BERGHOLZ — The Edison Local Board of Education heard highlights of some student programs during the regular board meeting on April 18.

The board held its latest session at John Gregg Elementary and heard from Kelly Dopp, district Destination Imagination coordinator, that two teams had advanced to the Global Finals in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 21-26. The Edison Jr. High School team Us is making a return to the national stage with seventh-graders Beckett Dopp, Connor Richardson, Nathan Myers, Daleanne Devore, Lindsey Howell and Olivia Ferguson, who will participate in the technical challenge, while the first-time group known as The Baconators includes fourth- and fifth-graders from John Gregg, including Lakynn Howell, Adrianna Miller, Carson Ensinger, Cadence Bendle, Reagan Ingram and Landon Ankrom. It is the first time the fourth- and fifth-graders have participated in D.I. and the global event and they will take part in the fine arts challenge.

About 1,400 teams from around the world will take part in the event. D.I. is an educational program in which teams work throughout the year to solve open-ended challenges and present their solutions. Each challenge participant gains knowledge and experience in areas including creative and critical thinking, project management, team building, conflict resolution, STEM, perseverance and a completion mindset.

Us members Lindsey Howell, Daleanee Devore and Connor Richardson discussed how their project failed during last year’s globals, adding that they built their props this year and used materials to make it sturdier. Baconators member Adrianna Miller spoke about why she loves D.I. while teammate Cadence Bendle said each of the members brings a unique skill to their team.

A series of fundraisers are underway including a joint spaghetti dinner at the Richmond United Methodist Church on May 4 from 3-7 p.m. that is dine-in or carryout and by donation only. Following their presentation, the board was asked to donate toward the trip and agreed to give $3,600 to support the students.

Meanwhile, teacher Tally Pasiuk and some of her fifth- and sixth-graders discussed their “Be Responsible, Save Food” initiative to curb food waste at John Gregg. The effort promotes collecting unused, pre-packaged food and milk and storing them for use in the afterschool and primary programs. Six students gather breakfast and lunch items and small cartons of milk each day and make them available to those who stay after school for Destination Imagination practice or other programs, as well as for the primary classes upon teachers’ request.

Students Kenzi Call, Olivia Davis, Giuliana Wiley, Ava Long, Layla Cronin, Gavin Berardinelli and Baric Bernhart presented a slideshow and fielded questions from the board about their program. They explained that the program began in February because they were concerned about the amount of food being wasted during breakfast and lunch. The group began collecting unopened, leftover food and distributed it to different grade levels and afterschool programs for snacks. Statistics were also provided over the past few months, with 33 cartons of milk, 62 cartons of juice and 88 snacks collected in March with another seven cartons of milk, 68 cartons of juice and 23 snacks collected so far for April.

Additionally, the group helps the environment by recycling cardboard, and 101 fifth- and sixth-graders help coordinate the “Be Responsible, Save Food” initiative while the entire pre K-6 building takes part.

In other business, the board approved plans to update facilities over the coming months. Superintendent Bill Beattie said Patella Carpet and Tile of Youngstown, Ohio, was contracted to replace 10,000 square feet of flooring at John Gregg for $59,565.

“The company did work on our fieldhouse,” Beattie said. “It’s a summer project and should occur in June or July.”

Beattie added that expenses will be paid through the district’s Permanent Improvement fund. Additionally, officials approved a maintenance agreement with H.E. Neumann of Triadelphia for general maintenance of the HVAC systems at a cost of $42,600.

“It includes preventive maintenance of equipment and changing filters four times a year at the high school and twice a year at each elementary,” he continued. “That’s going to include Edison High School and the fieldhouse, John Gregg and Stanton Elementary.”

Meanwhile, the board:

Non-renewed supplemental contracts for volunteer football coaches James Ossman and Myron Rees for 2023-24;

Approved an agreement with The Village Network for mental health services for the 2024-25 school year;

Set the next meeting for 6 p.m. May 16 at Edison High School.