East Palestine Superintendent James Rook discusses present agenda items during the East Palestine school board meeting on Monday. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

EAST PALESTINE — The East Palestine school board officially entered into an agreement with Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane Conway & Wise during Monday’s meeting, passing a resolution to allow the law firm to represent the district in an attempt to “recuperate losses suffered as a result of the Feb. 3, 2023 Norfolk Southern train derailment and its aftermath, including endeavoring to secure compliance from Norfolk Southern with its representations related to reimbursement and investment.”

Wolf, Carr, Kane & Conway has offices nationwide with offices in both Cleveland and Youngstown. The firm recently filed suit against Norfolk Southern on behalf of the district, charging the railroad failed to fulfill promises including reneging on a $30 million community wellness center and a new athletic complex. The suit was filed on April 30 in Youngstown federal court.

According to the district, aside from backing out of a promised wellness center, Norfolk also failed to reimburse East Palestine Schools for virtual learning costs and costs of using school facilities and services during the emergency response. School grounds were used as an incident command center and both the high school and middle school gymnasiums were used as temporary housing for residents following the disaster. District school buses were also used to transport residents displaced by the mandatory evacuation orders.

The railroad allegedly cut communication with the district early this year.

Also on Monday, the school board passed resolutions to fast track construction of the in-school health clinics and energy-efficient upgrades to HVAC, controls and lighting throughout the district buildings. Both projects were made possible through grant funding.

In March of 2024, East Palestine received a boost from the Appalachian Community Grant Program in March to expand and enhance healthcare access for students in partnership with Akron Children’s Hospital. East Palestine and Crestview shared in $488,196 of the allocated $7.5 million for the development and expansion of school-based health centers across Ohio. The funding came from the Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative.

East Palestine had already announced it had designated space in the elementary and high school to house an in-school clinic. The clinic will offer telehealth services to East Palestine students.

The board passed a sole source justification that “outlines an urgent necessity and requires adherence to a strict deadline” for clinic construction to be performed by A. Neider Architects and DeSalvo Construction. Rook explained the normal bidding process would have delayed the project by months. The sole source justification allows work to begin at the start of summer vacation with work to be completed by the start of the next school year.

The HVAC and lighting improvements were made possible through a grant awarded to the district last week through the Ohio Department of Development announced Monday. The district received $1,363,533. The board agreed to allow Gardiner Building Technologies to provide design-build services for the project. Rook explained Gardiner Building Technologies partnered with the school to write and apply for the grant.

In personnel items, Rook and the board welcomed Emily Pondillo to the Bulldog family as the Elementary Intervention Specialist. The board approved a one-year certified contract for Pondillo who will replace Jen Congemi.

The board also approved the employment of bus driver Matthew Beatty; one-year limited contracts for Courtney Upham, Madeline Ballone, Alyssa Reeve, Jessica Grimm, Andrew Reeve, Nycole Barkett, Sadie Green, Juliet Peterson, Abigail Shaner, Kyle Zimmerman and Scott Hiemstra; and two-year contracts for Emily Cunningham, Gabriella Tessema, Mandy Cuddy, Dori Kadlecik, Calum Watt, Clarence Andre, Courtnie Sepe, Beth Rutledge, Brittany Good, Cristie Bolton, Mark Fabian, Jamison Lewis, Logan Cope, Carrie Cope, Susan Saler, Michelle Martin, Melissa Roberts and Ron Sine.

Also at Monday’s meeting, the board approved:

— Donations for the East Palestine Wrestling program from East Liverpool American Legion ($1,000) and Eagles #1506 ($2,000).

— The resignations of Jaden Wilson (janitor) and Kortnie Bowersock (aide).

— The non-renewal following 2024-25 spring of several year-long supplemental contracts.

— Maternity leave for three employees.

— An agreement with the Village of East Palestine for School Resource Officer services through the 2026-27 school year.

— Several out-of-state field trips as well as chaperones for the trips.

— Open enrollment for a district student.

— A service agreement with the Columbiana County Educational Service Center.

— ACCESS Agreements for application services for FY26 and voice services for a three-year term of FY26-28.

— A membership agreement with the Ohio Schools Council.

— The East Palestine High School graduating class of 2025.

— The second readings and adoption of board policies second reading 5111.01 (homeless students), 5111.03 (children and youth in foster care), 8390 (animals on district property), 8400 (school safety), 8650 (transportation by vehicles other than school bus), 8600 (transportation) and 8420 (emergency situations at school).

— The first reading of Board Policies 013.1 (technical corrections), 0165 (board meetings), 0164 (notice of meetings), 0152 (officers), 0151 (organizational meeting), 0142.1 (oath) and 0100 (definitions).

— To rescind prior board actions and adopt the special education model policies and procedures to comply with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.

— The treasurer’s financial reports and five-year forecast.

The school board will next meet June 2 at 6 p.m. in the elementary media center.

selverd@mojonews.com