Carrollton students share mentor program work with younger peers

Carrollton High School students involved in the district’s Mentor program shared details of their work with younger students during the Carrollton Exempted Village School District Board of Education meeting March 10.

Belinda Mach oversees the high school mentor group, while Chris Woolf coordinates middle school mentors. Together, the programs connect high school students with younger students to promote leadership, character development and positive decision-making.

Mach said the program began several years ago when students Hailey Edie and Emma Bodo approached staff about reviving the former Youth to Youth program.

“They didn’t want to see it die,” Mach said.

The program has since expanded significantly, with about 50 students participating as mentors.

Students interested in becoming mentors must sign a pledge agreeing to maintain passing grades, avoid vaping, drugs and alcohol and represent the program appropriately, including responsible use of social media. Students who violate the pledge may be placed on probation or removed from the program.

Mach described the high school group’s work with second graders at the elementary school. Students developed a character-building curriculum based on “building blocks” such as respect, integrity, empathy, perseverance and sportsmanship.

Mentors created their own lessons and activities for each topic after meeting with teachers to determine what younger students needed most.

“We started with nothing,” Mach said. “Everything you see was created by the students.”

Mach said many mentors return from visits with younger students excited about the experience, with some even considering careers in education after working with the elementary students.

Several mentors attended the meeting and demonstrated part of a presentation they use with younger students. Students participating in the demonstration were Isabella Nuzzolillo, Logan Pridemore, Railey Macke, Olivia Gump and Dallak Pallet.

Woolf said the middle school mentor group meets during advisory periods and prepares presentations for younger students on topics including social media use, physical health, mental health, substance abuse and study habits.

Students develop the presentations themselves, often led by juniors and seniors, and practice delivering them before presenting to younger classes.

“I just try to guide them in the right direction,” Woolf said. “The ideas and presentations are theirs.”

Board members praised the students for their leadership and involvement with younger students.

Board President Dan Ries said he remembers looking up to older students when he was younger.

“To have mentors like this is amazing,” Ries said.

The board also heard from Patrick King of Stifel regarding the possibility of refinancing bonds issued in 2016 for district construction projects.

King said the district originally issued about $13 million in limited tax general obligation bonds, with about $7.5 million still outstanding.

King said refinancing a portion of those bonds could save the district nearly $270,000 in interest depending on market conditions.

King compared the process to refinancing a home mortgage, noting the savings would return directly to the district’s general fund.

Officials said the refinancing process would take several months and require preparing documentation, obtaining a credit rating and entering the bond market if conditions remain favorable.

Administrators said they will continue monitoring interest rates before moving forward.

In other business, the board:

—RESOLVED to enter into an agreement with the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) for the 2026–2027 school year, as presented.

—APPROVED the College Credit Plus (CCP) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Stark State College and the Carrollton Exempted Village School District Board of Education for the 2026–2027 school year, as presented.

—ENTERED into an agreement with LearnWell to provide educational services, as presented.

—APPROVED the revision to the 2025–2026 school calendar, moving the Feb. 2 waiver day to Jan. 30 due to the number of calamity days used, thereby creating a normal school day Feb. 2 and avoiding the use of a calamity day Jan. 30, as presented.

—APPROVED the updated five-year forecast, as presented by the treasurer, in compliance with the Feb. 28 legal requirement.

—SET the new rate of pay for the cafeteria supervisor at $27 an hour, effective March 30, 2026.

—APPOINTED April Rogers as cafeteria supervisor, effective March 30, 2026, on an L-2 contract.

—ACCEPTED the following resignations: Jane Evans, school nurse, retirement effective Aug. 3, 2026; April Rogers, cafeteria secretary, effective March 29, 2026; and Lorie Strader, teacher, resignation effective Aug. 3, 2026.

—APPROVED the following request for unpaid leave of absence: Audra Mitchell, aide, March 4–6, 2026.

—APPROVED the following overnight field trip request: CHS boys bowling, destination Chillicothe, Ohio, departing Feb. 24, 2026, and returning Feb. 25, 2026.

—APPROVED the College Credit Plus Memorandum of Understanding between Walsh University and the Carrollton Exempted Village School District Board of Education for the 2026–2027 school year, as presented.

—APPROVED a three-year contract with Julian & Grube to provide GAAP audit services at a cost of $7,300 per year, as presented.

—APPROVED a three-year contract with Julian & Grube to prepare the district’s Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards at a cost of $800 per year, as presented.

—APPROVED compensation rates for athletic personnel as follows: $13 an hour for athletic ticket takers and $15 an hour for the ticket taker coordinator, effective July 1.

—AUTHORIZED the athletic director to assign and pay district employees as ticket takers and event workers according to the board-approved athletic event schedule, effective July 1.

—APPROVED the resolution authorizing the termination of the district’s membership in the Eastern Buckeye Conference, effective at the beginning of the 2028–2029 school year, as presented.

—APPROVED the resolution authorizing the district’s membership in the Northeast Senate League, effective at the beginning of the 2028–2029 school year, as presented.

—APPROVED the amended Therapy Services Agreement with Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital continuing through July 31, 2027.

—APPROVED the Carrollton High School Registration Guide for the 2026–2027 school year, as presented.

—APPROVED the following personnel appointment. Documentation has been verified and is on file: Kelli Pridemore, certificated, effective Aug. 17, 2026, L-1 contract.

—ACCEPTED the following resignations: Stacy Barto, teacher, retirement effective March 31, 2026; and Jami Powell, bus driver, effective Feb. 25, 2026.

—APPROVED the following supplemental contracts for the 2025–2026 fiscal year.

—APPROVED the following supplemental contract for the 2026–2027 fiscal year: Ronald Nuzzolillo, soccer – boys varsity head coach.

—APPROVED Madeline Geiser as a classified substitute effective March 11, 2026.

—APPROVED the Carrollton Middle School grades seven and eight Scheduling Guide for the 2026–2027 school year.

—APPROVED the Carrollton Middle School grades five and six Scheduling Guide for the 2026–2027 school year.

—ADOPTED the revised NEOLA board policy update for Food Services, Policy No. po8500.

—APPROVED the following request for unpaid leave of absence: Stephanie Johnson, bus driver, May 18–19, 2026 and May 20, 2026.

—ACCEPTED the resignation of Renae Gross, grades 11–12 guidance counselor, retirement effective Aug. 1, 2026.