SHADYSIDE — Jefferson Elementary School students received student of the month awards at Tuesday evening’s Shadyside Board of Education meeting.

Principal Greg Mehlman said the teaching staff at each grade level is coming together now to pick one boy and one girl who have shown excellent behavior and are role models to represent their grade levels each month.

Mehlman then presented the awards to eight students, five of whom were at the meeting. They included Niko Yager, Emma Stepp, Kolter Klug, Khloe Kernik and Lyra Elliot.

After awarding each of the students, Mehlman introduced the new preschool aid Shiann Kolakowski, who was hired at the beginning of the school year.

“She’s doing an excellent job, ” Mehlman said. “From what I understand, she loves her job … She’s doing a great job for us up the hill.”

The board also addressed the National Blue Ribbon Award that Leona Middle School received at the beginning of September, saying that it shows all of the hard work the faculty and administration put in to receive the award.

“They are so proud of that school,” said President Donna Joseph. “I just think that it’s a nice way of rewarding them for a job well done.”

Member Nathan Butts said his wife is a teacher at the middle school and knows how seriously the teachers take their jobs there, so he’s glad to see the hard work pay off.

Superintendent John Haswell said year after year, grades three through six are always No. 1 or 2 in the county when it comes to state test scores.

“We’re always at the top of our county and the top of our area, so that speaks volumes for Leona,” he said.

Members who were on the board in 2012 when Jefferson Elementary received the Blue Ribbon said receiving the ribbon for the middle school speaks volumes to the hard work, determination and dedication the teachers show.

Haswell said the board approves “absolutely everything” the schools ask for, never voting anything such as classroom materials and curriculum down.

Meanwhile, the board approved new employees including Ashley Visnic as the new head coach for the girls’ track team for the 2025 season, Jared Andes as the varsity assistant boys’ basketball coach for the 2024-25 season and Mike Schlanz as the ninth grade boys’ basketball coach for the 2024-25 season.

The board also approved Jay Thomas as the eighth grade boys’ basketball coach for the 2024-25 season, Justin Andes as the seventh grade boys’ basketball coach for the 2024-25 season, Brandon Parr as the varsity assistant girls’ basketball coach for the 2024-25 season and James Edwards as the Jr. high girls’ basketball coach for the 2024-25 season.

Additional new employees include Paden Stewart as the varsity assistant wrestling coach for the 2024-25 season, Robert Seszko as the junior high wrestling coach for the 2024-25 season, Donnie VanDyke as another junior high wrestling coach, Nico Bumba as a volunteer wrestling coach for the 2024-25 season and Mike Coyne as the winter weights director for the 2024-25 season.

The board approved the five-year financial forecast, which will be submitted to the Ohio Department of Education by Nov. 29.

Haswell said more safety tents will be added to Shadyside High School and Jefferson Elementary.

The next regular board meeting will be at 5 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Central Office.