Jefferson County Governing Board acts on personnel

STEUBENVILLE - The Jefferson County Governing Board on Tuesday approved a pay raise for employees as well as a promotion for Angela Underwood.

The school board approved a 2 percent pay increase for the Jefferson County Educational Service Center employees effective Aug. 1. The board also concurred with the OME-RESA Information Technology Center board of directors and approved a 1 percent salary increase to be paid in December for all OME-RESA employees.

Underwood officially resigned as director of the Ohio Mid-Eastern Regional Education Service Agency and was immediately rehired as executive director for the OME-RESA Information Technology Center.

Underwood also reported to the board Tuesday that she is continuing efforts to obtain broadband for the OME-RESA school districts.

"Right now 35 of our 45 districts have fiber optic connections. And we are working through Connect Ohio to obtain broadband Internet service for our remaining districts. We are part of Appalachia and we need broadband for our schools as much as any other district in Ohio," said Underwood.

"I hope within the next two years to be able to tell you all of our districts have broadband Internet service," added Underwood.

Wendy Hanasky of the Virtual Learning Academy announced a 12-course professional development summer conference will be offered to area teachers through the OME-RESA offices and Ohio University Eastern campus in Belmont County.

"These conferences are always highly attended and the tuition rate is very reasonable," said Hanasky.

The board also approved an agreement between Franciscan University of Steubenville and Jefferson County schools for Early Experience students, student teachers and planned field experience.

And in other action the board OK'd a list of personnel matters, including the appointments of:

S. William Kerr as the alternative school resource officer.

Casey Maxon as the alternative school teacher.

Lori Burwell and Ronald Zackey as the alternative school case managers.

Bryan Kosikowski as the detention teacher.

Martha Bell as the gifted education teacher in Steubenville City Schools.

Josh Manist to provide professional development services for the Southern Local School District.

John Polsinelli for the Indian Creek School District.

Beth Mysliewiec-Andlinger to the Buckeye Local, Edison Local, Indian Creek and Toronto school districts for occupational therapy services.

The board also approved the hiring of Marissa Wanchik as a speech therapist.

(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)