About

Southern Local School District has undergone significant changes since 1990's 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 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 and sold Number Sixteen Elementary School and Franklin Elementary School. Modular buildings were added on the property of Highlandtown Elementary School, was renamed Southern Local Primary School, and was used for grades K-2. Southern Local Middle School was renamed Southern Local Intermediate School and used for grades 3-6.

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

Southern Local Primary School

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. of temporary modular classrooms were placed on-site in 1991. Two separate modular classrooms also existed on this site. Due to costs associated with bringing this school up to standards established by the Ohio School Facilities Commission, this school qualified for total building replacement. The probable costs for new construction/addition and reconstruction of the exiting building exceed two-thirds of the cost. The choice was made to replace the building with a new building.

Southern Local Intermediate

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 total building replacement, again the probable costs for construction/addition and reconstruction of the existing building exceeded two-thirds of the cost to replace the building with a new building.

Southern Local Elementary

By January of 2004, all students and staff claimed ownership of the new Southern Local K-12 complex. Southern Local Primary and Southern Middle School became Southern Local Elementary.

Wayne Elementary (1963 to 1983)

We do not have a picture of Wayne Elementary within our collection of pictures. We would post a picture of the school if someone has a picture of the school and will share the photo with us. It will enrich our school history. From our research Wayne School and Highlandtown School were built in the 1950's. The buildings were described as twins, the only way someone who did not know the area could tell the buildings apart was the location and the signage. The 1982 - 1983 school year, the district made some tough decisions to keep the district open. They made the decision, no extra curricular activities, including athletics, closed the school library, closed Wayne Elementary and sold, the students were on split sessions, and entered into State receivership.

The 2022 - 2023 school year is the first year for Robotics since the gifted program in the Elementary, referred to Imagination Destination was absorbed into the classrooms. The fourth grade Science teacher, Mrs. Janice Pierce and fifth grade Science teacher, Ms. Karen Marquis help their robotic teams build, program, and compete in an area Robotic Competition in December. The students must build their field and obstacles, their robots and program them to shoot discs across the field to earn points. Members of the 5th Grade Team include: Liam Sosack, Aubree Taylor, Isiah Plunkett, Jaymen Maines and Addison Boyle.

The 5th Grade Student Council

The 5th Grade Student Council was created to make a positive impact on the elementary school. They have many projects planned for a busy school year. Some tasks involve, helping with school assemblies, the book fair, work with the cafeteria on breakfast and lunch choices, help create a positive environment in the school to include positive posters, help educate the students about bullying, being a positive leader... just to name a few projects they plan to work on.

Josh Emanuelson, Little Beaver Creek Watershed coordinator for the Columbiana County Soil and Water Conservation District, addresses Southern Local fifth-graders and juniors who will partner for a study on the population decline of the Eastern Hellbender Salamander. The amphibian is currently on the state endangered species list and students will record data and seek solutions to bring the salamander back from the edge of extinction. The project is a joint effort between the Columbiana County Educational Service Center, which secured grant funding, SilverApple Inc. and CCSWCD and also involves students in the Crestview Local School District. Findings will be presented at a celebration of learning event in mid-May.

Southern Students Partner for Nature Study

Southern Local Elementary fifth-graders are teaming up with high school juniors to help solve a wildlife conundrum-- how to save the Eastern Hellbender Salamander from going into extinction.

Southern Local and Crestview Local Schools are participating in a problem-based learning activity in connection with the Columbiana County Soil and Water Conservation District, SilverApple Inc. and Columbiana County Educational Service Center. The event kicked April 26 with an assembly in the high school gym where roughly 50 fifth-graders and three juniors in SLHS biology teacher Jess Krulik’s class heard presentations from Kathy Bennett, educational specialist for SilverApple Inc., and Josh Emanuelson, Little Beaver Creek watershed coordinator for CCSWCD. John Dilling, consultant for CCESC, also appeared for the occasion.

CCESC secured a $54,000 initial grant last year through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and is collaborating with SilverApple, which provides opportunities as a midpoint between businesses and schools, and the county SWCD while also incorporating resources from Ohio Project WET and Project Wild to help introduce STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) concepts to students. Leaders said the grant was impacted by COVID-19 and was since extended to this year. The plan will also focus on Ohio's Science Learning Standards to engage students in problem-based learning activities that consider the impact of healthy water on the amphibian, which is an endangered species native to Northeast Ohio. Students will take field trips to Beaver Creek State Park and Highlandtown State Park to record data and later present their findings on the importance of healthy water as well as potential challenges and solutions.

Bennett said the elementary and high school students will work together and learn real problem-solving tactics while they will show their findings at a year-end celebration of learning on May 18.

“We’re really excited to see what you are going to come up with for the celebration of learning,” she said. “Especially how you can improve it for the area and wildlife in general.”

Emanuelson described the plight of the Eastern Hellbender Salamander, saying it generally lives for 25-60 years but its population has been greatly declining for the past four decades.

“It’s only been studied for the past 35 years but is on the endangered species list in Ohio,” he added, noting they were not on the federal endangerment list. “We’re looking at an 82-percent decline in population since the 1980s.”

He shared some details on the salamanders, saying they are the largest in North America and third largest in the world, eat crayfish, small fish and possibly smaller salamanders and can grow to more than 24 inches long. They are found locally and live under rocks in the waters of Little Beaver Creek and its tributaries, but their existence has been impacted through such events as collection since they are a rare species, construction of dams, decrease in water quality or quantity, conversion of forests to farmland and home development and excessive siltation (soil runoff). Emanuelson challenged the students to locate a farm field or other local area to research the watershed, particularly if water quality is being affected, and to help solve the puzzle and remove the creatures from the state’s endangered list.

Elementary students have already begun learning about the salamander so they are getting prepared for the task at hand. Science teacher Karen Marquis rallied the pupils, saying they will study rainfall, water quality, land conditions and other aspects to ensure the animals will endure.

“Over the next few days, we will map water fall on the grounds and when it rains, we will go to the places we’ve mapped and see the rainfall,” she continued.

Officials said test kits will be available at Beaver Creek State Park and the high school students will assist in the process.

“When new find out what’s going on, we’ll see if we can figure out how to solve the situation,” Marquis said. “We will test, analyze and come up with a solution.”