The November meeting of the North Royalton Board of Education took place on Monday, November 5.
Board members and administrators recognized various students and staff from all five buildings for their commitment to excellence, whether it be through academics, arts, athletics, community service or for exhibiting core values:
Albion Elementary Student Council student representatives Joe Celek, Zack Leanza, Lily Kate Mason, Stefanie Tsybulya and Lydia Discenza, as well as their teacher/advisor Jen Nemeth, were recognized for raising funds for WAGS 4 WARRIORS, a local organization that provides service dogs to veterans in need.
Royal View Elementary recognizes students who demonstrate Royal Pride when they are respectful, responsible and active learners. Fourth-grader Ava Wise, third-grader Ella Wise, and first-grader Harper Wise were recognized for consistently showing kindness to others and exemplifying these other positive behavior qualities on a daily basis.
Valley Vista Elementary third-graders Giada Green, Nikolina Milanovic, Cameron Kuzminski, Srdjan (Surgen) Novakovic, Emma Groves, Ricky Haberkorn, Natalie Wilson, Juliette Reinhardt and Mitchell Bell, as well as Enriched Language Arts teacher Mrs. Samantha Lumpkin, were recognized for their dedication to the school’s book club this semester. The students are nominated by their teachers for their high interest in reading and willingness to give up a recess each week. “We enjoy coming together to share our love of reading,” said Lumpkin.
North Royalton Middle School students often exemplify “The Bear Way” and the idea of treating others as they would like to be treated. Students in Mrs. Jennifer Harold’s art class, Elyse Cepik, Leah Hrusovsky, Jessica Luberger, Simone Michel, Gerry Mlachak and Jenna Pickering were recognized for their example. “Our students are learning how to work together and problem solve, which are skills that will stay with them for the rest of their lives,” said Harold.
North Royalton High School students and parents were recognized for their involvement in the school’s Caring Closet, which is a small store where students can shop for free for items such as dress clothes, personal items, toiletries and other things. Some students, during their work-study periods, help prepare the donations and organize the closet. The students and parents recognized includes Senior Ryan Rybak (parents Kimberly & Dean), Sophomore Ryan Miller (parents Donald & Sheila) and Freshman Ally Talpas (parents Ronald & Elizabeth).
Also recognized were High School graphic design students for creating the graphics inside the closet, Key Club members for helping to organize donations, and the broadcasting class for creating a commercial for the morning announcements. “This is just another example of what makes the North Royalton school community such a special place to go to school, live and work,” said North Royalton High School Principal, Sean Osborne.
The Board adopted the following new hourly rates, effective January 1, 2019, for the positions listed below:
Parking Lot Full Time Police Officers, $30/hour
Special Event Full Time Police Officers, $35/hour
Gurka congratulated the North Royalton Marching Band on their number one rating, which was superior at the recent state finals in Columbus. “That is the twenty-ninth year in a row,” said Gurka. “They were fantastic and we are very proud of them.” He also congratulated the girls’ soccer program for winning their district championship. “They had a really tough year, I’ll say, and they ended up really coming together for the playoffs,” said Gurka.
Gurka went on to give a construction update: “The road behind the High School will be completed in the next couple of weeks. I just want to stress, this is a road for our buses and for city emergency vehicles and district vehicles. This is not a public road for parents or for students to use. After the first of the year, we will be scheduling a community meeting that will be a state of the schools/state of construction meeting that we will inform the public of all the things that are occurring with the construction project.”
The Board approved the appointment of the following certificated/Licensed and Classified employees:
Classified Employees
Scott Exoo/Middle School, Utility Custodian/effective November 5, 2018
Edward Lynch, Cleaner II/Valley Vista/effective November 6, 2018
Certified Substitute
Kevin Kollai
Classified Substitutes
Cortnie Allen, Cleaner
Donald Cruse, Bus Driver
The Board approved the following for supplemental contracts for the 2018-19 school year, as needed, salary on schedule:
Kelly Atkins, Power of the Pen Club Advisor, Middle School
Michael Colabianchi, High School Assistant Baseball Coach
Soo Henry, Power of the Pen Club Advisor, Middle School
Elisabeth Jasina, Middle School Track Coach
Kalee Moore, Assistant Cheerleading Coach, Winter
Alison Novosel, Power of the Pen Club Advisor, Middle School
The Board has offered the following non-licensed supplemental half contract position of High School Events Manager/Winter, to Erik Jendre.
The Board approved a personal service contract for Scott Adkins as needed, salary on schedule.
The Board agreed to make the required revisions, if any and acknowledged the Design Comments of the Design Phase Review for the new elementary school and high school addition and renovations portion of the master plan.
The Board approved the trip proposal for the Middle School 8th Grade trip to Washington, D.C. May 8-10, 2019.
The Board accepted and acknowledged the following gifts and donations:
“-The Jump Yard donated 60 free admission tickets to the PBIS program at Valley Vista Elementary.
-An anonymous veteran donated $75 to Valley Vista Elementary, which will be used towards their Veterans Day Ceremony.
-An anonymous community member donated a roll of HP premium photo paper to North Royalton High School.
-Cleats Club Seat Grille donated $200 worth of gift cards to the District for the Crystal Starfish Awards.
-Cleats Club Seat Grille donated $500 worth of gift cards to North Royalton High School for the Athlete of the Month program.
-The Brew Garden in Strongsville donated building materials and ceiling tiles, valued at $400, to the maintenance department.”
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education will take place on Monday, December 10 at the North Royalton High School Community Room.

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer