Tuscarawas Valley BOE honors senior center manager with Trojan Pride Award

Nancy Raber, site manager for the Tuscarawas Valley Senior Center, received the Trojan Pride Award at the Sept. 8 board meeting. Superintendent Derek Varansky presented the award.

Also during the meeting, Mineral City Council member Beth Nill spoke about the need for a school crossing guard in Mineral City. She said since the primary school is no longer located there, the village has lost funds and cannot afford to pay for a crossing guard. Nill explained that children need help crossing Ohio 800, where the bus stop is at the fire station. Parents have volunteered at times to help children cross, but cannot do it every day. She suggested two bus stops to pick up children. The board took the request under advisement in hopes of finding a safe solution.

The board introduced the 2025 foreign exchange students: Ibon Iso Arrieta of Spain, Greta Harnisch of Germany, Jimo Lee of South Korea and Carla Pfeiffer of Germany. Arrieta, Harnisch and Lee are juniors, while Pfeiffer is a senior. New certified staff members were also introduced, including assistant band director Elyce Enrique, intervention specialist Hannah Sudduth, guidance counselor Jen Veigel and vocal music teacher John Warner.

Curriculum director Andrea Clements presented diagnostic data on student achievement, with a focus on math. The data will be reviewed again in the winter.

The board approved fiscal year 2026 permanent appropriations of $26,993,474. Members also accepted donations and grants: $1,250 from the Ohio High School Athletic Association to the athletic department; $800 from David and Sally Green and $50 from St. John UCC to the Family Advocate program; $200 from NEITOC for the speech team; and $100 from Craig Haueter for the turf project.

A service contract was approved with the Stark County ESC for any excess costs calculated by the SCESC for services according to the affiliate fee schedule. The board also approved a transportation contract with Mustang Transportation for the 2025-26 school year at $25 per day, effective Aug. 19, and a contract with Through the Years Child Center, effective Sept. 2, both for use when services are needed.

Maternity leaves were approved for Gabrielle Crum, elementary teacher, from Jan. 5 to Feb. 24, 2026, and for Ciera Johnson, middle school teacher, from about Nov. 10, 2025, to Jan. 15, 2026.

The district has received the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant and hired 26 individuals to provide classes for students. In 2024-25, 288 students participated, and so far this year about 188 have registered. The after-school program will provide buses to take students home.

The board granted one-year supplemental contracts to certified employees: John Blile, sophomore class advisor; Matt Claxon, middle school girls basketball; Megan Sams, Ski Club advisor; Gabrielle Schwartz, National Honor Society; Kim Vanoster, fine arts chair; Christian Wertz, freshman class advisor; and Arien Wise, middle school boys basketball.

One-year supplemental coaching contracts were approved for Matt Ward, head girls basketball coach; Danielle Wallick and Zach Kopp, assistant girls basketball coaches; and Shawn Dillon, volunteer assistant girls basketball coach.

The board also approved a non-routine use of a school bus for TuscParks for the annual Canal Tavern 5K Run and Walk Oct. 19, with all expenses paid by TuscParks.

In other updates, the baseball field is expected to have artificial turf completed this week. An elementary patio and fence are also scheduled for completion. The Aultman Center, located in the community building on the school campus, is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Construction on the new Wellness Center, located in the community center, is set to begin this week.

The next regular board meeting will be held Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. in the community board room at 2637 Tusky Valley Road NE, Zoarville.