About

Welcome to Southern Local School District

During the 1950's, the State of Ohio pushed to consolidate the small schools into larger schools. The Southern Local School was one of consolidated schools in Columbiana County. The schools that became a part of the Southern Local School District are; Summitville's Franklin School Building, Salineville's High School, Highlandtown's Elementary Building, Wayne Township's Wayne Elementary Building and Yellow Creek's No. Sixteen School Road Elementary. The new district encompassed 106 square miles in the southwestern corner of Columbiana County.

The community built the new high school in Washington Township on State Route 39. The doors opened for the first day of school during the 1963 - 1964 school year. Since 1963, Southern Local has gone through significant changes.

Southern Local School District has undergone significant changes since 1990 building assessment. In 1990 the District operated five schools. Number Sixteen Elementary School was a 8,998 s.f. 1938 building which they used for grades K-4. Franklin Elementary School was a 7,500 s.f. 1923/1938/1950 building which they used for grades K-4. Highlandtown Elementary School was a 7,980 s.f. 1940 building which they used for grades 1-4. Southern Middle School was a 31,917 s.f. 1938 building which they used for grades 5-8. Southern Local High School was a 49,952 s.f. 1962 building which they used for grades 9-12.

In 1991, the District closed/sold Number Sixteen Elementary School and Franklin Elementary School. Highlandtown Elementary School had temporary modular classrooms placed on site, was renamed Southern Primary School and used for grades K-2. Southern Middle School was renamed Southern Intermediate School and used for grades 3-6. Southern Local High School had temporary modular classrooms placed on-site and is now used for grades 7-12.

In January of 2002 the Board of Education and Administrators braved the cold for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new K-12 complex. Construction for this new campus began in March of 2002.

December of 2002 saw students and staff of the Jr/Sr High packing and moving into the elementary wing so that construction renovation could be completed on the high school wing.

November of 2003 the Jr/Sr High students and staff began occupation of the current K-12 complex. By January of 2004 all students and staff claimed ownership of the new Southern Local K-12 complex.

Southern Local Primary School (7,980 s.f. K-2 building), formerly known as Highlandtown Elementary School, was constructed in 1953. 3,985 s.f. Temporary modular classrooms were placed on-site in 1991. In 2001, a new assessment was completed when Southern Local received the opportunity to renovate or build a new school. Due to costs associated with bringing this school up to standards established by the Ohio School Facilities Commission, this school qualifies for total building replacement. The probable costs for new construction/addition and reconstruction of the existing building exceed two-thirds of the cost. The choice then was made to replace the building with a new building.

Southern Local Intermediate School (31,917 s.f. 3-6 building), formerly known as Southern Middle School was constructed in 1938. Due to costs associated with bringing this school up to the standards established by the Ohio School Facilities Commission, this school qualified for total building replacement, again the probable costs for new construction/addition and reconstruction of the existing building exceeded two-thirds of the cost to replace the buildings with a new building.

In the fall of 2004 the building was auctioned off to the Salineville Assembly of God Church. During the winter/spring of 2005 the building was razed.

Southern Local High School 949,952 s.f. (7-12 building), was constructed in 1962. 9,838 s.f. of temporary modular classrooms were replaced on site in 1991. Renovation, system replacement, and additional square footage will be necessary to bring the existing building up to the standards set up by the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

The on-site evaluation of the schools indicated that the costs associated with bringing Southern Primary School and Southern Intermediate School to the standards established by the Ohio School Facilities Commission qualified them for total building replacement. Due to cost considerations and site restrictions at the two former sites, the recommendation was to rebuild Southern Primary School and Southern Intermediate as an addition to Southern High School thus creating a K-12 complex.

Board of Education
1966 - Clerk, Mr. Phil Maher, Mrs. Joan Dixon, Mr. Charles Allison, Miss Ruth McNichol, Mr. Martin Adams, Mr. Edward Thompson, and Mr. John Ewing
1965 - Mrs. Dixon, Miss Ruth McNichol, Mr. Martin Adams, Mr. Robert Skinner, Mr. Edward Thompson, and Mr. Charles Allison
1964 - Mr. Edward Thompson, Mr. Charles Allison, Mr. Martin Adams Mrs. Lamont Faulkner, Mr. Robert Skinner, and Miss Ruth McNichols
1963 - Miss Ruth McNichols, Mr. Charles Allison, Mr. Jack Stewart Mrs. Lamont Faulkner, Mr. Robert Skinner, and Mrs. Betty Rhodes

