T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Union Local School District Superintendent Zac Shutler, from right, board member Terry Puperi and Treasurer Janet Hissrich and others review district plans Thursday. A new math and science curriculum and instruction coordinator was named.

BELMONT — Union Local School District is shifting personnel into some new roles for extra guidance in the curriculum.

On Thursday, the board of education approved a two-year contract for Ron Bober as Administrative Math and Science Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator, effective Aug. 1, at a salary of $84,500.

Bober has worked in the district for the past 25 years and has been a lifelong resident and graduate of the school district. He has served as the education specialist support coach for at-risk kindergarteners through eighth-graders.

“I work with a specific population of students who might be struggling, and I work with the teachers to look at the data to make decisions for their education,” he said.

As a curriculum and instruction coordinator, Bober looks forward to finding ways to improve math and science performance.

“I’ll be working with teachers to look at data and to make decisions about instruction in the classroom and strategies to use to help our students first of all succeed and get an education, and to improve our state test scores,” Bober said. “Our first thing we’re going to work on is making sure of our standards that we are teaching, making sure that we have those mapped and that we are teaching those standards.”

He said they would study the curriculum to determine if there are any “gaps” that need to be filled.

“Our state test scores indicate there could be some improvements, so we just need to get in and work with teachers K-12 to ask those questions and make those decisions,” he said.

Superintendent Zac Shutler welcomed Bober to the new position.

“Mr. Bober’s going to do a wonderful job. I’ve got to see him in action for the past several years. I have complete confidence in him, and I’m excited to see him work with our teachers and grow and support them.”

Bober will be working with Jennifer Wooding, curriculum coordinator for English and language arts. She was promoted to the position during the March board meeting. Wooding has also been with the district for 25 years and has worked as the district growth coordinator and as an intervention specialist prior to that.

“We’ve been working together for the last years, so I see our efforts are going to run pretty much parallel with each other,” she said. “I think there’s going to be a lot more great news at upcoming board meetings.”

The board also approved the retirement of several teachers. Marie Compston is retiring as middle school music teacher, Risha Romshack as second grade teacher, and Sheryl Sonk as sixth grade teacher. Shutler said the board members would show their appreciation during the May board meeting.

“We’re grateful that they dedicated a career to Union Local and to our school district and looking forward to recognizing them in the month of May for their service,” he said. “Going forward, hopefully searching and finding some solid candidates to fill those holes.”

The board also entered into an agreement to utilize the YouScience program in partnership with the Educational Service Center for the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year at a cost of $4,500. Shutler said he sees great potential in the program in helping students craft a career path.

“Each student will take an assessment and get a very detailed analysis of what their attributes are, and we can do this junior high through 12th grade,” Shutler said.

In other matters, Chad Moore of Centerville asked that the district establish readily understandable standards for the student dress code and enforce it uniformly, and that parents be contacted when a student violates the dress code. He referred to an incident last month when a student apparently was reprimanded for the length of their shorts and passed out pictures of the clothing.

“I think we need to come to an agreement about what ‘mid-thigh’ is,” Moore said.

Shutler said the district would look into the issue.

Also, drama club coach Sheri McElroy thanked everyone who attended the spring musical.

“We had a great turnout,” she said.

The board is also considering contracting with a drone operator for a topographical study of the district campus, should officials consider making improvements. The building and grounds committee will further discuss the possibility.

The board also recognized elementary through high school wrestlers who qualified and placed at a recent state tournament.