Edison school board keeps leadership

The Edison Local Board of Education held its Jan. 14 organizational meeting, returning familiar faces to lead the board in 2026.

Aaron Richardson will continue as board president and Ron Smyth will continue as vice president. They were sworn in by District Treasurer Amanda Gump. Smyth also was named legislative liaison and the district’s delegate to the Ohio School Boards Association annual conference in the fall.

During the regular meeting that followed, Superintendent Bill Beattie discussed stipends for administrators who assumed attendance-related duties after the resignation of truancy officer Anthony Pierro. The board accepted Pierro’s resignation, which also included his supplemental coaching duties.

Beattie said building leaders have taken on tasks such as sending letters and making calls to notify parents and juvenile court in cases of chronic absences.

“I don’t think the time is right to fill the position now, but it will be valuable moving forward,” Beattie said. The stipend proposals were placed on the February agenda for board consideration.

The board also 

— accepted the resignation of Edison High School band director Marc Sansone, who plans to retire at the end of the school year, and hired Laura Maple as a noncertified substitute at Stanton Elementary 

— approved memorandums of understanding with Youngstown State University, Kent State University and Belmont College for College Credit Plus for the 2026-27 school year 

— approved R.A.R. Engineering Group Inc. for water and soil monitoring required by the Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations 

— approved a request for the Edison Junior High wrestling team to host a tournament Feb. 1 in the school gym 

— approved purchase of two new school buses 

— recognized School Board Recognition Month with certificates provided by the superintendent 

— and set a planning session for Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. at the Edison High School Fieldhouse, with the next regular meeting scheduled for Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. at Stanton Elementary.