Brooke board mulls future projects, honors students

WELLSBURG -- On Monday, the Brooke County Board of Education mulled upcoming projects and recognized many students for their academic and athletic accomplishments.

The board recently hired ZMM Architects and Engineers of Charleston to plan repairs and maintenance of various school facilities on an as needed basis.

Superintendent Jeff Crook told the board the roofs of Brooke Primary South in Wellsburg and Brooke Primary North in Hooverson Heights will need to be replaced and tests will be done in the spring on Brooke High School's artificial turf field to determine whether it needs to be replaced.

The field was installed about 10 years ago.

He and other school officials have been exploring various funding sources for various projects.

Following the meeting, he said they may range from window replacements to safer, rubberized surfaces beneath playground equipment.

The board also approved the transfer of Amanda DiMarzio, assistant principal of Brooke High School, to the principal's position at Brooke Intermediate North in Follansbee in the next school year.

DiMarzio has served the school district as an elementary teacher for many years and was its 2022 Teacher of the Year.

Her appointment fills a vacancy that will be left with the departure of Nadine Sweda, who is retiring after 35 years, including 20 as the school's principal and 12 as a speech pathologist for the school district.

Among the many students recognized by the board were Brooke Middle School pupils who were among top finishers in a statewide contest promoting recycling and a regional science fair.

In its 20th year, the Recycling Coalition of West Virginia's Re-Fashion contest challenges students to design and create clothing using materials that otherwise would be thrown away.

Entries have been made from plastic grocery bags, unused tissues and newspapers, among other things, and modeled at a shopping mall, where participants compete for cash prizes.

With support from Lindsey Zeigler, the middle school's art teacher, Tori Whitehead and Alivia Raveaux placed second and third, respectively, in the age 14 and older division; while Sophia Wilkerson and Kamryn Lloyd tied for third in the age 13 and under division.

Local winners of the Regional Science Fair held Feb. 11 at West Liberty University were Ember Clever, Ava Cooper, Maddie Rees, Sierra Hoit and Sophia Morris.

The team of Clever, Cooper and Rees placed first in the behavioral and social science category for their study of music's effects on heart rate, while Hoit placed second in that category for her exploration of how music affects mood.

Hoit placed second in the materials science category for a project that weighed the pros and cons of bottles and cans.

The pupils were advised by Tammy Cutshall, Kate Meloun and Rachel Orsini.

The competition was open to students at the elementary, middle and high school levels and also included the categories of animal science, plant science, mathematics and data, chemistry, physics and astronomy, technology, engineering and earth and environmental science.

Also recognized were:

— Brooke Middle School pupils Alaina Nelson, Lauren Dulaney and Elise Spurlock who were among outstanding young musicians in the Northern Panhandle named to the Region I Honors Band by the West Virginia Bandmasters Association.

Heather VanScoy, the school's band director, noted the three were among the youngest competing for the honor.

Judged for the videotaped performances they submitted, Spurlock and Dulaney were the only sixth graders to take part and were named first and second chairs for their instruments. One of only a few seventh graders competing, Nelson was named first chair for her instrument.

The three were part of a larger orchestra that rehearsed together one Saturday at Wheeling Park High School before performing together with a guest conductor that night, said VanScoy.

— The middle school's cheerleaders, who emerged champions in the large school division of the middle school OVAC cheering championship.

Coached by Haley Bowman and Chrissy Elson, the squad includes Marlee Ewusiak, Kennedy Guiddy, Arianna Pinacchio, Ella Burdette, Madi Barnhart, Sophia Sacripanti, Jaiden Lazear, Addison Scherich, Gianna Svokas, Kayla Elson, Gabriella Hornick, Raelin Stoll, Elaina Foresha, Karlee Hornick and Braya Mazeika.

— The middle school's eighth grade and sixth grade basketball teams, which each won the PAC 8 championships for their grade level.

Finishing their season with a 19-1 record, the eighth grade team included Andrew Petrella, Grant Yost, Anthony Maple, Michael Gibson, Pete Fodor, Pierce Ferrell, Cory Maynard, Parker McMahon, Bryden Horstin, Cash Tice, Brody Cross, Blake Bennett, Vinnie Kolb and Jayden Metz.

Finishing with a 19-0 record, the sixth grade team included Kamden Sperringer, Parker Grant, Kaleb Nielsen, Memphis McCoy, A.J. Harvey, Mark Vein, Carmelo Jeter, Noah Graham, Spencer DeJaro, Cash Ridgely, Jaxon Johnson, Blaze Shaw, Carson Ripley, Brennen Kryzdwik, Tyler Marchetta and Brock Swiger.

Both teams are coached by Steve Marino and Kurk Furioli.

The board's next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. April 10.