ORWELL – Grand Valley students who won their respective grade-level spelling bees and the district champion were recognized for their achievements during a Monday, Feb. 23, Grand Valley Local Schools Board of Education meeting.
GV Middle School Principal John Glavickas briefed the board on the winners: 4th-grader Sunny Lin, 5th-grader Ellyanna Shipley, 6th-grader Spencer Salyers, 7th-grader Grayson Winer and 8th-grader Jacob Pokorny.
Shipley was the district champion and went on to compete in the county spelling bee held Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the Ashtabula County Educational Service Center, finishing as runner-up.
Sully Kreger, 9, 4th-grader from Gateway Elementary School in Conneaut, won the bee with the word “stucco.” She will move on to the tri-county spelling bee on Friday, March 6, at Auburn Career Center in Concord Township.
In other business
The board recognized the January Students of the Month:
Kindergarten – Hannah Yoder
1st grade – Brooklyn Cooper
2nd grade – Matthew Rusnak
3rd grade – Olivia Kovacic
4th grade – Delaney Remillard
5th grade 5 – Allison Reisinger
6th grade – Carter Hamilton
7th grade – Isabell Eucker
8th grade – Ivy Byler
9th grade – Gunner Zetlaw
10th grade – Cooper Plizga
11th grade – Luke Giddings
12th grade – Joe Montgomery-Stoltz
In agenda items
• Approving State Road Occupational Medical Facility to perform bus driver physicals.
• Approving a College Credit Plus partnership agreement with Lakeland Community College for the 2026-2027 academic school year.
• Approving a College Credit Plus memorandum of understanding with Stark State College for the 2026-2027 academic school year.
• Approving a College Credit Plus dual-enrollment program with Youngstown State University for the 2026-2027 academic school year.
• Approving an intent to participate in the Food & Cafeteria Supplies Group Purchasing Bid Program through the Ohio Schools Council for the 2026-2027 school year.
• Accepting a donation of $45 miscellaneous cash given in memory of Jeanette Bower, to be applied toward student delinquent lunch account balances.
• Accepting a donation from the Ashtabula County Choral Music Society of $50 to the High School Choir Fund.
• Accepting a donation from Marsha Hunt of $50, given in memory of Jeanette Bower, to be applied toward student delinquent lunch account balances.
• Approving an outdoor education camping agreement with Camp Fitch YMCA in North Springfield, Pa. from April 20-22 for 5th grade camp. The cost for camp is $170 per student, which includes a t-shirt for each camper.
• Authorizing membership of district schools having students in grades 7-12 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association for the 2026-2027 school year.
• Approving the financial forecast dated Feb. 23, 2026.
• Approving the 2026-2027 district calendar.
• Approving an updated agreement for field and clinical experiences through Youngstown State University.
• Approving a College Credit Plus memorandum of understanding with Kent State University for the 2026-2027 academic school year.
• Approving a memorandum of understanding with the Grand Valley School Support Personnel regarding calamity days, effective Jan. 25.
Prior to adjourning, the board moved into executive session to discuss confidential employee matters and for matters related to bargaining sessions with employees.
The next regular session meeting of the Grand Valley Local Schools Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, March 16, at 6 p.m. at the Grand Valley High School study hall (Room 200), 111 Grand Valley Ave. W., Orwell.
