Sandy Valley School Board approves contracts for next school year

Several personnel matters were approved by the Sandy Valley Local Board of Education at its April meeting, including voluntary transfers, resignations, supplemental appointments and contract renewals.

Approved voluntary transfers were Cory Scott from third-grade teacher to fourth-grade teacher and Renee Knoy from third-grade intervention specialist to first-grade teacher.

A one-year certified half-time contract was approved for Michelle Crowe, teacher.

Additional time not to exceed 120 hours was approved for Dr. Paul Soska, school psychologist, at $50 per hour for the remainder of the 2025-26 school year.

Approved for the classified substitute list for the current school year were Shyanne Carver, bus driver; Sara Howes, bus aide; and Jeffrey Render, custodian/grounds.

The board accepted the supplemental resignation of Brandon Young as spring weight room coordinator.

A supplemental contract for the 2025-26 school year was approved for Kris Nign as spring weight room coordinator.

Supplemental contracts for the 2026-27 school year were approved for Lori Trachsel, LEO Club adviser; Suzanne Kail, high school senior class adviser, SVTV and lead teacher for English; Steffani McCoy, high school sophomore and freshman class adviser; Renee McCoy, high school musical adviser and Drama Club adviser; Brian Schwall, high school musical adviser, Drama Club and Academic Challenge; Amanda Gonzalez-Lidderdale, high school Student Council; Megan Smith, high school yearbook adviser and majorette adviser; Tina Loomis, elementary yearbook adviser and elementary lead teacher for science; Christina Hormell, elementary Student Council and elementary lead teacher for grades 3-5 math; Stacy Swank, Students Against Destructive Driving adviser; Greg Howard, Chess Club; Melissa Humphrey, high school and middle school vocal director; Laura Dotson, elementary vocal director; Ashley Debelius, middle school Student Council adviser; Stephanie Shively, high school Foreign Language Club adviser; Nichole Gordon-Coy, Science Club adviser and FFA supervisor; Hannah Schul, Art Club supervisor; Allison Morris, Flight supervisor ES-MS-HS; Jeannette Jemigan, LPDC chairperson and lead teacher for science; Alvia Stamp, Greg McClellan, Melissa Kiehl, Kelly McDonald, Tina Loomis and Ryan White, LPDC committee members; Michael McCahan, LPDC tech support; Lisa Lawver, district lead mentor and mentor building coordinator; Vena Gamble, lead teacher for special education; Chris Nign, lead teacher for math; Taylor Skelton, lead teacher for social studies; Craig Carnes, lead teacher for specials; Lisa Wigfield, elementary lead teacher for grades K-2 math/literacy; Rebecca Blackford, elementary lead teacher for grades 3-5 literacy; Chris Moll, elementary lead teacher for social studies; Kristien Woods, elementary teacher for gifted; and Melissa Feta, ES Safety Patrol.

Other contracts approved included Madison Lakota as certified tutor for St. James tutor/MS tutor.

Certified one-year contracts were approved for Emily Wiley, fourth-grade teacher, and Carmelle Johnson, third-grade teacher.

Certified two-year contracts were approved for Mikayla Dearing, counselor, and Jessica Elliott, teacher.

Certified three-year contracts were approved for Kelly Gamber, Jennifer McCahan, Christine Stokes, Greg Wiggs, Kristi Wood, Jacob Gamber, Anthony Pentello, Douglas Tucci and James Warstler.

Certified continuing contracts were approved for Craig Carnes, HS/MS band; Shawn Mace, elementary intervention specialist; and Gabrielle Shannon and Megan Zampino, both elementary teachers.

Nonbargaining two-year contracts were approved for Stefanie Wells, administrative assistant to the superintendent; Kevin Friend, maintenance technician II; and Cory Hormell, head mechanic.

Classified two-year contracts were approved for Eva Ayers and Laura Williams, both aides; Amber Swier, Sommer Warwick, Stephen Beckett, Thom Farber and Rachel Swineharst, all bus drivers; Jessica Deal and Mary Seward, cooks; and Craig Stewart, Kenneth Hanley and Brian Flanagan, custodians.

Continuing contracts were approved for Joyce Eckinger and Nicole Maurer, both cooks.

Temporary substitute teachers approved were Jacob Turner, Athena Ritter and Alexis Dotson.

Resignations accepted were Melissa Dale, speech-language pathologist who is switching to an Educational Service Center contract, and Rebecca Michel, teacher.

The board also approved a graduation list for 106 seniors in the Class of 2026 and a fundraiser for the Class of 2026.

Prior to adjournment, the board entered executive session to discuss employment, took no action and set the next meeting for May 18 at 6 p.m.