The Minerva Local Board of Education received a surprise donation at their March 19 meeting.

The Minerva Youth basketball program, represented at the meeting by Larry Johnson, Julie Hardgrove and Tom Klimko, presented a check for $20,000 to Minerva Local School Supt. Douglas Marrah to be used for the installation of a wood gym floor at the new elementary school under construction adjacent to the new Minerva Middle School off Bonnieview Ave.

The contribution represents proceeds from game admissions and food sales held by the youth basketball program which uses the school's facilities for practices and games.

School Supt. Dr. Douglas Marrah expressed appreciation on behalf of the school district for the generous contribution which will be used to install a wood floor estimated to cost $38,000 in the new school.

In other business, the Board accepted two retirement resignations and made adjustments to current staff contracts of two individuals.

The retirement resignations were submitted by Elizabeth Smith, a kindergarten teacher at West elementary school with 31 years of teaching in the Minerva schools, and Jeanne Hunston, health services coordinator effective June 1. Mrs. Hunston has been with the Minerva school district for 22 years as a secretary at Mary Irene Day elementary and the past nine years as health service coordinator.

The contract of Lavonne Embrogno, formerly a 4-hour cafeteria worker at Mary Irene Day school was adjusted to a two-hour cafeteria worker and a two-hour playground aide, both at West elementary.

An additional two hours were added to the contract of Michele Lewis-Fritz, a cafeteria worker at Mary Irene Day school.

The Board also approved Tiffany Ormiston as a volunteer assistant softball coach for the 2007-08 season.

Administrative recommendations approved by the Board included:

- Offering student accident insurance for the 2008-09 school year through the Love Insurance Agency.

- APPROVAL of a grandparent tuition waiver for a first grader to attend Mary Irene Day school.

- APPROVAL of a post secondary education option memorandum of understanding available to juniors and seniors at Minerva High School with Stark State College.

- APPROVAL of a new bulling policy in compliance with the Ohio Revised Code.

- ACCEPTANCE of a bid from Continental Office Furniture of Columbus for $253,634 for classroom desks, tables and general furnishings at Minerva High School.

The Board also:
- HEARD a Student Achievement report from Mrs. Becky Miller on the Read 180 reading program at Minerva Middle School.

- LEARNED the construction of the new elementary school and renovations at the high school are on schedule and under budget.

- HEARD Supt. Marrah tell the Board they must make a decision by August whether to resubmit the 5.4-mill tax levy renewal which provides $1,110,000 annually on the November ballot.

- HEARD Board Member Stanley Pennock report on the impact state cuts are going to have in the areas of transportation, technology and staff development in his legislative update.

- APPROVED the payment of bills totaling $3,431,487.

- HELD an hour-long executive session to evaluate the Superintendent.

- SET the next regular meeting for April 21 at 7 p.m. at Mary Irene Day elementary school.