Salineville High School's Board of Education:
1963 - Mr. Jack Stewart, Charles Allison Ruth McNichols, Betty Rhodes, Robert Skinner and Bernice Hirst
1961 - Martin Adams, Albert Eisenbarth, J.B. Fergason, Robert Skinner, Robert Cole
1959 - John Ewing, Martin Adams, Arthur Miller, Ben Hipsley, J.B. Fergason, Lloyd Jones

Board of Education
1972 - President, Richard Kevan, Vice-President - Dominic Sabatino, James "Jim" Higgins.
1971 - Clerk Phil Maher, Mr. John Ewing, Mrs. Joan Dixon, Mr. Dominic Sabatino, Mr. Fred Johnson, and Mr. Richard Kevan
1970 - Clerk Phil Maher, Mr. John Ewing, Mrs. Joan Dixon, Mr. Dominic Sabatino, Mr. Fred Johnson and Mr. Richard Kevan
1969 - Clerk, Mr. Phil Maher, Mrs. Joan Dixon, Mr. Charles Allison, Mr. John Ewing, Mrs. Lucille Huston Mr. Edward Thompson, and Mr. John Ewing
1968 - Clerk, Mr. Phil Maher, Mr. Dominic Sabatino, Mr. John Ewing, Mr. Fred Johnson
1967 - Clerk, Mr. Phil Maher, Mrs. Joan Dixon, Mr. Charles Allison, Mrs. Luille Huston, Mr. John Ewing, Mr. Edward Thompson

Board of Education
1979 - Clerk, Florence Bentley, John Ewing, James "Jim" Higgins, William Pitts, Marlene Corbisello and Clyde Bonam
1978 - Clerk Florence Bentley, John Ewing, James "Jim" Higgins, William Pitts, Marlene Corbisello, and Clyde Bonam
1977 - Clerk Marilyn Seigler, Dominic Sabatino, President, James "Jim" Higgins, Vice-President, Clyde Bonam, John Ewing, and Ed Todd
1976 - Clerk - Treasurer, Marilyn Seigler, Dominic Sabatino, James "Jim" Higgins, Clyde Bonman, John Ewing and Ed Todd
1975 - BOE Secretary Mary Seigler, James "Jim" Higgins, President, John Ewing, Clyde Bonam, Larry Boals

Board of Education
2011 - Treasurer, Doreen Marshall, Kim Boston, Andrew Frischkorn, Linda Morris, Bill Pitts, and John Sawyer
2010 - Treasurer, Doreen Marshall, Kim Boston, Andrew Frischkorn, Linda Morris, Bill Pitt, and Johns Sawyer
2009 - Treasurer, Doreen Marshall, President, Linda Boyle, Vice-President, Bill Pitts, Kim Boston, Andrew Frischkorn and Linda Morris
2008 - Treasurer, Doreen Marshall
2007 - Treasurer, Doreen Marshall, Linda Boyle, Mark Fraley, Glenn Frischkorn, Linda Morris, and Bill Pitts
2006 - Treasurer, Doreen Marshall, Linda Boyle, Mark Farley, Glenn Frisckhorn, Linda Morris, and Bill Pitts

Board of Education
2018 - Treasurer, Greg Sabbato, Mike Abraham, Jay Cole, Kip Dowling, Linda Morris, and John Sawyer
2017 - Treasurer, Greg Sabbato, Mike Abraham, Jay Cole, Kip Dowling, Linda Morris, and John Sawyer
2016 - Treasurer, Greg Sabbato, Mike Abraham, Jay Cole, Kip Dowling, Linda Morris, and John Sawyer
2015 - Treasurer, Doreen Marshall, Mike Abraham, Kip Dowling, Andrew Frischkorn, Linda Morris, and John Sawyer
2014 - Treasurer, Doreen Marshall, Mike Abraham, Kip Dowling, Andrew Frischkorn, Linda Morris, and John Sawyer
2013 - Treasurer, Doreen Marshall, Mike Abraham, Andrew Frischkorn, Linda Morris, Bill Pitts, and John Sawyer

Board of Education
2022 - Treasurer, Greg Sabbato, President Kip Dowling, Vice-President, Scott Hart, Karl Blissenbach, Linda Morris, and John Sawyer
2021 - Treasurer, Greg Sabbato, President Kip Dowling, Vice-President, Linda Morris, Rodney Edmiston, Scott Hart, John Sawyer
2020 - Treasurer, Greg Sabbato, President, Kip Dowling, Vice-President, Linda Morris, Rodney Edmiston, Patty Exline, John Sawyer
2019 - Treasurer, Greg Sabbato, President Jay Cole, Mike Abraham, Kip Dowling, Linda Morris, John Sawyer

