The May meeting of the North Royalton Board of Education took place on Monday, May 11.
The meeting was conducted as a virtual meeting, in keeping with the then-current stay-at-home order of the state.
The Board approved the following appropriation adjustment:
019 Other Grants Fund from 169,516.16 to $201,807.26. An increase of $32,291.10.
The Board approved the 2020 five year forecast.
The Board approved a resolution that authorizes the execution of a change order for the Middle School. According to the legislation, “due to the proximity of the North Royalton High School and North Royalton Middle School and the practical and financial advantages of leveraging the high school project, the District has added some middle school work via change order; and Hammond Construction and TDA have gotten proposals and done value engineering.” It goes on to say that “the Board is now ready to procure security card readers for interior hallways at the middle school; and Hammond Construction has submitted change order pricing in an amount not to exceed $114,370.” The resolution thereby authorizes the Treasurer to enter into a change order for an amount not to exceed $115,000.
North Royalton School Superintendent Greg Gurka noted that the district continues to offer remote learning opportunities for its students. He thanked all the parents who participated in the remote learning survey that the district sent out. He encourages parents who would like to share comments to email him directly. The information is being utilized in planning for the upcoming school year. “As we prepare for next year, we are awaiting guidance from the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Education,” said Gurka. “Right now, we really don’t know much. Anything we plan for is speculative and we are hoping that we will be getting some guidance in the near future to at least narrow our focus as far as remote learning continuing, some type of blended learning, or full return to school in the fall.” He said that there are work groups, such as pre-K to grade 6; grade 7 to grade 12 education and the logistics, including transportation, social distancing and sanitation. Gurka then talked about commencement plans and thanked North Royalton High School Principal, Sean Osborne and his committee, staff, students and parents and the Cuyahoga County Department of Health for the development of the plan which allowed it to take place and make it a “special time for our seniors.” Gurka noted that Safety Town has been canceled. He then spoke about recent state budget cuts, saying that “at this time, it’s too early to speak about how we will be addressing these budget cuts. We are and will continue to meet with our administrative team to start to look at various options and then we will work with you, the Board, and communicate to the community to discuss the options we have, moving forward.”
The Board approved the renewal of contracts for the following administrative staff:
Kevin Atkins/Middle School Assistant Principal/effective 8/1/20 through 7/31/23
Julie Bogden/Director of Pupil Services/effective 8/1/20 through 7/31/23
Jeff Hill/Valley Vista Principal/effective 8/1/20 through 7/31/23
Vincent Ketterer/Albion Principal/effective 8/1/20 through 7/31/23
John (Michael) McGinnis/Preschool Director/effective 8/1/20 through 7/31/23
Sean Osborne/High School Principal/effective 8/1/20 through 7/31/23
Kirk Pavelich/Royal View Principal/effective 8/1/20 through 7/31/23
Matthew Yappel/High School Assistant Principal 8/1/20 through 7/31/23
The Board also approved the renewal of a contract for the following non-teaching supervisor/coordinator position:
Mary Ellen Feigi/Food Services Supervisor effective 8/1/20 through 7/31/23.
The Board authorized the execution of a memorandum of understanding with the North Royalton Education Association, noting that the “superintendent, treasurer and Board president are authorized and directed to execute a memorandum of understanding with the North Royalton Education Association (NREA) for the purpose of adjusting the current collective bargaining agreement in effect between the Board of Education and the NREA, necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Board renewed the membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) for the 2020-21 school year at no cost.
The Board approved an agreement with Sheakley Uniservice, Incorporated for Third Party Administrator services for the 2020-21 school year as a part of the Ohio School Council Worker’s Compensation Group Rating Program.
The Board granted continuing status as teachers to the following staff members, effective for the 2020-21 school year:
Christopher Benze, Cory Brady, Matthew Ciha, Jonathan Dietrich, Danielle Franko, Cresta Mellon, Edward Molnar, Paul Salyards.
The Board accepted the following resignations and retirements:
Resignations
Beth Thomas/Grade 2/Valley Vista/effective June 1, 2020
Claudia Nekl/Aide/Albion/effective May 30, 2020
Retirements
Frances Jesse/Aide/Royal View/effective May 31, 2020
Elizabeth Machusick/Aide/Middle School/effective May 31, 2020
Linda Nickell/Aide/Middle School/effective August 1, 2020
Joseph Sabitsch/Bus Driver/effective June 1, 2020
The Board approved a contract with PSI (Partners for Success and Innovation) for health services for the school years 2020-21 through 2023-24.
The Board approved an agreement with Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company for voluntary student accident and sickness insurance program for the 2020-21 school year.
The next monthly Board meeting will take place on Monday, June 8, at 7 p.m.

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer