JVS adding new staff | News, Sports, Jobs

BLOOMINGDALE — Two new positions are being filled at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School in a bid to prepare students for the working world.

The JVS Board of Education met on Tuesday and approved Carina Aulicino and Anthony Materna to serve as workforce development coordinator and instructor for the new heavy equipment program. Each received a one-year limited contract and begin their tenures in August.

Aulicino, a Rayland resident, has worked with Eastern Gateway Community College and Belmont College and is pursuing her master’s in educational leadership at West Liberty University. JVS Superintendent Todd Phillipson said she will act as a liaison between the school and local industry to help students transition to the job force.

“For the career piece, she will be in the elementary schools promoting careers and doing activities with the kids and for the workforce she will contact employers and work with school staff and students to obtain job placement during the school year and industry accreditation for workforce development,” he continued.

Her first day on the job will be Aug. 15.

Materna, who lives in the New Philadelphia area, is set to begin on Aug. 19 and Phillipson commented that he holds experience in adult education at Buckeye Career Center and is a member of an operating engineer’s union. Materna will the new heavy equipment program, which will focus on operating vehicles from forklifts to dozers used in manufacturing, general contracting, oil and gas, infrastructure and more. Officials said there is a growing need for workers and the JVS hopes to have students prepared to fulfill those roles.

“We’re good to go (with the lab,)” Phillipson said, adding that 15 students will participate this fall.

Board member Ron Smyth noted his excitement during the session and said the new additions were beneficial for the students and community.

In other personnel matters, the board approved a two-year limited contract for Supervisor-Assistant Principal Andy Long and a three-year contract for technology coordinator Ron Peach, both effective on Aug. 1, while Brianne Schoolcraft was named as cosmetology instructor under a one-year limited contract starting Aug. 19. She will succeed Sondra Mount, who is retiring at the end of the current school year. Leaders also approved the resignation of early childhood education aide Deanna Hines effective May 25 as well as the re-employment of licensed and classified staff.

— Heard an update from Phillipson on the recent open house while Supervisor-Principal Dan Hartman discussed Senior Project Day held Thursday and Long discussed plans for Senior Recognition and Awards Night on May 16;

— Announced the Dr. David Robinson Scholarship and a thank-you from the family of late Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla.

— Approved extracurricular advisers for the 2022-23 school year including Russell Achhammer and Ron Reasoner, SkillsUSA; Rebecca Kelley, FCCLA; Cody LaRue, BPA; Fred Jones and Emily Moore, FFA; Barbara Pieniazek, NTHS; Allison Boyd, student council; and Tammy Sismondo, HOSA;

— Recognized May 2 as Staff Appreciation Week with Staff Appreciation Day also being planned;

— Approved payment to Jefferson County Educational Service Center for Virtual Learning Academy expenses;

— Approved a contract for services with the Ohio Auditor of State’s Local Government Services for the fiscal year ending June 30;

— Approved the JVS pursuing a Summer Employment Opportunities Agreement with the Jefferson County Community Action Council so the JVS can be considered as a worksite for the Summer Youth Program;

— Approved the proposed 2022-23 school calendar;

— Approved the proposals from M.L. Pendleton Painting to paint the heavy equipment lab and Keep It Clean Power Washing and Painting to paint the walls and steel doors on the high bay lab side of two hallways;

— Approved Becky Kelley and Dee Hines to take four students to Columbus the FCCLA State Competition and Leadership Conference Wednesday through Friday; Ron Reasoner, Russ Achhammer and Shawna Myers to take 11 students to the Greater Columbus Convention Center for the SkillsUSA State Championship on May 2-4; and Emily Moore to take five students to the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus for the Ohio FFA Competition;

— Announced the National Technical Honor Society Induction on Thursday;

— Announced prom will be held on May 6; and

— Scheduled the next board meeting for May 17 at 5 p.m.