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
The Buckeye Local High School Art Club sponsored an online charity campaign through social media in April and gathered clothing, hygiene products and medical supplies for the people of Ukraine. The event was held in conjunction with IC Care of Wheeling, which transported contributions from across the Ohio Valley to the war-torn country. Advisor Amanda Gruber said it was the first time the 10-member student group conducted a donation drive and they thanked everyone for their generosity.
Blood Drive Draws Donors at BLHS
Posted 4/6/2022 at 12:12:57 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Students, faculty and community members stepped up to help save lives during the biannual blood drive at Buckeye Local High School on April 1.
Organizers said 39 people registered to donate but 27 units were collected at the event set in the small gym. Vitalant, formerly the Central Blood Bank of Pittsburgh, coordinated efforts in conjunction with the school’s student council. Student Council Co-advisor Michael DiCenzo, who shares duties with Myste Carter, said a mix of school and community contributors were part of the effort and every bit helps.
“A majority were students, plus teachers signed up and we had a few from the community,” he commented.
In addition to saving lives, the blood drive has also supported the student council by providing a $500 scholarship to a graduating member should they raise 25 units at each drive. Unfortunately, the collection fell slightly short this year to be eligible.
“We had 33-34 signed up in the fall and had 23 donors,” he added. “They collected 17 whole blood units, two plasma, and four double reds.”
But the real purpose was to help others and students on hand were happy to lend their time. Juniors Rachel Jarman, Gage Cermak and Lizzie Frank all are first-time participants and said they were inspired in various ways.
Jarman said she wanted to replenish supplies created by the blood shortage while Cermak saw the need firsthand.
“I’m on the Dillonvale E-Squad,” he said. “I like giving.”
“It helps people,” added junior Lizzie Frank. “I’ve always wanted to help, and since my mom worked with the American Red Cross I’ve always been around blood drives.”
The third time was the charm for senior Brianne Merkel, a repeat donor who wanted to make a difference. She gave blood with a little support from friend and fellow senior Aivri Ruttencutter.
“I wanted to give back to those in need,” Merkel commented.
“I’m just trying to help out,” noted first-timer Nathan Cline, a junior.
The student council has organized the blood drive for well over a decade except last year because of COVID. Members manned stations such as the cantina while Vitalant personnel oversaw the collection. Units were provided to local hospitals including Weirton, Wheeling, Pittsburgh and Barnesville to support cancer and surgical patients, the elderly, accident victims and people with blood-borne issues, among others.
(Photo Cutline: Buckeye Local High School senior Brianna Merkel gives her third donation with a little emotional support from friend Aivri Ruttencutter during the BLHS Student Council’s biannual blood drive on April 1. About 27 students, staff and community members contributed to the cause to save the lives of countless people.)
Coding Students Bring Designs to Life
Posted 3/25/2022 at 9:21:13 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local Jr. High School students are putting their coding skills to use and bringing designs to life with some modern technology.
Tech teacher Kathy Yocum instructs a nine-week programming course and alternates eighth-graders during the first and third nine weeks and seventh-graders during the second and fourth nine weeks. The upperclassmen wrapped up their sessions on March 18 with the younger students starting anew the following Monday, and Yocum said the schoolwork offers a real hands-on approach to learning.
“We did programming, or coding, and algorithms, sequencing, conditionals, loops and variables,” she explained, adding that she manages to keep students engaged through interactive lessons. “They enjoy more hands-on activities. I wanted to get more into circuitry because there are some really cool projects we could do.”
Students use what is known as block code and write programs in various tech languages including Python. They are then able to create unique projects such as operating tealights with circuitry and turn designs into objects with 3-D printers. Yocum previously earned a grant to acquire one printer in 2018 and used career technical funds to procure two more Makerbot Sketch units this past January for further computer-aided design (CAD). The high-tech hardware uses plastic thread melted to 220 degrees Celsius to create a digital model through what is known as the additive process. The hot plastic is squeezed out in layers within a matter of hours to form figures designed by students, but other materials can be used professionally including ceramic, glass, metal and even biological materials. Yocum said CAD affords endless opportunities to make the world a better place.
