Blue Devil Stadium will see new artificial turf when the football team takes the field in 2024.
After tabling a decision on the purchase of replacement turf for the stadium earlier in October, the Springfield board of education authorized the purchase at the October 25 meeting.
The school board awarded the contract for $543,728 to Hellas Construction Inc. of Boardman, Ohio.
Treasurer Ryan Lockwood said the contract includes removal of the old turf and annual maintenance on the new field.
The normal lifespan of field turf is eight to 10 years. “The current turf is in year 15,” he noted.
When asked about the time frame for installation, the treasurer said he was told that if it was ordered by November, it would be installed sometime next spring.
Personnel
The school board took action on a number of personnel matters.
Following an executive session, the board approved the termination of Julianne Lowery, substitute teacher, effective October 10; the retirement of Susan Hanna, SMS technology June 1, 2023, and the resignation of Amanda Keller, substitute teacher.
They also awarded casual labor contracts for 2023-24 to Christy Avalos, Kristi Bechstein, Amber Ferguson, Chris Kieffer, Terrie Murphy, Jennifer Pauken, Jennifer Ruiz, Emily Smith and Kristin Schnerer.
In addition, pupil activity permits were approved in 2023-24 for Sam Arredondo, SHS girls varsity basketball assistant coach; Noah Badenhop, SHS bowling assistant coach; KyJuan Grace, SMS seventh grade boys basketball coach, and Mark Malinowski, SMS eighth grade boys basketball coach.
Hired as substitute teachers are Linda Ballas, Nicholas Benya, Richard Bortz, Chloe Flatter, Larry Hooper, Marjorie Jackson and Ayah Younes, Adriane Weisert was hired as a substitute lunchroom/ recess monitor and secretary.
Other Business
In other business, the school board:
•Approved a then and now purchase of $5,250 to Tuttle Truck Servicing, Inc. for a ladder rack and other interior storage equipment for recently purchased vans.
•Entered into an agreement with Rachel Wixey and Associates to assist the district in obtaining educational aides at a cost of $18.90 per hour.
•Approved service agreements with Boundless and a program cost agreement for classroom instruction at the Alternate Learning Center with the Educational Service Center of Lake Erie West.
•Heard from Superintendent Matt Geha that he visited the new phlebotomy class recently, and the students are progressing nicely from using an artificial arm to beginning to work on each other for blood draws.
“By the time they complete the course they will have had more than 200 sticks,” said Mr. Lockwood, who visited the program with the superintendent.
•Received an update on activities at the high school from student board representative Jenna Schad.
•Approved three requests to attend professional meetings.
The next board of education meeting will be at 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, November 15, at the administration building, 6924 Spring Valley Drive, Holland, and is open to the public.
