Sandy Valley Board approves winter coaching staff, accepts teacher’s retirement

The Sandy Valley Board of Education approved a number of supplemental coaching and activity contracts and accepted a retirement resignation during its Nov. 10 meeting.

For boys basketball, the board approved Nate Provance as varsity head coach; Gary Offenberger as varsity assistant coach; Brent Long as junior varsity head coach; and Brandon Young and Trevor Yoder as freshman coaches. Mike Myers and Jerry Withers were named middle school coaches for the seventh and eighth grades, respectively.

In girls basketball, Tojh Nicholson was approved as varsity head coach, with Chad Roush as varsity assistant and Jared Eickelberger as junior varsity head coach. Steve Nicholson and Joe Welker were approved as middle school coaches.

For wrestling, Greg Donahue was approved as varsity head coach, assisted by Cooper Hemming. Duane Matthews was named junior varsity head coach, and Adam Hurless will serve as middle school coach.

In bowling, Ryan White will serve as varsity boys head coach, and Steve Beckett will lead the varsity girls team.

For cheerleading, Suzanne Kail was named varsity head coach, Carly Caldwell will coach the junior varsity squad, and Rebecca Schaub will serve as middle school coach.

Kris Nign and Stacy Swank were appointed as winter and spring site managers, and Chad Roush was approved for an athletic tech stipend. Volunteer approvals included Brandon Wigfield as middle school boys basketball assistant, Alayna McMullen as volunteer girls basketball assistant coach, and Scott Blair as volunteer coach. Gracyn Winters was approved as an additional game worker.

In other business, the board:

— Approved the retirement resignation of Stephanie Irwin, a lifelong high school English teacher who will retire with 36 years of service, including 28 years at Sandy Valley Local Schools, effective at the end of the 2025–26 school year.

— Approved Amanda Hazlip, Alexandria Shetler and Steve Nicholson as substitute classified workers.

— Approved Raven Cordia and Deana Miller as temporary substitute teachers.

— Approved student fundraisers, including the Cardinal Craft Sale by the SVHS MDF class, a Spanish Club T-shirt sale, a bowling apparel fundraiser and the SVMS Turkey Bowl.

— Approved Aiden Douglas, Nadia Douglas, Michael Blackburn, Melanie Blackburn and Gianni Pariano to attend Sandy Valley Local Schools for the 2025–26 school year through open enrollment.

— Heard praise from principals to staff and students for an excellent Veterans Day program.

— Held an executive session to discuss personnel, with no action taken.

— Set the next board meeting for Dec. 15 at 6 p.m.