United BOE gets LifeVac demonstration

Jul 17, 2023

Frances Wilson, center, demonstrated LifeVac, an airway clearing device, during Wednesday’s United Local school board meeting. Also pictured are, from left, United Board of Education members Heather Milliken Mercer, Justin Medure, RuthAnn Rinto, Wendy Doyle, Denise Rhodes, Frances’ mother Katie Wilson and United Local Superintendent Lance Hostetler. (Submitted photo)

HANOVERTON — The United Local Board of Education was introduced to the latest in lifesaving technology by district student Frances Wilson during the July school board meeting on Wednesday.

Frances, along with her mother, Katie Wilson, demonstrated the use of LifeVac — a non-powered airway clearance device shaped similar to a hand-held manual resuscitator.

According to the manufacturer of LifeVac, the device was developed “to resuscitate a victim with an airway obstruction when current choking protocols have been followed without success” and is designed “with a one-way valve that does not allow any air to enter a choking victim on the downward motion.” The device works similar to a plunger and dislodges the object obstructing the victim’s airway.

Frances gave the presentation as part of her 4-H first aid project and donated a LifeVac unit to United Elementary.

The board also received an update by member RuthAnn Rinto on the status of the construction on the new school building. Rinto said the nearly $50 million project, which was funded through $28,970,346 in state funding and $20,131,935 in revenue generated by the Nexus gas pipeline and compression station in the district, was moving on schedule. Construction began at the start of the summer and the new building is slated to open with the 2025-26 school year.

In other matters, the board approved the addition of a drone class to the high school curriculum for the 2023-24 school year, approved fundraisers benefiting the woodshop and building trades programs and the soccer fund and accepted donations for football totaling $2,700 and a donation of $840 for girls’ tennis.

In operational business, the board approved the June financial statements, expenditures, investments and appropriations modifications, increases/decreases as presented, and an agreement with Zinkan Enterprises in the amount of $2,913.00 annually to provide services and products to ensure proper treatment of water treatment systems.

The board also approved several personnel items, hiring Rachel Amons as a varsity girls soccer coach and certified substitutes for the 2023-24 school year.

In other matters, a resolution declaring transportation of nonpublic school students to be impractical was approved. The resolution concerned two private-school students within the district who attend a private school in Salem.

The board held two meetings in June — a special session on June 9 and a regular meeting on June 14.

During the special meeting, resolutions to approve the sale of tennis-court fencing to United Youth Softball for $1 and the sale of various playground equipment to Winona Parks for $1 were passed. The fencing and the playground equipment would otherwise have been destroyed during the early phase of the summer construction project.

The board also approved the employment of Sarah Pigza as vocal teacher.

During the regular meeting, State Representative Lauren McNally recognized the United Local School District for the new construction and the board recognized and thanked district retirees Risa Smith (middle school teacher) and Rita Melissa (assistant treasurer) on their retirements and service to the district.

The board approved the price of the 2023-24 of lunches with no increase, and agreed to the purchase of a Kubota tractor with safety cab ($45,285) bagger for the zero-turn mower ($4,350.00) and an airless-paint sprayer ($7,755).

The board approved agreements for the 2023-24 school year with the Columbiana County Educational Service Center, Partnership for Authentic Learning in the amount of approximately $30,500, an agreement with Summit Educational Service Center for Audiology Services and the food service budget for the Nutrition Group.

A long list of personnel matters was approved including Betty Whiteleather (teacher); summer intervention specialists Angie Phelps, Kim Salmen, Emily Leitza and Sarah Garn; summer help assistants Connor Perry, Justin Clark, Dalton Owsley, Mollie Newman (athletic trainer for the fall season), Michael Hanley (custodial substitute), Beth Baker (Learning Recovery tutor) and Michelle Murphy (health service support liaison).

In addition, the board approved the 20 coaching contracts, two volunteer coaches and 25 volunteer fall athletic workers, while accepting the retirement resignation of Lori Conser (effective Nov. 1) and the supplemental resignation of Joseph Karmazin (cross country) and Karrie Varagliotti (technical advisor). Katie Davidson was approved as a district representative at Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings for the 2023-2024 school year.

In other matters, the board approved donations totaling $3,700 to various programs within the district, a donation of a shed for girls’ softball and trips for the high school band, football team and cheerleaders.

A new vision statement of “United Learning for a United Future” was also approved, as was the bullying report (a tally of reported bullying incidents in the district) and the athletic handbook.

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