UNION CITY — The Union City Area School District is making changes to several positions as it prepares for the 2026-27 school year, including a new head coach for boys basketball and a new assistant for wrestling.
The changes were approved during the Union City School Board’s September 3 meeting.
Ryan Steele, who previously served as the boys basketball first assistant coach, was reassigned as the varsity boys basketball head coach following David Gartrell’s resignation. Gartrell’s resignation was accepted retroactive to August 17, with Steele’s appointment taking effect at the beginning of the 2026-27 winter athletic season.
The wrestling program will also have a new assistant coach. Timothy Ward’s resignation was accepted retroactive to August 12, and Clay Thomas was approved to take over as wrestling assistant coach for the winter season.
The board also approved several personnel changes.
Harry Hicks Jr. was hired as a high school physics teacher, filling a position left vacant by Logan Donahue’s resignation. Christina Mitcham was approved as a high school emotional and autistic support classroom paraprofessional, replacing a position vacated by Dana Ward.
A new full-time second-shift custodian, Samantha Ganster, was approved for the middle-high school following Harley Trisket’s resignation. Jim Leonard was also added to the district’s list of Monark Student Transportation Corporation bus drivers.
Additional staffing actions included updates to the new faculty mentor list, the addition of Lonny Moore to the substitute school security personnel list, and the appointment of Zackery Shelly and Tanya Smith as substitute school police officers.
The district also expanded its volunteer lists. Kristy Anderson was added to the Marching Band Boosters volunteer list for the remainder of the school year, while Kaitlynn Long, Elizabeth Mullin, Katie Sullivan, Sherry Thomas, Melissa Tomcho, Meagan Triscuit and Christine Williams were added to the district’s approved volunteer list.
On the academic side, the board approved a Dual Credit Affiliation Agreement with Gannon University that will remain in effect through June 2031.
The district also approved a Public School Facility Improvement Grant resolution targeting safety upgrades at both the middle-high school and elementary school buildings.
Under policy, directors approved an updated District Policy 201 concerning admission of students following first and second readings.
Board members George Trauner, Corey Bailey, Christopher Brenner, Douglas Hopson, David Tillotson and Kyle Troyer approved the agenda items. Troyer abstained from the vote involving new faculty mentors. Stephen Gilbert, Kimberle Thomas and John Tingley II were absent.
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