Ashtabula school board honors Niemi
Niemi stepped down after seven years on the school board because he is moving out of the district. Niemi's resignation became effective Monday.
'I sat up here [as superintendent] with you for two and a half years, but I've been here for 28 years, so I've been here for all seven years that you've been here,' AACS Superintendent Lisa Newsome said. 'We truly appreciate everything you've done.'
Newsome said Niemi was dedicated to serving district families during his time on the board.
The board tabled replacing Niemi on the A-Tech board until his spot on the AACS board was filled.
Board member Donald Rapose said he was interested in taking the spot, but wanted to wait to see if Niemi's AACS replacement was interested.
Interested applicants for the position can submit a letter to District Treasurer Mark Astorino, at 541 West 34th St., Ashtabula, no later than 4 p.m. today.
Applicants must be at least 18, a United States citizen and have resided of Ohio for one year and in the county and school district for at least 40 days.
The board approved the district's five-year forecast.
Astorino said not much has changed from what the board heard at an April 28 work session.
'We're basically using the house version of the current budget bill to model a projection,' he said.
Astorino said the district should not be affected by bills lowering how much money districts can carry over.
Newsome said staff have to be supported, and the district will have to function in a balanced budget.
Board President Scott Yopp said the district will have to focus on not incurring additional costs.
'It's not that we have to watch spending,' he said. 'It's that we have to make sure spending is effective.'
Money should be put toward keeping great teachers around and fixing busses to retain families in the district, Yopp said.
Board Vice President Laura Jones it is hard to know exactly how the budget will impact the district.
'It's kind of a waiting game,' she said.
The board voted to modify its agreement with the architect providing professional and construction administration services for the Lakeside High School reconstruction project, Olsavsky Jaminet Architects, to compensate the company an additional $1.62 million.
Astorino said the board could not vote to pay the full amount before, because they did not have the undisputed payment from the insurance company yet.
The board originally agreed to compensate the company $200,000. The architect's total compensation now is $1.82 million.
The high school's roof collapsed during the 2024 Thanksgiving weekend snowstorm, making it unusable.
The board declared it necessary to renew a 1.25-mill levy, which funds district textbooks, educational technology and instructional equipment.
The board approved a contract for Astorino to continue serving as the district's treasurer from Aug. 1 2026, to July 31, 2029.
The next board work session and regular meeting will be June 18, at 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m., respectively.
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