By Edmee CR Hasler
Contributing Writer
The Salem School Board held a reception and special meeting on March 20 to celebrate the exceptional accomplishments of students from Salem City Schools. The meeting highlighted student achievements in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and the Governor’s School Project Forum.
At the reception, the Board also recognized outstanding support staff members. Each recipient was selected for their exceptional contributions to student well-being, academic support, and school operations. Honorees included school nurses, instructional assistants, counseling secretaries, cafeteria managers, and transportation staff, all of whom go above and beyond to create a positive and nurturing environment. The Board acknowledged their efforts with well-deserved recognition and appreciation.
Spelling Bee Champions Honored
The meeting opened with remarks from Lauren Cundiff, Gifted Education Specialist, who highlighted the district’s long-standing participation in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Students from fifth through eighth grade competed in classroom-level bees, with top winners advancing to the Division Bee.
This year’s Division Bee was held on February 25 at Andrew Lewis Middle School. After seven intense rounds, eighth-grader Audrey Lee of Andrew Lewis Middle School won by correctly spelling the final word, “elevator.” This marks Audrey’s second consecutive year as Salem City School Division Spelling Bee Champion. She will represent Salem at the Regional Spelling Bee at Radford University on March 22.
The School Board members presented certificates to the following students:
- Audrey Lee (8th grade, Andrew Lewis Middle School)
- Davin Bain (5th grade, East Salem Elementary School)
- Beth Nielsen (5th grade, GW Carver Elementary School)
- Tyler Foster (5th grade, South Salem Elementary School)
- Lila Urbanik (5th grade, West Salem Elementary School)
Governor’s School Students Shine at Project Forum
The meeting continued with a presentation by Chris Taibbi, Gifted Education Specialist, recognizing students who excelled in the annual Project Forum science fair. Each year, students from eight school districts present their research projects in categories such as computational biology, environmental sciences, engineering technology, and mathematics. This year’s event, held at Patrick Henry High School in February, featured outstanding projects from Salem students.
Taibbi shared that 10 of the 15 Salem students attending Governor’s School placed in the top three of their respective categories. Additionally, three students—Claire Rawlins, Mirabel Makked, and Josephine Eaton—won first place in their categories at the regional science fair and will advance to the state competition.
Several students presented their research projects to the School Board, showcasing their innovative and advanced scientific work:
- Mirabel Makked and Claire Rawlins examined the impact of PI3KB inhibition on melanoma and potential ways to overcome drug resistance in melanoma treatments.
- Josephine Eaton explored using kombucha-grown scoby as an alternative ultrafiltration membrane for water purification, which could provide a cost-effective and renewable filtration method for areas lacking clean water access.
- Parneet Gill investigated the role of three brain regions in pain processing and chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, with implications for future treatments using low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU).
- Emma Henderson conducted computational biology research on the differences between Lyme disease and relapsing fever bacteria, discovering that Lyme disease has more virulent genes, making it more severe than relapsing fever.
Taibbi noted that while the students were tackling complex scientific concepts, he was still struggling to pronounce some of their research terminology. “With specific references, they mentioned things like B. burgdorferi, Florella vulgaris, Spirogyra, Citrus ex aurantium, C. albicans, and Expectro patronum, House Gryffindor,” Taibbi joked. “All this made me wonder if we were discussing scientific research or conjuring spells from a wizarding school.”
Dorothy Myers, a junior, presented her research on coral bleaching, emphasizing the crucial role of endosymbionts called zooxanthellae in coral survival. Her project focused on the study of heat shock proteins, which help corals retain these vital microorganisms despite rising ocean temperatures. However, Myers encountered challenges due to incomplete sequencing data. Undeterred, she developed a web interface and database to facilitate better access to relevant genetic sequences for future research.
Budgetary Matters
The meeting then shifted focus to budgetary matters. The Board approved the fiscal year 2025-26 budget, which includes a 4% salary increase for staff, expanded funding for utilities, summer school, and building maintenance, as well as adjustments to software licensing. A notable increase in state revenue—largely due to online school enrollment growth—was highlighted.
The Board approved a potential 10-cent increase in lunch prices and a 5-cent increase in breakfast prices, pending further evaluation.
Additional grants were announced, including funding for behavioral support programs and summer career and technical education camps. A renewed partnership with New Horizons Healthcare will enhance student access to medical and dental care.
Board members also recognized the achievements of Salem High School’s speech and debate team, which continues its record-breaking success, and the girls’ basketball team, which secured second place in the state championship.
The meeting concluded with routine budget adjustments and discussions about the rising costs of utilities and transportation. The next Salem School Board meeting is April 8.