“They can print houses and bridges,” she continued, saying biomedical researchers are also looking at ways to rebuild bone. “It goes into medicine and there are a lot of different areas. I’m trying to get students to see the possibilities that are available. There is so much more we can do.”
For now, her classes are beginning to understand the many potential uses and how they can create on their own.
“They can learn about exporting it out of the class program in a format the printer can understand. They are also practicing how to attach them to emails. I try to bring in skills they need to know in the future if they get into a career using this.”
Their classroom practice has yielded three-dimensional shapes including snake toys, names and the school logo from the printers, and Yocum said the classes have completed an estimated 60 projects. She gains ideas from YouTube and the CAD program they use in class, as well as one from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Some of her students have chalked it up as a fun learning experience.
Eighth-grader Autumn Shaughnessy said her favorite part of the class was having Yocum as her teacher.
“The teacher is because she works with you through things and helps with the 3-D coding,” added classmate Emily Edwards.
Fellow pupil Clayton Williams is eyeing a possible vocation in his future.
“I want to build computers,” he said.
(Photo Cutline: Seventh-and eighth-graders are learning how to write computer codes and create digital models on 3-D printers at Buckeye Local Jr. High School, giving them advantages with high-tech tools to prepare for 21st Century careers. Pictured is eighth-grader Chase Milton with a few of the items students have created with Makerbot Sketch 3-D printers in class.)
100 Days and Valentines
Posted 2/23/2022 at 10:08:01 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
It was all about hearts and the young at heart as kindergarteners at Buckeye South Elementary observed Valentine’s Day and 100 days of school this month. Students had the option of dressing up like Cupid’s cuties to centenarians for the occasion. Pictured are, front from left, Lillian Ricer, Rowan Angel, Maysen Horvath, Charlie Jo Hall and Gavin Smith. Back: Kaiden McCarthy, Cam Long, Hannah Napper, Zoey Nonemaker, Andy Sempkowski, Ella Thomas, Charlotte Kolenich and Tony Pape.
George, West to Lead BLBOE
Posted 1/12/2022 at 12:49:18 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-The Buckeye Local Board of Education kicked off the new year by organizing its panel on Tuesday.
During the organizational meeting, Teresa George and Ashley West respectively were elected board president and vice president while officials also approved annual business such as establishing service funds and authorizing the superintendent to take action on various operational matters.
The regular session followed and included approving a bevy of other issues. Under personnel matters, the board approved one-year contracts for classified staff who are currently at the end of their current pact. They include Courtney Romanyak and Lindsey Farmer, aides at Buckeye South Elementary; JoEllen Roshak, custodian/cook for the district and Buckeye Local High School; and Ray Roshak, head mechanic for the district.
Meanwhile, supplemental contracts were approved for Jason Merryman as junior high boys’ track and head cross country coach, Jim Berze as head golf coach and Jim Hoover as head football coach at BLHS while pupil activity contracts were given to Timothy Jacob as assistant baseball coach and Joe Soos as assistant softball coach.
Officials also gave a shout out to student achievers during the meeting. Alexis Becker, a sixth-grader at Buckeye West Elementary, won the J.B. Green Team Billboard Drawing Contest and will have her rendering on display along Ohio 7 near Martins Ferry.
Building spelling bee winners were also tapped from the schools and included the following: Alora Turner, first place; Sean Turner, second; Ava Conley, third; Kennody Mori, fourth; Emma Vitek, fifth; Brooklyn Torok, sixth; Damien Ohle, first alternate; and Necia Hosenfeld, second alternate at North; Ryan Palmer, first place; Jaremiah Burress, second; Janelle Cooper, third; Cameron Tittle, fourth; Kohlten Haga, fifth; Nathan Dentz, sixth; Logan Bailey, first alternate; and Ashley Harbert, second alternate, Buckeye South; Jocelynn Mathews, first place; Liam Thomas, second; Wyatt Durbin, third; Michael Kovalski, fourth; Evan Krupinski, fifth; Loriana Hess, sixth; Steven Bolock, first alternate; and Bryce Sobleski, second alternate, West Elementary. The district bee was set for Jan 12 at BLHS at 7 p.m. with a snow date on Jan. 19.
