T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Union Local School District Treasurer Bernie Thompson, from left, swears in reelected board member Shaun Roe on Thursday. Board member Ed Stenger, seated, left, observe.

BELMONT — The Union Local Board of Education kicked off 2024 by swearing in returning board member Shaun Roe and welcoming newly elected member David Taylor on Thursday.

There were two available seats on the board. Roe was reelected with 1,875 votes. Taylor received 1,277 votes. Longtime board member Terry Puperi did not put his name on the ballot.

This marks Taylor’s first time in elected office. A lifelong resident of Morristown, Taylor said he has deep roots and a commitment to the area.

“I went to Union Local, graduated from Union Local myself. I have three children, one graduated from UL. I have two more in school, and I want the best for the kids and the families of the district,” he said.

Taylor works at the Belmont Correctional Institution as a program administrator.

“I make sure people in need of specific types of programs get into those programs, and that the staff are trained,” he said.

“My skills are finding the needs of individuals and making sure they get into the programs that deliver for those needs,” he said. “I am a manager. I set tasks and I inspect the tasks. People do what you inspect, not what you expect, and that’s the way I lead.”

Taylor is on the district’s Education and Cultural Committee. He looks forward to learning more about the school system’s workings.

In November’s election, the public voted down a $62 million bond issue with 2,285 against and 732 votes in favor. The money would have been used for extensive upgrades to the school buildings, which were built or remodeled in 1998.

“I don’t think that there’s any really big issue facing the district at this exact point. I think it’s normal for every organization like this to struggle for money and finances and delivering a product at a reasonable price to the taxpayer,” Taylor said.

He will be looking at a needs assessment of the district and its students.

In other matters, Superintendent Zac Shutler announced the board’s numerous committees have been combined into four overarching committees to more efficiently conduct school business. Shutler said the committees will meet bi-monthly via Zoom.

The Finance, Negotiations, Insurance, Audit and Transportation committees are now under the umbrella of Financial Resources. Members are Dylan Fowkes and Ed Stenger, with Larry Cain as alternate.

The Policy, Grievance Proceedings, Personnel, Community Relations and Legislative Liaison committees are now under Culture and Core Values. Members are Roe, Ed Stegner and Taylor as alternate.

The Building, Grounds and Athletics committees are now under Facilities. Members are Roe, Fowkes and Cain as alternate.

The Curriculum, Student Achievement and Student Board Member are now under Education Innovation. Members are Cain, Taylor and Roe as alternate.

Also, the board approved formation of an indoor track team. Shutler said senior John Sabinski will be the sole member at this time. He hopes to compete in discus and shot put in an upcoming Ohio High School Athletic Association event in Columbus.

“If there’s other students that are interested, they’re welcome to join. We just have an athlete that we believe has the ability to qualify for state, and he would need the school to approve the program in order to do it. We want to make sure our students have all the opportunities they can.”

Shutler said no equipment is needed, and track coach Benji Littell volunteered to coach the indoor program.