The 2019-2020 school year started out as any normal school year. Fall sports were in full swing, the bands were supporting their teams and creating awesome halftime shows, footballs, volleyballs and golf balls are flying, legs are stretching, running and dancing, it's all seems normal. The fall sports end and winter sports begin, we hear a rumble of something horrible happening in Asia and spreading to Europe. We pay no attention until March 12 when Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced he was closing businesses and schools for two weeks, only essential businesses and workers are allowed to be out. The closure was extended to the until of 2019-2020 school year. Educating students moved to online education. Students who had no Internet or Internet not sufficient to do online classes had to complete packets of lessons to be turned in at the school's foyers. The class of 2020 thought there would be no graduation ceremony. The administration decided to hold a virtual graduation to be aired on Facebook the evening of graduation and later aired on WTOV9. (see the Jr. Sr. High website to view the graduation)

The 2020-2021 school year brought new challenges. Student and staff health and safety was a major concern. Parents and students who were not comfortable with the face-to-face learning environment were given the option to continue online lessons. Students attending face-to-face were physically at the school four days of the week. The fifth day was online so teachers could meet with both the online students and the face-to-face learners. The challenge was still the Internet. Hotspots were purchased using monies from the government for technology to help schools delivery online content.
For the students attending face-to-face learning, sanitization stations were set up in the classrooms, hallways, and gathering places. Temperature stations were set up so when you entered the building you took your temperature. Social distancing in classrooms, hallways and cafeteria were implemented. Facial coverings were mandatory. The state set up guidelines so athletics could be a part of the students lives. The seasons were modified. The bands could only play at their home games. The number who could attend the games were reduced according to seating capacity. There were no Homecoming dances. The class of 2021 was determine to have the Jr. Sr. Prom. After a lot of discussions, they were able to have their Prom. This year's graduation was going to held outdoors on the football field. Weather forecast was pushing graduation back inside and limited the number of guests who could attend. The day of senior assembly, the high school principal announced that there will be no restriction on the number of people who could attend the graduation ceremony. (see the Jr. Sr. High website for pictures.)

The 2021-2022 school year showed some improvements and hopes of being normal. Social distancing was still in place. Masks were highly recommended but not mandatory. However, there were several times masks were temporarily made mandatory due to higher cases of COVID. The sanitization stations also remained. The sport seasons were back into full swing. The band was able to attend all games to perform and cheer on their team. The homecoming dances returned with a new twist. Joining the court was the king and his court. The district held it's Back-to-School Bash at the beginning of the year and the District Showcase at the end of the school year. This year's District Showcase was held both inside and outside. Last year the District Showcase was held outside only. (see the Jr. Sr. High and Elementary websites for pictures.)

Face Lift for the Southern Local Sport's Complex

In the spring of 2013, Superintendent John Wilson wrote about the new improvements planned for the wigwam stadium in the district newsletter. The scope of the project included raising the visitor's bleachers and adding a press box on the visitor's side, add bleachers to the home side to increase capacity from 980 people to 1,700. The plan is to construct a practice track with asphalt and asphalt the area in front of the concession stand. Increase parking by chip/sealing the area next to the administrative modular. The current football field would be replaced with a synthetic field turf with proper drainage.

The plans include resurfacing the high school gym floor by stripping it, fresh paint put on the surface and refinishing the floor.

Baseball Field

Since the 1990's, Southern Local Varsity Boys Baseball team used the baseball field located in Salineville for their home games. The baseball field in Salineville needed some work in 2017 to improve the playing surface. The school board along with Superintendent John Wilson, decided to build a baseball field in the sport's complex. Board member Jay Cole volunteered to donate his time to build the baseball field. The first game on the new field was played in the spring of 2019. Superintendent Tom Cunningham threw out the 1st pitch.

On a cold January day, the community gathered to break ground for the construction of the new/remodeled K-12 complex. Pictured left to right: Mr. Jeff Weekley, retired Superintendent, Mr. Jim Herring, Jr. Sr. High Assistant Principal, Mr. Fred Burns, Superintendent, Mr. Kent Polen, Intermediate Principal, Mr. Dennis Spisak, Jr. Sr. High Principal, and Mrs. Wanda Navoyosky, Elementary Principal

Pictures documenting the construction of the new/remodel complex were taken weekly by school board members and Mrs. Doreen Marshall, Treasurer.

