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Canfield schools report smooth start, detail active‑shooter drill and special‑needs supports
Summary
Principals and the superintendent told the Canfield Local board Sept. 10 that the school year began smoothly, citing high student participation in activities, a full‑scale active‑shooter drill with multiple agencies, new in‑building special‑needs supports and a Purple Star military family recognition across four schools.
Canfield Local school leaders told the district board Sept. 10 that the 2025–26 school year is off to a strong start, with principals highlighting student engagement, safety preparedness and new support services.
"We had about 620 right now of our kids out of 740‑ish have, you know, took their drug tests," said the high‑school principal, who praised student participation and the work of staff on scheduling and extracurriculars. He also credited student volunteers for painting a refreshed parking lot and said the district is piloting additional delayed‑start mornings to focus on targeted, teacher‑driven instruction.
At C.H. Campbell Elementary, Principal Travis Labra said buses ran ahead of previous years and staff, transportation and custodial teams helped produce what he called "the smoothest start" in his 15 years at the school. Labra also announced the addition of an in‑building special‑needs classroom so students who require extra services can remain at their neighborhood school instead of being transported elsewhere.
In the superintendent's report, district leaders said opening day included a full‑scale active‑shooter drill that involved the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, the Canfield Police Department and the Canfield Fire Department. The superintendent said the district conducted a traditional lockdown exercise, staged a simulated perpetrator and held a post‑exercise "hot wash" to review strengths and areas for improvement.
The superintendent also highlighted several community events and recognitions: a successful Canfield Fair presence, a community tailgate that served about 648 hot dogs, and a Purple Star distinction for each of the district's four schools, an award that recognizes support for military families.
District officials reported they had conducted mold testing across all four buildings and that the environmental consultant (PSI) did not identify an elevated fungal presence. The superintendent said the district also received Ohio EPA approval related to signage instead of installing a fence along a creek after a prior chemical‑spill concern.
The board did not take formal policy action on these items during the meeting. The superintendent said the district will continue scheduled delayed‑start workdays and hold community events such as Champions Day for students with special abilities.
