Revere board bids farewell to two longtime members

by Sheldon Ocker

Dec. 12 board of education meeting

The Revere schools board of education said farewell to board members Claudia Hower and Diana Sabitsch, who lost their seats in the November election.

“Combined, these ladies have devoted 88 years of time, energy, ideas and solutions to the multitude of issues and opportunities that have presented themselves to the district,” said board President Keith Malick.

Sabitsch has spent almost 50 years serving the school district in some capacity.

“I’ve been on this Revere journey for 48 years,” she said.

Sabitsch became involved when a neighbor suggested that she would enjoy being a school volunteer. When Sabitsch protested that her 3-year-old daughter took up most of her time, the neighbor offered to babysit, and Sabitsch began helping out at Bath Elementary.

She was elected to the school board in 1983, and except for a two-year hiatus, has been on the board ever since.

Hower came to the Revere district as a middle school math teacher, and in 2010, 10 years later, she retired and won a seat on the board.

“What I will miss most is the breadth of knowledge and wisdom they have brought to the table,” Malick said.

Said Superintendent Michael Tefs, “You both are incredibly caring souls, and your passion for Revere runs deep. … This school system is a better place because of your influence and leadership.”

Hower, a board member for 14 years, lost her reelection bid by 45 votes.

“What I am most proud of with Revere is the quality of education that our students receive,” she said. “And that’s not because of me. It’s because of an amazing staff, the administrators and what they do on a daily basis for our students, and the continued support of the parents in our community.”

Sabitsch said the people she has encountered on the board and in the community have made a deep impression.

“I’ve met some wonderful people and some that are not so wonderful, but that comes with the territory,” she said. “Revere has been part of me for most of my life, and it will always be in my heart and always be special to me, and the people I’ve met will always be special.”

Soccer team honored

The board honored the Revere boys’ soccer team, which finished as runner-up in the Division II state tournament.

Athletic director Don Seeker ticked off a long list of achievements: a three-year record of 46-4-5; three straight American Conference Suburban League titles and finishing first in the state Division II regular-season rankings for three consecutive years; four district championships in a row and two consecutive regional titles.

Revere lost in the state finals 2-0 to Tippecanoe on Dec. 12 in Columbus, and Tefs couldn’t hide his pride in the near miss.

“Next to the birth of my two daughters, [this] might be the coolest experience of my life,” he said.

In introducing the squad, Seeker listed  a number of individual achievements.

Dylan Halm, the team’s leading scorer, was player of the year in the Suburban League, the Greater Akron District and the state in Division II by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. He also was named Ohio Player of the Year by the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association.

Beyond state honors, the U.S. Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association named Halm an All-American.

Max Preps, a national online ranking service, selected Revere as the 35th best high school soccer team in the country and one of the four best in Ohio. The other three are all Division I schools.

AJ Catlett, one of three team captains, was named first team All-Ohio and All-Region by the U.S. Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association.

Jeff Boyle, also a team captain, was named first team All-Suburban League and All-District. Zach Iler, the other captain, and Jake Nations were named first team All-Suburban League.

Coach Nick DePompei was selected American Conference Suburban League and Greater Akron Coach of the Year for the third consecutive year. The Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association selected him coach of the year for the second year in a row.

Eclipse decision

Revere administrators and the board discussed for three months how to make next April’s rare total eclipse of the sun a unique educational experience.

Suggestions included extending the school day (the eclipse will be seen best after normal school hours) and adjusting the calendar to switch a school day with a teachers’ professional development day.

“We wanted to try and make it as educational as possible, and we certainly have done that leading up to the date,” Tefs said. “… In the end, I’m recommending that we take a calamity day (no school) on April 8.” ∞