Students honored for math skills

A group of students grades 5-7 were honored during the Fairless Board of Education meeting on April 18 for participating and placing in the Stark County Mathletes. The competition challenges students to solve individual and team math problems to accumulate points.

Fairless Superintendent Broc Bidlack said about 40 students participated and several students placed during the competition. He said the students love math. Bidlack said the students’ coaches were Christine Everhart, Natalie Gilkerson, Renee Kornish, Joe Urbas, Kelly Hull, Jamie Askren and July Weyandt.

In another matters

High school Principal Chad Merritt and Athletic Director Nate Held addressed changes in the drug-testing policy for athletes. Currently, athletes give an oral mouth swab, and now the process will include urine testing as an alternate.

The board also did the following:

—Accepted the resignations of Chad Butcher, head girls basketball coach; Mariah Ricker, kindergarten teacher, effective May 29; Angela Robinson, secretary, effective June 12; Frances Kathy Haines, bus driver, effective May 26; Virgil King, bus driver, effective May 25, both for retirement; and Trevor Miller, head mechanic, effective May 12.

—Heard all extracurricular/supplemental contracts are nonrenewed at the end of the 2022-23 school year.

—Granted one-year supplemental coaching contracts to Bryan Morrison, head boys basketball; Aaron Sarbaugh, head football; Benjamin Russell, head cross country; Brian Schultz, head girls golf; David Stuck, head boys soccer; and Ryan Murgatroyd, head wrestling.

—Issued one-year supplemental contracts to nondistrict employees Abraham Highben, freshman baseball, and Jennifer Wade, head volleyball.

—Entered into an agreement with SPARCC to provide additional technology support not to exceed $7,000 through Aug. 31.

Other information

Heidi Novak, former Fairless teacher, will be the keynote speaker and will feature the Fairless Class of 1967 at the Decommissioning Ceremony of Fairless High School on May 31 at 6 p.m. After the ceremony the building will be open to the public for one last time. Photographers will be available for individual or group photos.

The next meeting will be held May 16 at 6:15 p.m. in the high school professional development room at 11885 Navarre Road.