DILLONVALE-Steve Bezak III took his seat at the table during the Buckeye Local Board of Education’s organizational meeting on Monday, filling the vacancy left by member Clint Powell.
Bezak succeeded Powell, who opted not to seek re-election, and was approved by voters at the polls in November along with incumbents Ashley West and Brooke Stingle. The trio took the oath of office at the start of the session with district Treasurer Merri Matthews. Bezak is not new to the district, having served as its representative to the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School Board of Education for the past 12 years; however, it was his first time to be part of Buckeye Local’s panel. He said he was excited to join the board and serve the district and its students. “It feels very comfortable and very welcoming,” he said. “I want to be here and support the district and residents and I want to be transparent.”
The Adena resident, who is also a Buckeye Local and JVS alum, said he first became involved in the school community when a law changed in 2013 which enabled non-school board members to serve on the JVS panel. Over the years, he has acted as vice president and president and said he looked forward to continuing his representation on both boards. “I appreciate everyone who supported and voted for me and I look forward to the next four years.” The organizational meeting also included the elections of Ashley West and Teresa George as board president and vice president, respectively, and approvals of operational matters to carry the district through the remainder of the year.
During the subsequent regular session, Buckeye South Elementary Principal Lori Roberts highlighted the successful PAX Good Behavior Game (GBG) and House System to bolster positive behaviors in her building. Roberts was joined by PAX representative Bree Staats and both discussed how the methods have made a difference at South. Roberts said the school partnered with the Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board, Family Recovery Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus to expand the PAX GBG model by adding Staats as a consultant. Staats began last January and will be onsite for a total of two years, assisting teachers and ultimately students to improve the learning environment. The role is expected to eventually be self-sustaining and there are hopes to utilize her skills throughout the district. Staats added that students have something that fits their respective grade levels and they earn points toward rewards, plus the school utilizes a PAX vision board which allows teachers to hear students’ wants and needs. Other efforts include “toodles,” or positive messages, and Shout-out Fridays while teachers also earn rewards. According to experts, PAX GBG
consists of proven behavioral strategies used daily by teachers and incorporates 10 evidence-based and trauma informed strategies to build self-regulation in children, strengthen peer networks, reduce impulsivity and teach prosocial decision making in children. Schools which use PAX GBG have shown increased time for teaching and learning; increased attention to and completion of tasks; engaged learners; improved learning outcomes including reading scores; and a reduction in off-task and disruptive behaviors. Additionally, the House System was implemented in the third- to fifth grade classes. Staats said the goal of the program is to promote peace, productivity, health and happiness among students and it uses strategies such as focus, being kind and respectful and following classroom expectations. School leaders said it
has been making an impact. “I can see a difference in behavior,” Roberts said. “It is working. The biggest part is trying to get everyone to be consistent.”
Superintendent Coy Sudvary commented that the program was at no cost to the district since it was grant-funded and Staats has been a great resource, noting that officials were pursuing the possibility of adding the program at Buckeye West Elementary in the future.
In other matters:
--Sudvary led a moment of silence for the Tucker family, which included a grandmother and two Buckeye Local students who died in a fire on Jan. 3;
--Officials accepted the resignations of Buckeye Local High School football coach and teacher Chris Kiedaisch;
--The board approved the resignation of assistant baseball coach Timothy Jacob for the current school year while
supplemental duties were approved for Sam Jones as head golf coach and Bailey McBeth as head cross country coach with a pupil activity contract given to Abbey Wilson as head volleyball coach at BLHS for the 2026-27 school year;
--The board passed a resolution accepting amounts and rates as determined by the Jefferson County Budget Commission and authorizing necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor;
--BLHS students Brooke Kovalski, Kamden Kinyo and Natalie Rager addressed the board with ideas to implement awards and graduation cords to students who go the extra mile academically or with activities. Among their suggestions were to recognize pupils who put in the effort and take calculus or high-level math; exceed the three-year requirement to obtain the fine arts seal; and participate in three or more clubs as well as obtaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher;
--Sudvary presented certificates to officials in honor of School Board Recognition Month in January;
--Long-term substitute teachers Nicole Billingsley, Megan Gibbons, Greta Gazda-Roe, and Stevie Roberts were approved an additional subsequent semester in the same classroom for the second semester of the 2025-26 school year. Meanwhile, classified contracts were given to Donald Creamer Jr. as a bus driver and Victoria Luyster, Kathy Williams, and Crystal Windsheimer as aides for a two-year period;
--District Buildings and Grounds Director Tony Panepucci said the new scissor lift obtained through an Ohio Workers Compensation grant has been received and he was also meeting with contractors regarding the new sod and drainage project at World War II Memorial Stadium in Yorkville;
--The next regular board meeting was set for Feb. 9 at the administrative office in Dillonvale and all future sessions will now begin at 5 p.m.