BLHS students were then recognized for their charitable works over the holiday. They included Aivri Ruttencutter, Ethan McHugh, Brianna Merkel, Adrianna Blazeski, Isabella Hepburn, Robert Ellis, Zeke Argentine, Alexa Williams, Ayden Krupinski and Hunter Darrah for a toy drive; students Justin Driscoll, Ethan McHugh, Trey Hoover, Dylan Palmer, Hunter Roush, Hunter Darrah and Matt Scott, who served as elementary helpers; food pantry volunteers Corey Olinski, Ashley Soos, Mikayla Higgins and Hayden Mort; and BLHS National Honor Society members Bri Merkel, Riley White, Kaden Bednarek, Cameron Best, Adriana Blazeski, Kirsten Faulkner, Isabella Hepburn, James Hornyak, Hester Lambright, Brooklyn Lengyel, Ethan McHugh, Mariah Pelkey, Aivri Ruttencutter, Matthew Scott, Brooke Shaffer, Link Szafran and Allison Trekal for their toy campaign.
In other action, the board:
--Held an executive session on personnel matters with no action taken;
--Announced calendar events including the end of the second nine weeks/first semester on Jan. 14; no school for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 17; report cards on Jan. 21; a two-hour early dismissal on Feb. 16; and no school for President’s Day on Feb. 21;
--Set the next regular meeting for Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the administrative office in Dillonvale.
(Photo Cutline: The Buckeye Local Board of Education selected new leaders during the organizational meeting on Jan. 10 while districts are also observing School Board Appreciation Month in January. Pictured are, front from left, President Teresa George and Vice President Ashley West. Back: Brooke Stingle, April Ogden and Clint Powell.)
BLHS, Family Recovery Center Tackle Vaping
Posted 10/20/2021 at 10:15:25 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local High School and the Family Recovery Center of Steubenville are teaming up to educate students on the dangers of vaping.
Principal Luke Parsons said prevention specialist Doug Murray is helping to institute Vaping Prevention Plus to provide prevention and intervention to students who are found with a vape or tobacco product. Officials said school will also take its own course of action but the sessions are an extra form of response.
“I have utilized that already this year,” Parsons said. “It’s not just about punishment; it’s about changing their habits and making them realize how it affects them. It’s another tool we can use to make sure we are helping students rather than punishing them.”
Murray said the program was another means of helping students help themselves.
“We had done a workshop in the past to educate students on the dangers of vaping but wanted to reach the students in a different way moving forward,” he explained. “After looking through multiple evidence-based programs, we settled on Vaping Prevention Plus Wellness. What is great about this program is it is very flexible on how you deliver the information. It can be used as a prevention tool and an intervention tool in a group or individual setting.”
He said vapes have very high levels of nicotine with one pod containing the same as 20 cigarettes. Since the human brain is still developing until age 25 to 26, usage may impact memory, learning and moods while kids will be more susceptible to using other addictive substances later in life. Murray and other prevention educators from the center underwent training this past summer and were certified to implement the program this fall. It is currently being offered to middle and high schools throughout Jefferson County.
“I have probably talked to over 1,500 students in the past few years about vaping in a group setting. This program has only had one session scheduled one on one but more are being scheduled for the future,” Murray noted. “It’s important to educate students about the dangers of vaping because it can truly hurt them later in life. I always tell them you may not see the effects today or tomorrow, but you may find out the hard way down the road.”
In addition, he plans to continue QPR Institute suicide prevention training at Buckeye Local and other schools to tackle the issue and help save lives. Murray, who is also a certified QPR gatekeeper trainer, held sessions at BLHS throughout the previous school year and anticipates more trainings this term. QPR, which stands for Question, Persuade, Refer, helps identify people who may be experiencing suicidal ideations and attempts to provides tools to assist people in crisis. Sessions include videos, a detailed PowerPoint presentation and various situational exercises on how to respond, plus refresher courses may be conducted every one to two years.
“I will be doing QPR sessions again this year. My goal is to reach 500 students and community members by the end of June of 2022. I believe we are going to start at Buckeye very soon and train all members of the student council. I am very excited to continue this program in Jefferson County.”
Murray has worked with BLHS since 2017 and cited Parsons as key to bringing programs to the school.
“He has always been very open to our program, so I definitely owe him a lot of gratitude and I always look forward to serving Buckeye.”
