The North Royalton Board of Education held their regular monthly meeting on Monday, June 10.
The Board announced the resignation of Dr. Susan Clark from the Board, effective June 26. (See Clark Resigns article)
The following students were recognized:
North Royalton Middle School students Keira O’Callahan and Bella Harvey approached math teacher Mary Misenko about a possible alternative to the standard Bullying Prevention activities discussed during class meetings, called Bears Den. The ultimate result was a group of dedicated and passionate eighth-grade students who named themselves the “friendship circle.” The group
prepared materials for planned activities and led student groups. Some activities used this year have been devising a classroom trust “maze” where teams lead a blindfolded teammate through obstacles, creating group lists showing shared similarities, writing letters of gratitude to loved ones and participating in a step to the line activity. “The eighth-grade Gold Team teachers and staff at NRMS are extremely proud of the students on this student-driven committee for their willingness to go the extra mile for their classmates,” said Principal Jeff Cicerchi, North Royalton Middle School.
The committee consisted of the following students: Craig Minnick, Maxwell Gruhn, Claire Kramer, Victoria Jacin-Cain, Isabelle Stannert, David Swab, Owen Zabielski, Carson Huzl, Megan DeAngelis, Keira O’Callahan, Olivia D’Ambrosia, Bella Harvey, Mallory DeMattie, Emma Ondrish. Danny Flanagan, Nick Falasco, Shawn Gresko, Makena Shroka and Ava Panigutti.
The North Royalton Middle School Science Olympiad Team also was recognized. In only their second year, they placed second at regionals and advanced to the state tournament. Advisors Barb Davis and Lori Krzywicki introduced President Sandheep Ranganathan and Vice President Arnav Bhanwala to make a presentation highlighting the trip to the state tournament.
North Royalton High School: Samantha Fink, a recent Summa Cum Laude graduate of North Royalton High School, was recognized for scoring a 5 on both the macroeconomics and microeconomics Advanced Placement (AP) tests. Of the 147,000 students worldwide who took the macroeconomics exam, Fink was one of only 31 students who scored a perfect score. “Sammi is a hard worker, earning perfect attendance in her senior year and taking eight AP courses, five of those during her senior year,” said Principal Sean Osborne. Fink will be attending Case Western Reserve University to study biomedical engineering in the fall.
The Board resolved to approve the agreement with Julian & Grube, Inc. for the agreed upon procedures for the Medicaid School Program cost requests for the period of July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 and July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.
North Royalton School Superintendent, Greg Gurka said that “the end of the 2018-2019 school year was wonderful, with all the awards and recognition programs, concerts, field days and various events. It’s always a busy time of the year, but also a time of joy and reflection.” He said that summer is time to reflect and make plans for next year, by analyzing data and “get a great deal of construction done if it would only stop raining!” He talked about the construction that is currently going on at the Middle School and the High School. He noted that the entrance to the High School is now in the front of the building, where the Community Room used to be. “Please use this door and this door only, if you need to enter the building.” He also reminded that the next two months, Board meetings will take place at the Board office. The meetings will then return to Royal View in September.
The Board approved the adoption of the negotiated agreement with the North Royalton Education Association for a period of August 1, 2018 through July 31, 2019.
The Board approved the certification of the 2019 graduates, provided they satisfactorily complete requirements of the State Department of Education and the North Royalton Board of Education.
The Board approved the renewal membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) for the 2019-2020 school year at no cost.
The Board approved a photographic service agreement with Lifetouch National School Studios for North Royalton High School classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022.
The Board approved the following agreements for the 2019-2020 school year:
Suburban School Transportation Inc. For special needs student transport; ABA Outreach Services for Board Certified Behavior Analyst for training and support to staff members; Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio for special education program services with the Positive Education Program; PSI Affiliates, Inc/PSI Associates, Inc. For auxiliary services at Royal Redeemer Lutheran School in the amount of $90,467.64, for School Psychologist/Psychologist, Speech/Language Pathologist, Health Screenings and Intervention Specialist.
The Board also approved an agreement with Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio for special education ESY services with Capstone Academy from June 11 through July 29, 2019.
The Board approved an agreement with Kidslink School, LLC for educational needs and services for a student with special needs, September 1, 2019 through August 31, 2020.
They also approved an agreement with the Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Akron for School Health Services to be provided for the 2019-2022 school years.
The Board approved several stipends for summer professional development and a selection of textbook adoptions.
The Board approved a three-year contract with Nearpod for grades K-12 at a cost of $6,600.00 (product and professional development) for the 2019-20 school year, $14,250.00 for the 2020-21 school year and $19,500.00 for the 2021-22 school year.
The Board recognized the retirements of the following individuals: Joseph Hagen, Beth Iafigliola, Linda Kraus, Nunziatina Trusso and Karen Whitely.
The Board approved the following supplemental contracts for the 2018-19 school year. (The wages for the contracts listed below, as well as employer associated expenses, are one hundred percent paid for by the ‘NREA’ North Royalton Education Association.): Richard Emch, NREA Treasurer, $1,500; Michael Hemery, NREA Vice President, $3,000; Jeffrey Rhodes, NREA Secretary, $2,000; Paula Ross, NREA President/1/2 contract, $2,500; Cheri Rourke, NREA President/1/2 contract, $2,500; Judith Sholtis, NREA Membership Chair, $1,500.
The Board adopted resolutions authorizing the execution of a memorandum of understanding with the Band Boosters, the Athletic Boosters and the Choir Boosters.
The Board accepted the bid from Ohio Casualty (Todd Associates/Liberty Mutual Group) for the insurance contract for the District from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. Terms and conditions per the stipulated agreement. This is part of the Ohio School Council Program and the vendor is the preferred vendor based on the RFQs (Request for Qualifications) that were submitted.
The Board approved endorsements to the school district’s liability policy to include: North Royalton Association for Gifted and Talented (NRAGT), North Royalton Athletic Boosters, North Royalton Band Boosters, North Royalton Choir Boosters, Valley Vista Elementary School PTA, Royal View Elementary School PTA, Albion Elementary School PTA, North Royalton Middle School PTA, North Royalton High School PTA, North Royalton Early Childhood PTA, North Royalton Stadium Foundation and the North Royalton Educational Foundation, effective July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020.
The Board approved the agreement with USA Mobile of Northeast Ohio to perform bus/van driver drug and alcohol testing effective July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020.
The Board approved the physicians of Employer Health Source through Corporate Health at University Hospitals Parma Medical Center to perform non-group bus/van driver examinations effective July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020.
The Board approved the rental/lease agreements with the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, for the use of both Valley Vista Elementary and Albion Elementary for before and after school day care programs from July 1, 2019 to June 15, 2021. Also, the rental/lease agreement with YMCA of Greater Cleveland for the use of North Royalton Middle School for the summer day care program from May 31, 2019 to August 31, 2021.
The Board approved the following trip proposals: North Royalton High School Boys Basketball
Eastern Ohio Team Basketball Camp, Sherrodsville, Ohio (June 16-18, 2019).
The Board accepted and acknowledged the following gifts/donations: “- Mr. Divots donated 400 mini golf coupons, valued at $5 each, to Valley Vista Elementary.
The next North Royalton School Board meeting will take place on Monday, July 8, at 7 p.m. in the Board of Education Conference Room.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer