170K pennies go a long way at Southern (2024)

Submitted photoPrincipal Kristy Sampson keeps smiling while being doused with pink slime by a student during an all-school assembly to cap off a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Center. Nearly $1,700 was raised for the cause in March as part of the annual Quest for a Million Pennies, which was sponsored by radio station K-105.

HIGHLANDTOWN — It takes a lot to raise $1,700 when you are doing so one penny at a time, as Southern Local Elementary School students recently learned.

Southern Local Superintendent John Wilson reported at this week’s school board meeting that elementary school students raised $1,700 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through participation in K-105’s Quest for A Million Pennies, one of many such events sponsored by radio stations as part of a nationwide fundraiser effort for St. Jude’s.

A school assembly was held March 30 to recognize their effort, with third grade students finishing first in terms of participation, which means they will be rewarded with a movie and popcorn to snack on while watching the film. Zach Mayfield’s name was drawn from the list of top fundraisers and he will get to serve as principal for a day.

In case you are interested, 170,000 pennies had to be collected to generate $1,700.

In other action at the meeting, the board agreed to extend Internet service to the bus garage but most of the expense will be covered through the federal E-Rate program, which helps subsidize the cost of telecommunication services for public libraries and schools.

There are one-time costs of $20,532 for the fiber connection and $4,800 for the build out, plus $40,692 per year for the Internet service. E-Rate will cover 80 percent of the costs, including the annual expenses, with the district responsible for the rest.

Getting wireless broadband service to the garage means the bus supervisor can track the location of buses through GPS devices from the garage, and required online training for drivers can now be done at the facility instead of elsewhere.

The service is provided through the Ohio Mid-Eastern Regional Education Service Agency.

The board also:

— Approved the retirement of elementary school teacher Janet Fellenger after 14 years. “She’s an excellent teacher. She will be missed,” said board member Linda Morris.

— Renewed an agreement with the Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency that would allow the school to be use in the event of an emergency.

— Entered into contracts with the Jefferson County Educational Service Center for assisted/rehabilitation and occupational therapy services. These are part of the supplemental services received from the ESC for about $370,000 a year.

— Approved Brent Boyle as a volunteer softball coach.

— Renewed the following teacher contracts: Tonyea Kellison, Larry Rudloff, Anne Swoger, Bob Shansky, Janice Pierce, Brock Koppelman, Heather McCartney, Shannon Rodgers, Stephanie Gonzales, Holly Davis, Michelle Skinner, Roy Sines, Alyssa Lockhart, Emily Brinker, Ashley Farnsworth, Breann Widder, Lori Deem, Alexandra Smith, Fernando Dechellis, Alan Mikovich, Eric Nejus, Cindy Peschel and Mary Taylor.

The next meeting is 6:30 p.m. May 9.