North’s Abuzz about Bees
Posted 10/20/2021 at 10:10:16 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
Students in Heather Long’s second-grade science class at Buckeye North Elementary got a closer look at the lives of honeybees. The class completed standards-based activity pages and got a taste of honey and pollen. The culmination of their studies was to look into a real hive and view the honeycomb, capped honey and pollen brought into the hive by some local bees. Pictured taking a gander are, from left, Zeus Kuprowicz, Rhonda Pethel, Kevin Matthews and Brelyn Herring.
BLHS Recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month
Posted 10/8/2021 at 11:50:47 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-Buckeye Local High School is recognizing Latin history and culture during National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15-Oct. 15, is celebrated to recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the U.S. and to celebrate Hispanic cultural heritage and Hispanic culture. Hispanic Heritage Week initially was approved by President Lyndon Johnson and expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point because it is the anniversary of independence for the Latin American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico, Chile and Belize celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16, 18 and 21, respectively. The observance helps highlight what it means to be Latino and their influence on the American culture. Activities are being spearheaded by teacher Bonnie Soos’ Spanish IV students, who also created a hallway display following this year’s theme of “Music Mania.”
“During this time period, we recognize the contributions of the Hispanic Americans to the United States and to celebrate Hispanic heritage and culture,” she added. “This year, we are focusing on music. Each one of my classes is involved and each day we listen to two songs in Spanish. Each song is from a different Spanish-speaking country and there is a total of 21 countries with the U.S. making 22 because of its large Spanish-speaking population.”
Soos said students will vote digitally for their favorite tune via a Google Form and the winning song moves on to the next phase similar to March Madness for college basketball.
Meanwhile, the entire school will herald National Hispanic Heritage Week on Oct. 11-15 with different events. Each day, students may dress up for Lazy Lunes (Lazy Monday) in school-appropriate sweats and pajamas; Matching Martes (Matching Tuesday) by twinning in identical duds and coordinating colors with a Hispanic country’s flag; Marvelous Miercoles (Marvelous Wednesday) by dressing as a superhero; Yee-Haw Jueves (Yee-Haw Thursday) with a choice of dressing preppy in bowties and dresses or donning camouflage, flannels and boots; and Vivid Viernes (Bright Friday) with freshmen wearing yellow, sophomores going green, juniors in orange, seniors in pink and teachers adorned in their homeroom colors. Former senior homeroom teachers are also encouraged to wear pink hues.
Events also include daily announcements and trivia and members of the student body have a chance to participate in the Music Mania Challenge by voting for their favorite songs. Soos said the tunes should be narrowed down to the top 5 with the final selection announced around the conclusion of the celebration that Friday. She added that the songs are performed in traditional languages which also enrich student learning.
“I want to mention the benefit of listening to music in the target language. It is a proven fact that it helps with pronunciation, strengthens listening skills, builds vocabulary and helps connect learned material to real-life situations.”
(Photo Cutline: Buckeye Local High School is marking National Hispanic Heritage Month with displays and ongoing activities led by Spanish IV students. Events run from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 with Hispanic Heritage Week activities set for Oct. 11-15. Pictured with a display are, front from left, Aivri Ruttencutter, Brianna Merkel, Adrianna Blazeski, Rylie White and Hester Lambright. Back: Ethan McHugh, Matthew Scott, Nicholas Kinkus, Mariah Pelkey, Isabella Hepburn and Kirsten Faulkner.)
Buckeye Local Holding Orientations, Open Houses
Posted 8/13/2021 at 12:57:39 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
DILLONVALE-Buckeye Local is preparing for the new school year with orientations and open houses slated at the district’s respective buildings.
Activities are being held in lieu of the annual Back to School Bash which was put on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, Buckeye Local High School has scheduled an orientation at its facilities this week while the elementary schools have events set later this month.
Buckeye Local Jr. High School in Connorville held festivities on Aug. 12 and incoming seventh-graders received schedules, met teachers and toured the building to become familiar with their new surroundings. BLJHS Principal Jason Kovalski was ready for the new year to begin.
“I am excited and looking forward to getting back to some normalcy in school and the classrooms,” Kovalski said.
