T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Union Local eighth-graders Jeff Bolon, from left, Brody Gregor, Gracie Kidd and Ethan Clark on Thursday prepare a musical demonstration for the board of education and guests. The district’s middle schoolers are part of a music education class.

BELMONT — Students were showcased Thursday in the Union Local School District, with new programs and accomplishments aimed at building better leaders and more constructive thinkers.

Four eighth grade students kicked things off with a musical demonstration before the board of education.

Marie Compston, middle school teacher, said there are multiple benefits to musical education.

“The goal of this is to teach every child in middle school how to read music. We do it using bucket drums, ukuleles and keyboards, so these children are here to demonstrate what they’ve learned in one nine weeks about playing a musical instrument,” Compston said.

She said reading and performing music results in increased brain activity and discipline that transfers into other fields.

“It exercises the entire brain,” she said. “I know for a fact it helps their reading. They love it. They’re enthusiastic about it. It helps their eye-hand coordination.”

She said schools with instrumental music programs also have improved test scores.

Sixth, seventh and eighth grade students rotate through her classes every nine weeks. Compston said many students come to her with no musical experience, but the class leaves a lasting impression and often inspires students to continue music.

“They love it so much they’ll come back during lunch and play,” she said. “A lot of them have gotten their own ukuleles, and they really love it.”

She said the district provided $400, but much of the equipment came from donations. YouTube videos also provided information about how to play and tune instruments.

“I think this is a nice class,” eighth-grader Gracie Kidd said.

The school board also recognized high school students Allison Briggs and Bryley Jennewein, members of the Leadership Council since 2019, for their contributions during the Jan. 27 Personnel Development Day. Superintendent Zac Shutler said the pair spoke with teachers about creating impactful moments during instruction.

“They have excellent leadership capabilities. They have excellent communication abilities,” Shutler said.

“We touched base on some very important moments in our lives that teachers have impacted us,” Jennewein said. “We want our teachers to know that we do appreciate them and they are making impacts in our lives.”

“It was good to share how important our teachers are to us,” Briggs said. “I’ve excelled so much in high school and middle school because of my teachers, because I had personal moments with them that I remember since I was in elementary school.”

The board also approved the employment of substitute teachers without a bachelor’s degree.

“In the last few years, our substitute pool has dwindled, and it’s dwindled dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic,” Shutler said. “We can choose to employ somebody to be a substitute teacher as long as they’re out of high school.”

Shutler said background checks will still be required.

“I think that has the potential to help out, especially at the elementary school where they have much flexibility in combining classes in large common areas.”

He added that recent Union Local graduates interested in elementary education have expressed an interest.

Board member Terry Puperi said the district should also reconsider the pay scale.

Board members Larry Cain, Ed Stenger, Dylan Fowkes and Terry Puperi voted in favor while Shaun Roe voted against.

Roe elaborated.

“Teaching is a profession. It’s a professional job that should be done by professionals,” Roe said. “It’s a great opportunity for people who are in that training, but teaching is a profession.”

Shutler acknowledged this objection after the meeting.

“I respect Dr. Roe’s opinion,” Shutler said. “Teaching is a profession, and it takes skills and talent and training to get there. … Substitute teaching and teaching isn’t exactly the same thing, and we are hurting right now for being able to fill those substitute teaching slots.”

Shutler said there are many responsible people in the area who do not have a bachelor’s degree. He added that with the use of technology such as Google Classroom, students can continue academic work provided by the regular teacher under the guidance of a substitute.

“We still need – especially at the elementary school – a responsible adult there to provide that supervision,” Shutler said.

The board went into a closed-door session for close to an hour to discuss matters required to be kept confidential by law and details relative to security arrangements and emergency response protocols.