After several months of study and informational gathering, the Conneaut School District begins a 3-part series of informational meetings on the future of the schools in the district.

The first meeting will be held Wed., Nov. 30, at Conneaut Lake High School, the second meeting on Dec. 6, at Conneaut Valley High School, and the third on Dec. 12, at Linesville High School - all in the old gyms with starting times set for 6:30 p.m. each night.

The school district, faced with a financial forecast over the next 3-to-4 years of a deficit by the year 2013/14, based in part on declining enrollment, stagnant local real estate values, uncertain state support, and schools currently being used at between 50% and 70% of capacity, formed committees under the B.U.S.S. label - Better Utilization of School Space - to study and make recommendations to the school directors, representing the people of the district as a whole, as to what could be done to address those issues and concerns.

The four committees: Budget, Transportation, Curriculum, and Facilities Use, have been meeting and reviewing a wide range of options and possibilities that include keeping the six schools in the Conneaut Lake, Conneaut Valley, and Linesville areas as they are now to two high school plans, a one high school plan with one or two middle schools and either three or two elementary schools.

During the November meeting of the Sadsbury Township Supervisors, which was held on Election Day, there was much high praise going around the room for Lyle Hoovler.

The reason given was because, even though his bid for supervisor was uncontested, he was spotted mingling with voters outside of the polling station for most of the day.

Several people, including the supervisors themselves, expressed how pleased they were with Hoovler, in general.

Supervisors Kevin VanHonk and Roy Whaley also pointed out that Hoovler has been attending meetings for a very long time to familiarize himself with the business of the township.

They also indicated that they were very excited to have someone interested in the position, and stated that they couldn't wait for him to “get his feet wet.”

Hoovler will be officially sworn in during the reorganization meeting, which is held, as per the law, on the first Monday in January.

Keeping with the theme of seats being filled, there is an opening on the Sadsbury Township Planning Commission, as supervisors accepted the resignation of Bob Hays. Hays submitted his letter and cited health issues, among other things, as his reasoning for stepping down.