By Martha Jacob –

The Eastern Local School Board of Education met in regular session on Jan. 10, 2018 with board members Deborah Forsythe, Lowell Richey, Angela Bogart, Kenneth Welch and Martin Yockey.
The board adopted the agenda as amended and Forsythe was voted in as the president of the board of education for 2018 while  Richey was voted in as vice president of the board.
Richey was also appointed as legislative liaison for the board for 2018. Board meetings were approved to be held on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. to be held in the administrative office.
Mr. Yockey reported to the board on current activities at the Southern Hills Career and Technical Center. No legislative report was given.
Principal Jordan Michael gave a report on the activities in the middle school.
Mrs. Juillerat and volunteer, Mrs. Shultz, along with students Kalen Tabor, Skylar Could and Jacob Cenci presented an overview of the Community Connectors program sharing information about career pathway exploration, character education and community involvement projects.
Superintendent Michele Filon recognized Mrs. Rachel Hauck by reading a letter from CORAS (Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools) that named her as the teacher of the year.
CORAS, in partnership with the Ohio University College of Education, is an organization composed of 136 schools districts, institutions of higher learning and other educational agencies in the 35-county region of Ohio designated as Appalachia. “This was quite an honor for Hauck to be chosen as teacher of the year,” Filon told the board.”
In other actions at the meeting, the board authorized the treasurer to invest all board funds, secure tax advances, pay bills within limitations of appropriations and to make  fund-t-fund advances during calendar year 2018.
The board adopted the 2018-2019 tax budget as presented and to file it with the Brown County Budget Commission.
Superintendent Filon was designated  as the purchasing agent and authorized her to employ personnel in emergencies.
Field Trip requests were approved by the board.
Following an hour and a half executive session the board approved the transfer of Christy Buller from the middle school cafeteria cashier/office aide to fiscal clerk, effective April 7, 2018 and to increase the pay rate for sub-custodian from $10 to $12.05 and to increase the pay rate for sub-bus driver from $12 to $13.41 per hour.
Superintendent Filon congratulated several  staff members and students including:
• Russellville Elementary preschool teachers and staff on being awarded the 5-Star Agard again;
• Eastern High School freshman and varsity boys on their wins against Ripley;
• 7th and 8th grade girls on their win against Lynchburg and North Adams;
• 8th grade boys on their victories over Lynchburg and Hillsboro;
to the JV and Varsity girls on the victories over Georgetown and Ripley.
The board also changed the regular scheduled meeting date from Feb. 20 to Feb. 15, 2018.