Chardon Local Schools is recognizing eight fourth- and fifth-grade students selected for the 2026 Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) All-State Children’s Chorus, one of the highest honors for elementary vocalists in Ohio...
All-State Chorus Honors
Chardon Local Schools is recognizing eight fourth- and fifth-grade students selected for the 2026 Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) All-State Children’s Chorus, one of the highest honors for elementary vocalists in Ohio.
Fourth-grade honorees include Mariah McKinney, Emaline Hercik, Chase DiFranco, Alina Hatmaker, Mae Stansberry and Madilynn Mottice. Fifth-grade honorees are Lillian Rose Devonshire and Emmalee Lange. Former Chardon student Philip Streiff also participated.
The students represented Chardon at the OMEA Professional Development Conference at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on Jan. 29, performing alongside 135 top young singers from across the state.
The district also recognized elementary music teacher Samantha Puterbaugh, , middle school music teacher Vanessa Allen and the Chardon Crescendo Club for supporting the students. The Crescendo Club sponsored audition entry fees, helping make the opportunity possible.
Transportation Safety Grant
Chardon Schools was recently named recipient of over $32,000 in funding through the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s School Bus Safety Grant program.
According to ODEW, the grants are designed to improve student safety by funding the purchase and installation of advanced safety equipment, either as upgrades to existing buses or as features on newly acquired buses.
“The Ohio School Bus Safety Grant is an important step toward continuous improvement in student transportation safety,” ODEW said in a news release.
Chardon Schools Transportation Director Josh Nau said that the district plans to use this funding towards a project which would provide LED headlight upgrades to 19 school buses and fully illuminated stop-arm upgrades to 15 school buses.