Computer in Every Students' Hands

How did we get here?

1987 Ohio Governor Richard Celeste provides funding for Ohio businesses and universities to purchase a supercomputer. The supercomputer became Ohio's backbone for the schools, libraries, universities, and businesses to connect to the Internet.
Late 80's Southern Local purchases their first IMB token ring computers for the business classes and Apple II computers in the High School Media Center.
1991 - 1998 Ohio Governor George Voinovich provided money to wire every school in the state of Ohio so they could connect to the Internet. He also provided grant money to help low wealth school districts purchase 5 computers for each classroom, beginning with the elementary and working up to the high school. Governor Voinovich created SchoolNet. Teachers began learning basic computers so they could use the computers in their classrooms.
1996 President Bill Clinton signed into law the Telecommunication Act of 1996. This act created help for schools and libraries to provide "state of the art technologies at a discount rate."
2002 - 2003 Southern Local Jr. Sr. High applied for the "Raise the Bar" Grant. The 3-year grant was used to purchase two carts of 20 laptops each, software, 1 server to provide e-mail services, distance learning equipment, and science probes. During the school day, teachers would schedule the carts for use in their classrooms, at the end of the day, seniors could sign out their assigned laptop to take home.
2010 - 2011 Southern Local Jr. Sr. High applied for the "SIG" Grant. A 3-year grant to improve academic achievement. iPads were purchased for every teacher and 4 computer carts of 20 each computers were purchased to replace the laptops purchased in 2003 along with the programs purchased to improve academic performance.
2013 - 2019 began the move to carts of Chromebooks assigned to teacher classrooms. The state was also moving their mode of testing from paper and pencil to online testing. The math and language arts departments were the first ones to receive carts of Chromebooks. The science and social studies departments had to share their carts within their departments.
2020 - pushed schools into a one-to-one with the school closures due to the pandemic. It was hard to get technology due to everyone needing the technology. Using the Chromebooks Southern already owned, we were able to purchase enough Chromebooks for students in grades 1 through 12. The Kindergarten and Preschool would use the school's iPads.

Stars Dimmed Over Southern*

We began the 1982-83 school year with uncertainty. After the failure of a summer levy, the board had decided to make drastic cuts, including the closing of the high school library and the elimination of the sports program. Their decision was reversed, for the time being, and the football team resumed practice just before the school began. The library remained closed.

Then, on November fourth, the ax was dropped . An emergency ten mil levy was defeated by 55% of the voting tax payers. To help ease our 900,000 dollar deficit, the school board decided to eliminate our sports program, close school buildings thirty minutes after the students were dismissed, eliminate clubs and other extra curricular, limit bus service, and petition the state to reinstate split sessions for middle and high school students. The stars dimmed cover Southern Local.

Split sessions and limited bus service never came to be, but Wayne Elementary School was closed and we went through the winter months without traditional dances and basketball games. Student moral was at an all time low.

Concerned members of the community joined together to try to remedy the situation. A group of parents and students formed to make sure that the seniors had a prom. The Athletic Boosters raised funds to pay for our sports program.

Girls' and boys' basketball began a brief season in January and all clubs and spring sports were reinstated.

(*The history is copied from the 1982-83 yearbook. The high school library was reopened in the 1984-85 school year. However, the Wayne was never reopened. Southern sold the Wayne School.)

About SLSD

Southern Local School District Summary of Assessment

Southern Local School District Summary of Assessment

SLSD Superintendents

SLSD History

Education is a New Ball Game

COVID-19 Years

Face Lift for the Southern Local Sport's Complex

New Weight Room / Wrestling Complex

Baseball Field

Track Resurfaced

FROM JANUARY 2002 TO JANUARY 2004

Phase 1 Elementary Wing and Science Home / EC Wing (2002 construction)

Construction begins

Phase II High School Wing to Completion (2003)

Phase IIIK - 12 Complex OpensJanuary 3, 2004

"Signs of a changing times"

Computer in Every Students' Hands

State Receivership Ends the Burning of the Mortgage!

Stars Dimmed Over Southern*

Phase 1
Elementary Wing and Science Home / EC Wing
(2002 construction)

Phase II
High School Wing to Completion
(2003)

Phase III
K - 12 Complex Opens
January 3, 2004