Tusky Valley BOE honors principals, hears student broadcast update

In honor of National Principals Month, Superintendent Dr. Derek Varansky recognized the district’s principals during the Oct. 13 school board meeting.

Those honored were Jason Phillips, high school and middle school principal; David Fogle, middle and high school assistant principal; Corey Street, elementary principal; and Mandy McElwee, elementary assistant principal.

Tiffany Shaw, advisor for the Tusky Valley Broadcast, and students Natalie Stokes, Jimmy Walker and Jordison Law gave a presentation about their work with the student-led program, which now includes 40 participants.

“It is script writing and we get information from different sources and then write our own script and make sure it is set up on Parrot-Pixel,” Stokes said.

“Patience is the key as the video process may take a few tries. No green clothes are allowed — it causes a problem with the video — and the face of the TVB must be clear when speaking,” Law said.

“I have a big booming voice, so I often turn off the microphone,” Walker added.

Shaw said the broadcast is produced daily and worked into the students’ schedules. The team reports Trojan highlights from Friday through Thursday during morning announcements and lunch.

The TVB can be viewed on YouTube at youtube.com/@tuskyvalleybroadcast or on Instagram at tuskyvalleybroadcast.

Board actions

The board took the following actions:

— Heard that the district earned a 4.5 overall rating on the state report card and a 94.6% achievement score. The district spends $1,365 less per student than the state average, making it the third lowest in per-pupil spending.

— Accepted donations and grants totaling $16,130, including $8,000 from the Reeves Foundation; $250 from the Moomaw Foundation, Project Lead the Way; $5,000 from the Bank of Magnolia; $2,880 from the TV Athletic Booster Club for a stadium wrap; $500 from the Ohio Middle Level Association for Hope Squad; $500 from the Tuscarawas County Agricultural Society for the band; and $200 from James and Connie Charton for the family advocate program.

— Approved a change order with Massillon Construction and Supply to increase the scope of the clinic project at an estimated cost of $2,392.

— Modified a one-year agreement with KP FitLife to include rental of the clinic in the administrative building, effective Oct. 1, 2025, through July 31, 2026.

— Granted one-year supplemental certified contracts to Nikki Nazaroff and Kate Settimio, mentors; John Blile, sophomore class advisor; Matt Ward, sixth-grade class advisor for camp; and Christian Wertz, head wrestling coach.

— Issued one-year supplemental contracts to employees Cade Adams, assistant wrestling; Cassie Brown and Emily Rob, assistant speech, debate and drama; Aaron Martell, middle school wrestling; and Drake Spina, assistant speech and debate.

— Approved a one-year contract for employee Caleb Sachs, a four-hour bus driver, effective Sept. 29.

— Approved a technology services agreement with East Central Educational Service Center to employ Noah Allen for after-hours support as needed at $37 per hour plus costs.

— Approved the eighth-grade Washington, D.C., trip for May 26-28, 2026.

— Approved out-of-state trips for the high school speech and debate team: Glenbrooks, Chicago, Nov. 22-24; Three Rivers, Pittsburgh, Feb. 13-14, 2026; Tournament of Champions, University of Kentucky, April 11-13; NIETOC, Shakopee, Minnesota, May 8-10; and the National Speech and Debate Tournament, Richmond, Virginia, June 14-19.

— Approved the five-year forecast as prepared by Treasurer Mark Phillips.

Recognitions and announcements

Students of the month were recognized: Josie Digman, high school; Riley Ramey, fine artist; Madeline Benner, athlete; Brenden Dennis, seventh grade; Wyatt Biallas, eighth grade; Parker Lang, freshman; Natalie Armstrong, sophomore; and Kelley Corbin, junior.

The community bonfire will be held Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the grass soccer fields.

The district will sponsor Boo at the School on Oct. 28 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. All kindergarten through sixth-grade students and their families are invited.

The 25th annual Family Reading Festival will take place Nov. 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at New Towne Mall in New Philadelphia.

A Veterans Day program will be held Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. in the high school gym. Students in grades 5-12 will attend, and the public is invited.

The next board meeting will be held Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. in the community board room, 2637 Tusky Valley Road, Zoarville.