BELMONT — Union Local School District is looking at changes for 2020 and beyond, which were discussed Thursday.

Superintendent Ben Porter reported progress is continuing on an education plan for the district and the plan is nearly complete. The plan has been ongoing for one year and has involved input from staff and the community as well as evaluation of the facilities.

Porter suggested a special meeting at 5 p.m. prior to the Dec. 19 board meeting to share the report with the committee.

“I’m proud of what we have put together here,” Porter said. “There’s a lot of good, useful information here, along with our education plan.”

Board members Dan Lucas, Koel Davia, Terry Puperi, Shaun Roe, and Ed Stenger brainstormed on priority and what’s to come after.

“After this is done, what’s the next step?” Puperi said. “When are we going to get things rolling?”

“Things are rolling,” Porter said.

Treasurer Janet Hissrich said that while not all information regarding the projects was public knowledge, gears were already turning for several of them.

“There are a lot of things that are in process that at this point are not eligible to be spoken about in public session,” Hissrich said. “But I can assure you that the ball’s rolling. It’s picking up speed.”

The district is also planning to place a jet on campus to match the jet mascot. They are looking at several possible likely museum pieces or out-of-service jets including F-5s, F-20s, and F-33s. Porter said the total cost would be about $50,000, paid for by donations.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Puperi said.“It would really make a statement about our school. You could see it from the interstate.”

“It would really be something,” Lucas said.

There is no timeline for such a project.

Lucas said the district must decide whether to remain in the Buckeye 8 conference. The group of schools competes in athletic competitions. He said the organization was originally established when the participating schools were of similar size, and the area has since expanded.

“If you play one of the schools on the outskirts, you have quite a bit of travel time,” Lucas said.

He also noted some schools are now larger than others and more difficult to compete against. He said the Union Local athletic committee will meet and vote in March, then take the matter to the school board.

Porter said the district would also seek input from student athletes.

Middle school principal Joel Davia reported on activities this school year year, including field trips to colleges and educational centers and a planned career fair by students and charitable outreach projects, such as volunteering at the Wheeling Soup Kitchen by eighth graders.

“We’re not just trying to show kids all the different opportunities, we’re also trying to get the caring part,” he said.

“One thing we don’t lack here is compassion,” Joel Davia said.

Alan Bretz of the Union Local Band Boosters spoke about a project to pay for the purchase of a new saxophone.

“We’re going to deliver 300 free meals on New Year’s Day to people in need. We’re generating a list of nominees for these meals and sponsors to pay for them, and the sponsorships will involve paying for the meal, and it’s a fundraiser for the band,” he said, adding that the boosters would appreciate any donation from the school district. “We’re coming off a light season for concessions.”

The board also approved the five year forecast from 2020 to 2024 proposed by Hissrich. She said the forecast has Union Local gaining a $2 million surplus every year.

“It looks really good,” she said. “But keep in mind, that’s a combination of three … budgets,” Hissrich said, pointing out multiple other factors such as student population and the economic situation around the county.

“I think you’re better than the weatherman,” Lucas said.

The replacement of seats in the middle school auditorium will hopefully be completed before April. Hissrich said the district is still in the process of purchasing seats. Puperi suggested offering to let area businesses sponsor seats.

Puperi also reported attending a Ohio School Boards Association conference at Columbus earlier in November and relayed a presentation he heard about the importance of honest evaluations of staff.

Lucas was re-appointed to the Belmont-Harrison Joint Vocational School Board of Education for a three-year term, Jan. 1, 2020 to Jan. 1, 2023. He reported that of the 44 students on honor roll, 17 were from Union Local, and out of the 13 on the principal’s list, three were from Union Local.

The board approved donating more than 50 unused desks and 20 chairs from the elementary school to the Lakeland Academy in Freeport, Ohio.