BLHS has scheduled its 2021 Orientation for Aug. 17 with a mandatory meeting for athletics, band and cheerleading in the Panther Theatre at 5 p.m. Principal Lucas Parsons said one parent must attend in order for students to participate in those activities and coaches will be on hand for athletes and parents to sign in. Additionally, sessions are planned for freshmen in the theatre at 5:30 p.m. followed by sophomores, juniors and seniors at 6 p.m.
Buckeye North, South and West Elementary Schools will each hold events on Tuesday, Aug. 24 from 5-7 p.m. with South also conducting a grand opening for the public next month.
North Elementary Principal Susan Nolan said her school will welcome kids back and parents will be updated on what to expect for the new term.
“Bus transportation officials will be here for bus routes, schedules and parent information and students and parents can walk through the building,” Nolan commented, saying she was preparing for a return to classes and is optimistic about the upcoming year.
South Elementary Principal Julie Packer said the number of attendees will be limited at her school’s festivities but another activity is being scheduled for next month.
“This open house is for students and one accompanying adult,” she said. “There will be an open house for the public in September.”
The second event will be held Sept.1 from 5-7 p.m. and the public may view repairs from an August 2020 flooding incident which closed the school and forced students to temporarily relocate to the former St. Joseph Primary School down the street in Tiltonsville. The district spent an estimated $270,000 to repair the building and make it operable once again.
Meanwhile, West Elementary Principal Jim Rocchi said the Adena site will host a session with students and parents to acclimate them with the school.
“We are planning to have a brief meeting with all parents to explain daily procedures, have devices available for parents to complete all necessary forms online, pass out supplies which are being supplied by Ascent Resources and permit students and parents to visit their classroom and meet the teachers,” Rocchi added. “Our PTO will have a table set up with information about activities throughout the year and we will have information about our Schoolwide Title I program.”
He continued that a bus driver will be on hand to answer any questions regarding transportation and students will be permitted to put items in their classrooms or lockers so they won't have to transport it all on the first day of school. Rocchi is looking forward to starting the new year and can’t wait to be reunited with everyone.
“I am anxious to see all of our students and staff! We are focusing on growth mindset and positivity this year. We want all students to believe they are capable of achieving whatever they set out to do. With all of the negativity and turmoil in our world today, it is imperative that we be a shining light for our students.”
Classes will resume at Buckeye Local Schools on Aug. 25.
Spragg Remains a Fixture at West
Posted 6/8/2021 at 12:15:48 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
ADENA-West Elementary School Nurse Delores Spragg has been a fixture within the Buckeye Local School District for the past 17 years, so it comes as no surprise when staff and students honored her for her 89th birthday.
Well, at least Spragg was surprised by the gesture on May 17 as teachers, staff, administrators and pupils gathered in the gym just after the school arrivals and presented her with a commemorative cake and handmade cards.
“They called me to the gym and sang ‘Happy Birthday’ and gave me a cake with candles. They also decorated with balloons, cards and signs. As the day went by, the kids wished me a happy birthday,” she said. “It was nice. With everything closed down last year, it was a good thing for everybody. It got us back into a routine of just having some fun.”
She was moved by the support and said she has enjoyed her time and has no plans to stop anytime soon. Spragg began working in the district in 2004 after spending 30 years on the other end of the spectrum with a nursing home facility.
She was born and raised in northern Belmont County and found her calling as a nurse after assisting with an ill neighbor while growing up. Spragg graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1950 and Ohio Valley School of Nursing in 1953, plus she went on to earn a degree in administration and social work from Ohio University Eastern in 1981. Spragg also married and raised three children, and her brood has since expanded to include four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She also recalled completing clothing alterations and consulting at nursing homes before being asked to assist with diabetic students in the local school system.
She has worked with youth from the Shamrocks 4-H Club for six decades and Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church Sunday School for 65 years, where she found she had a knack with children. That proved to be beneficial when she was asked to join Buckeye Local. She eventually filled the post at West and has done everything from treating scrapes from at recess or gym class to providing medication and treatments as well as vision and hearing tests to students. She has led fundraisers for the American Heart Association to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, raising thousands of dollars for the causes. Spragg has also been a part of her church choir and acted as an elder, but her true path has been to serve the children.
Principal Jim Rocchi said Spragg has been a mainstay and staff and students alike adore her.
