The school board welcomed McKinley Elementary Student Senate Advisor Kami Shingleton. Fifth-grade student senate members Kyra Esarey, Elise Tenzek and Wyatt Chase as well as fourth-grade members Kenli Brown and Nolan Baker joined Shingleton. All were recognized by the board.

“Our student senate is run just like a junior high or high school student senate is and it provides students an opportunity to take a leadership role,” McKinley Principal Daniel Kamats said. “Our student senate gives the members a chance to actively participate in the decision-making and make things better for all the students at McKinley Elementary.”

All five members spoke to the board, sharing different fundraisers the group took part in and spearheaded as well.

“It shows that if we come together, we can have a big impact for good causes,” Baker said.

In personnel matters, the board accepted the retirement of music teacher Debbie Fonner, effective May 23, marking three retirement resignations of longtime teachers in the district this year. Previously, the board approved retirements of English teacher Dan Votaw and Special Education teacher Christie Cox.

Lisbon Superintendent Joe Siefke took the time on Thursday to thank all three for their dedication and lauded the “over 100 years of education experience” shared between them that “have shaped countless lives.” He said their classrooms were places where students were “seen, heard and inspired.”

While Lisbon said goodbye to the three employees, the district extended the employment of one — Jennifer Coldsnow. The board approved the contract between Leetonia and Lisbon for an additional as the treasurer for five years.

The board also approved several big maintenance and summer projects as well as technology updates. Almost all the projects are funded through grant money.

“We are gearing up for summer and getting contractors lined up to figure out the whys, whats, wheres and hows into place,” Maintenance Supervisor Roger Tullis said.

Approved maintenance projects and their costs were replacement of double outer main gym doors ($8,700), replacement of outdated furniture for media center/counseling office ($20,000), replacement of HVAC controls ($20,673), replacement of sidewalks at David Anderson High School and McKinley Elementary ($13,670 and $15,975) and replacement of bus garage parking ($20,750). Technology improvements will come out of the Safety Grant and include the PA System at DAHS ($7,963), an updated mass notification system ($4,700) and a new DVR ($1,310). Updates not being funded by the Safety Grant but approved included a new clock system ($6,559)

The board also expressed gratitude to the Lisbon VFW and Lisbon Eagles for their “constant generosity” and for donations made to the Honors Builders Club trip to Washington, D.C. for Grades 6-8 on May 21-23. Without the donations. Siefke said some students would have been able to make the trip due to financial constraints.

The board gave official approval of the D.C. trip as well as approval for an overnight field trip for Grade 5 to Camp Frederick in Negley, May 19 and 20.

Also at Thursday’s meeting, the board also approved:

— A number of personnel approvals, issuing one-year limited classified contracts to preschool aides Linsey Petersen and Marcia Lewis, two-year limited classified contracts to aides Deborah Ford and Victoria Pierson and custodians David Haught, Daniel Helman, Adalee Moore , Jordan Taylor and Derek Troy and continuing classified contracts for cafeteria staff Jody Graham and Deona Lange, high school secretary Lisa McCoy and bus driver Matthew Phillips as well as seasonal custodians Deona Lange, Erin Latimer and Angela Smith.

— Contracts for 26 open enrollment/court-placed handicapped pupils attending classes in the Lisbon Exempted Village School District.

— The financial report and listed bills in the amount of $988,036.

— Contracts with Sheakley Unicomp for worker’s compensation and unemployment services, Monster Buck Lawn Care for the district lawn mowing services and Holloway Insurance Agency to provide student accident insurance for the 2025-26 school year.

— An agreement with LLA Therapy, beginning July 1 through June 30, 2026.

— The second and final reading of several NEOLA policies.

selverd@mojonews.com