Lisbon, Leetonia schools hire shared district treasurer | News, Sports, Jobs

LISBON — At a special meeting of the Lisbon school board Wednesday, Superintendent Joe Siefke announced that Lisbon and Leetonia exempted village schools have hired Jennifer Coldsnow as shared district treasurer.

A press release from Lisbon schools said that this collaborative measure will develop opportunities for shared resources between the districts and calls the move a preemptive approach to ongoing struggles in small school districts.

“In a world where prices continue to rise and the workforce is depleted, collaborative moves like this are the start of a conversation of how to explore shared services between small districts in areas that we all struggle [with],” Siefke said.

Coldsnow, who will begin her three year contract on April 1, worked for seven years as an assistant in Lisbon’s schools’ finance department before she became Leetonia school treasurer, her current position. She was not present for the Wednesday meeting as she was at Leetonia’s board meeting, where they also announced the news.

“I am very excited to return to the district where I first started,” Coldsnow said in a statement. “Working in collaboration with both districts, my hope is to use the processes learned in both districts to improve upon the functions of the treasurer’s office.”

While Lisbon carried out a five month long search for a new treasurer, interim treasurer Cindy Lengyel has served since November 2021. “She’s done a fantastic job stepping in and Lisbon has been very thankful for her services as we searched for a permanent replacement,” Siefke said, and added that the district is excited to welcome Coldstone back.

Other measures passed Wednesday:

— Recently school bus number three was inspected by the Ohio State Patrol and removed from service, determined to be unable to be repaired. The board approved the purchase of two buses. One is a 2023 model costing $93,847 and the other is a 2021 equipped with a wheelchair lift at a cost of $91,511.

— The board approved trading in the old buses, a 1999 and a 2001 model, for $1,500 each.

— The board voted to include bus drivers in the district benefit plan. Siefke said there are five drivers total and he said three are opting to join at this time.

— Board members passed a resolution to purchase and install drainage base construction and synthetic turf for a renovation to the football field and the track, with approximately 80,000 square feet of turf and 2,990 square yards of track.

The next board meeting will be held on Thursday, April 14 at 5 p.m.