“Mrs. Spragg is truly one of a kind! Her dedication to our students and passion for nursing is evident through her lifetime of work. She is loved by every student and staff member and is always willing to offer her wealth of medical advice to anyone. We are honored to have Mrs. Spragg tending to our students.”
Spragg said the time will come to step away, but right now it isn’t in the cards.
“I feel the Lord is leading me. He’s giving me the knowledge and I have to share it,” she said. “I’d be bored to death if I didn’t do something. I think about retiring but then ask what I would do. I’m the kids’ grandma here and some of them even call me Grandma. I hope they see an older person who is out working and caring. Whenever God tells me to retire, I’ll retire.”
(Photo Cutline: West Elementary School nurse Delores Spragg was surprised by students and staff with a cake and best wishes for her 89th birthday this month. Spragg has been part of the Buckeye Local School District for the past 17 years and has become a beloved figure and grandma by proxy.)
Buckeye Local Inducts NHS Members
Posted 5/26/2021 at 1:08:16 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
CONNORVILLE-The newest members have been inducted into Buckeye Local High School’s National Honor Society following a ceremony in the school theater.
The program included introductions by district Superintendent Kim Leonard, BLHS Principal Luke Parsons and NHS Advisor Alonna Ackerman, requirements for membership by President Jaina DeMeter and a lighting of the candles representing the four pillars of NHS—scholarship, leadership, service and character—by Vice President Carley Newton, Secretary Whitney Gibbons, Treasurer Anne Takach and Historian Maria Zackey.
Twenty-five students were added to the organization during the event and introduced by Gibbons and Young. They include juniors Kaden Bednarek, Cameron Best, Adrianna Blazeski, Kirsten Faulkner, Isabella Hepburn, James Hornyak, Hester Lambright, Brooklyn Lengyel, Brianna Merkel, Ethan McHugh, Mariah Pelkey, Aivri Ruttencutter, Matthew Scott, Brooke Shaffer, Link Szafran, Allison Trekal and Rylie White, plus seniors Alan Burkett, Tyler Donahue, Julia Long, Guiliana Moscato, Brian Palmer, Trenton Phillips, Brock Sempirek and Landyn Walker.
Rounding out the current members are Lyndsi Carpino, Abbey Kinyo, Meghan McAleavey, Skylar Muldrew, Noah Meyer, Alyssa Slie, Sierra Sterling, Megan Valuska and Abbey Young. The ceremony concluded with a recitation of the NHS pledge by DeMeter and closing remarks by Ackerman.
To become a member of the NHS, students must maintain at least a 3.45 GPA, be involved in at least one school activity and maintain a clean disciplinary record. Students are selected based on a point system and earn points by demonstrating outstanding scholarship, leadership, service and character. Holding leadership roles and participating in service to both the school and the community are considered as part of a student's application, as well.
Ackerman said the student organization is steeped in community service and managed to carry out a few projects even though they were altered by COVID.
“Each year, our chapter selects a central goal for our service. This year, our service theme was ‘Coming Together’ with the goal of helping our community heal from the COVID-19 pandemic,” she continued. “Our chapter helped to organize and load school supplies over a three-day period that were distributed to our elementary students. Later in the year, students helped to load lunches onto buses to be distributed to students within the district. They also organized a drive to send out cards to Sienna Hills Nursing Home and Valley Hospice Care Center for Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter. In the past, we have volunteered at the Monsters at the Mall 5K, completed a Christmas card drive to send cards to local cancer patients, nursing home residents and veterans and we also held a drive at Valentine's Day last year to donate personal care items to Valley Hospice.”
FCA Blanket Project
Posted 4/29/2021 at 10:50:36 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]
Buckeye Local High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes, in cooperation with the Beta Epsilon chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa International, knotted blankets which were donated through The Linus Project to the Urban Mission Ministries Inc. and The Gabriel Project of Wheeling. Pictured are, in front, Belinda Boyce, FCA advisor and ADK Beta Epsilon Chapter president. Back: Brooklyn Lengyel, Jacob Phillis, Corissa Griffith and Carly Long. Not pictured are Cai McKeever, Josey Meddles, Ashley Soos, Jaelee Thompson, Rachel Jarman and Janyah Withers.