FPS staff report
May 7, 2008

The death Friday of a third grader at Waynesburg elementary school has been determined as due to natural causes.

Nine-year-old Noah Malavite, son of Tim Malavite of East Sparta and Barbara Malavite of Magnolia, died about noon Friday at Akron Children's Hospital where he was life flighted from Aultman Hospital in Canton after becoming ill earlier that morning at school.

According to Sandy Valley School Supt. David Janofa, the boy reportedly collapsed about 8:45 a.m. while he was waiting in the gym to accompany his class on a field trip that day.

Janofa said school personnel immediately called 911 and a squad was dispatched and took young Malavite to Aultman Hospital where he was life flighted to Akron Children's Hospital. The boy reportedly had a prior cardiac condition for which he had received treatment.

Upon learning of the death of Malavite, Supt. Janofa said the school district's Crisis Management program was placed in effect in which five members of the Sandy Valley Ministerial Alliance were placed throughout the school district and three extra guidance counselors joined the district's current two guidance counselors to counsel the students. “The focus was upon the Waynesburg building and the Sandy Valley Junior-Senior High School,” Janofa said.

The body was released to the Kreighbaum-Sanders Funeral Home in North Industry.