By CAROL TOWNSEND
For The Prairie News
GALVA – The Henry-Stark County Health Department has hired Kyla Carlson to work as a new mental health counselor at the Galva Elementary School.
The school has set up an office for Carlson, who will offer counseling to students in both the elementary and junior-senior high school. The School Board heard at its meeting Monday that nine families are ready to start counseling.
“It will nice to have this here so families will not have to travel,” Elementary School Principal Adam Norway said.
The board also approved the hiring of Zach Anderson as high school football coach. A former all-conference offensive tackle for the Wildcats in 2008, Anderson lives and works in Galva.
The board also recognized Vicki Bates, the junior-senior high school secretary, for more than 20 years of service and stepping up to handle extra duties. Bates will retire at the end of this school year.
The board was given the 2025-26 school calendar to approve at its March board meeting. The first attendance day for students is Aug. 14.
Jake Gravitt was honored for taking 3rd place in the top 100 for boys trap shooting and Avery Dooley as 2nd place out of 100 students for girls in trap shooting.
The board approved the retirement of Michelle Mersman, as elementary P.E. teacher effective at the end of the 2027-28 school year, along with the following hirings for the 2024-25 school year:
• Gunner Spivey as high school assistant baseball coach.
• Meghan Weber, Dustin Weber, Brian Nance and Becky Wigant as high school softball volunteers.
The board went into closed session at the end of the meeting to discuss personnel, student disciplinary cases and litigation. There was no action.
