BRILLIANT — Buckeye Local School District officials are aiming to improve safety and education following talks at the Sept. 16 school board meeting.

During the regular session at Buckeye North Elementary, Superintendent Coy Sudvary said the district will receive nearly $12,612 in Bureau of Worker Compensation grant funds which will be used to help purchase 911 radios and metal detector wands.

“It’s a 3-to-1 grant, so for every $3 they give, we supply $1,” he explained. “We’re going to purchase 911 radios and hand-held portable metal detectors. We are waiting to receive the funding and plan to get the equipment within the next two months.”

The total cost for the equipment is roughly $16,000 and will include six radios and six wands, or one for each school building and the central office. He said the funding plan was coincidental in light of the previous week’s threat scare, but it will prove beneficial for the district.

Sudvary applauded the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department for swift action during the recent lockdown and subsequent school closures due to the online threats. The incident concluded with the arrest of a sixth-grade Buckeye Local Junior High student and Sudvary said authorities conducted a thorough investigation.

“I wanted to acknowledge the sheriff’s office for going above and beyond to keep the students safe. Fortunately, the board put a school resource officer into place at each building in agreements with the sheriff’s department and Wells Township Police Department,” he added. “You hope you never have to use these services, but unfortunately in the past couple weeks we were tested.”

Sudvary said the SRO’s provided support, reassurance and an extra layer of protection and he would continue the SRO agreements with the school board’s support.

“At the end of the day, our main goal was to make sure the kids are safe,” he noted. “I was impressed with the depth and quickness of the investigation. The sheriff’s office knew where the threat came from and when it took place and had a short list of suspects. About 10-12 police officers were in the office following up on leads over the three days. None of these things happen if kids aren’t vocal and don’t communicate with us.”

He thanked everyone who had a role in added there were calls from six states of situations happening in other districts. Meanwhile, North Elementary Principal Susan Nolan recognized Sudvary for his work and school board President Ashley West was equally grateful with how everyone pulled together during the chaos.

“I couldn’t have been prouder to be a Buckeye Local Panther than I was last week,” West added.

In other business, Sudvary shared the Ohio School Report Card that was released Sept. 13. It gave the district a total of 2.5 stars overall and now Buckeye Local Schools is seeking to collaborate with various programs to improve the grades.

Building ratings included 3.5 overall at Buckeye South Elementary, which also earned threes for progress, achievement and gap closing and a four for early literacy; BLJHS with a three overall, as well as threes for achievement and progress and a one for gap closing; Buckeye North with a three overall, a three for achievement, twos for progress and gap closing and a four for early literacy; Buckeye West Elementary with a 2.5 overall, two for achievement, one for progress, three for gap closing and five for early literacy; and BLHS with an overall rating of two, as well as twos for achievement and gap closing and a one for progress. Sudvary said the one-star ratings impacted the overall score, but the board will work with programs to bolster the numbers. Leaders approved agreements with Battelle for Kids as well as the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce initiative Every Child on Track. Sudvary said the Battelle for Kids program would provide academic support at the high school while the other programs will include interventions and strategic planning.

“Battelle is going to pull data, do instructional rounds where teachers observe teachers and offer Building Leadership Team coaching to identify strengths and weaknesses,” he explained. “There is also an educational perception tool with surveys. We were participating through Project Ignite through ODEW, which stopped funding the initiative, so we will use some building improvement funds for it.”

He added that Every Child on Track helps identify students with disabilities who may not be on track to graduate and offer early intervention, but the plan is to pull data on all at-risk students to give supports and ensure they obtain their diploma. Additionally, the district is looking to participate in Project Evident, which involves strategic planning with academics and efficiency. There was a pilot program with ODEW and Sudvary said it was a good opportunity.

“Other districts in the state are also looking to partner with them,” Sudvary said, adding that officials interviewed for Project Evident and were waiting to learn if Buckeye Local would be selected to participate.

He concluded that the elementary schools will also participate in grade-level English/language arts and math collaboration meetings at the Jefferson County Educational Service Center.

Among other matters:

• Nolan discussed the successful Back-to-School Bash in August which drew about 750 people, had 22 vendors with a radio broadcast by WOMP-FM and received $6,290 in donations for supplies. She added that the Jefferson-Harrison Regional Spelling Bee was set for March 8 at 11 a.m. at North Elementtary with a weather date of March 15;

• Officials announced the impending retirement of longtime band director and teacher William Stephens on May 31, and said he would be irreplaceable because of his impact upon BLHS;

• The next regular meeting was set for 5:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at the administrative offices in Dillonvale.