The North Royalton Board of Education held their regular monthly meeting on Monday, June 8. The meeting was held virtually.
North Royalton School Superintendent, Greg Gurka noted that there were forty six participants in this Zoom Board meeting. He thought that they were in attendance to support those who were being honored that day. He said that there were a lot of people on the agenda being hired today and some that were retiring, making it a happy day and a bittersweet day. “We are honored and graced by the people we are saying goodbye to and I know the people we are saying hello to will try their best to fill their shoes.” He then went on to give presentations on a number of people.
He honored Bruce Abbott, who was this year’s Bus Driver of the Year, Alison Novosel as this year’s Teacher of the Year; Dorothy Marshall as the 2019-20 Support Staff Person of the Year.
Gurka then spoke about the recent survey that was issued to parents as to what they would like next year to look like. “I think we had a tremendous result from it,” said Gurka. The district received 1,772 responses. The survey covered thoughts on how the district performed during the last nine weeks of the school year and options for what school might look like when the classes resume. Gurka said they will continue to analyze the data and wait for guidelines from the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Education. Plans will be developed to allow students to return to school while adhering to requirements, as well as plans to educate students who cannot come to school. They will also develop a contingency plan in case schools are closed again during the school year.
The Board approved the increase in the certificated substitute daily salary for retired North Royalton City School District teachers to $125 per day, effective August 17, 2020.
The Board resolved to certify the 2020 graduates, provided they satisfactorily completed requirements of the State Department of Education.
The Board and administration commended and recognized Alison Novosel as the 2019-20 Teacher of the Year. Novosel has served as a teacher in the district since 1997.
The Board and administration then commended and recognized Dorothy Marshall as the 2019-20 Support Staff Person of the Year. Marshall has served as an employee of the district since 2006.
The Board approved the following agreements for the 2020-21 school year: Suburban School Transportation, Incorporated for transportation of special need students; Positive Education Program/Pep Assist for services; ABA Outreach Services for a Board Certified Behavior Analyst for hands-on training and support to staff members; and Elias and CoCo Akouri for transportation two days per week, starting June 8, 2020, until Suburban Transportation is available.
The Board adopted a resolution upon the retirements of Linda Cox, Walter DeMattie, Frances Jesse, Elizabeth Machusick, Albert Mikes, Linda Nickell, Elizabeth Radtke, Joseph Sabitsch, and Trudy Skelton. They also accepted the retirements of Mary Ellen Feigi, Food Service Supervisor, effective August 1, 2020 and Kathie Swim, Bus Driver, effective June 1, 2020.
The Board approved the following supplemental contracts for the 2019-20 school year. The wages for the contracts listed below, as well as employer associated expenses, are fully paid for by the North Royalton Education Association (NREA): 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 three resolutions that execute memorandums of understand with the North Royalton Band Boosters, the North Royalton Athletic Boosters and the North Royalton Choir Boosters.
The Board accepted a bid from Ohio Casualty (Todd Associates/Liberty Mutual Group) for general liability, fleet and umbrella insurance for the district from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.
They also approved insurance endorsements to the District’s liability police to include 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, 2020, through June 30, 2021.
The Board approved an agreement with USA Mobile Drug Testing of Northeast Ohio for bus/van driver drug and alcohol testing, effective July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. They also approved the physicians of Employer Health Source through Corporate Health at University Hospitals Parma Medical Center to perform non-group bus/van driver exams, effective July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.
The Board accepted and acknowledged the following gifts/donations:
“- The North Royalton Athletic Boosters donated a variety of equipment and uniforms valued at $45,923.85, to the athletic department at North Royalton High School to be used for high school and middle school athletics.”
The next North Royalton School Board meeting will take place on Monday, July 13, at 7 p.m. at Royal View Elementary School.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer