Two teacher retirements and several personnel items were approved at the
Aug. 18 meeting of the Minerva Local Board of Education.
The retirements included Victoria Stafford,
eighth grade English language arts teacher effective at the end of the 2024-25
school year with 35 years of service, and Loren Shaver, Minerva Middle School
teacher effective July 29, 2025, with 20 years of service.
Maggie Masl was hired as an eighth grade English
language arts teacher.
Approved as permanent substitute teachers for
the 2025-26 school year were Lisa Burman, Brian Steffey and Pam Stoller, all
Minerva High School; Jacqueline Carle, Minerva Middle School; Kara Corbett,
Rachel Galameau and Emily Laney, Minerva Elementary School.
The board also accepted the resignation of
Jonathan Gassman, a bus aide; Hired Tania Monk and Roseanna Roach as bus aides
and Wendy Kocher and Julie Walker as cafeteria workers for the 2025-26 school
year.
In other business, the board:
— Approved the following supplemental positions for the 2025-26 school year:
Nick Apisa, fall weight room instructor; Debbie Imler, vocal music instructor;
Heidi Soles, ticket manager; and Jason Lutz, football equipment manager.
— Amended the supplemental contracts of Makeala Miller from assistant marching
band to majorette/flag corps director; Eric Nickell from football equipment
manager to two-thirds assistant football coach; and Devon Patterson from
volunteer assistant football to one-third assistant football coach.
— Approved Alex Albert as a volunteer football coach.
Administrative recommendations
— Approved the interagency agreement with Harcatus Head Start.
— Approved recognition of non-school groups as presented for insurance purposes.
— Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Stark County Mental Health and
Addiction Recovery effective July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
— Approved expenditures for June of $2,233,853.03 and July totaling
$2,231,180.84.
Superintendent’s report
The Minerva Local Board of Education heard a report from new Superintendent Mark Scott highlighting a positive start to the 2025–26 school year.
— Minerva Local Schools is off to a strong start with several successful events, including Futbol Friday Aug. 15, which drew the highest soccer gate in recent history, and the MHS Back to School Bash Block Party.
— The Minerva High School Marching Band represented the district in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Parade.
— The district launched its new website and communication platform through Apptegy, with more than 600 app downloads already. The platform is being used for school news, notifications, social media updates and text alerts.
— A new roof at Minerva Elementary School is complete, and all three district buildings are ready for classes. Scott commended the maintenance team for its work.
— The boys and girls golf teams began the season undefeated at 14-0.
— All three school buildings hosted open houses Aug. 18, followed by Meet the Band Night at the stadium.
— Staff are preparing for new state legislation, including House Bill 8, the Parents’ Right to Know Bill, and new districtwide cell phone policies.
— Transition programs included Get Ready for Kindergarten for the Class of 2038 and a freshman orientation at MHS.
— Staff continue preparations to ensure a safe and successful first day of school.
“There is no place I would rather be,” Scott said. “Go Lions!”
The board’s next meeting is Sept. 15 at 6 p.m.
at the administration building.
