The North Royalton Board of Education’s monthly School Board meeting took place on Monday, February 13. Assistant Superintendent Melissa Vojta gave a presentation regarding the Literacy Team.
The Board approved a one-time amendment to the current employment contract of School Superintendent, Michael K. Laub, Jr. for the limited purpose of assisting for his relocation into the district. That contract period ends July 31, 2024. The 2023-2024 contract (the last year of the current three-year, initial contract) will include a $25,000 relocation adjustment. The Board also approved a re-appointment contract for Laub, which commences August 1, 2024 and ends July 31, 2029. The base salary of that contract is $167,146, with an annual increase of 2.5% each year. Laub stated “I just want to publicly say thank you. I like it here and I like it here because of the people. I enjoy our team and the people I get to work with every day and I like our community.”
The Board approved the following appropriation adjustments: 004-Building Fund, from $64,420.58 to $66,105.00; 516-IDEA Special Education, from $1,208,843.27 to $1,187,379.19; 572-Title I, from $381,828.20 to $387,409.74; 587-IDEA Early Childhood, from $23,878.84 to $23,799.11; 590-Title II, from $90,334.96 to $91,602.84.
School Superintendent Mike Laub updated the Board on the Kindergarten registration, stating that “we’ve gotten a lot of early returns. We’re hoping that it’s just a product of how we are advertising and getting the word out. We’re getting a lot of information earlier in the process, but we will continue to monitor the numbers.” He also talked about the locker room project, stating that he received a drawing of the locker room that seemed to be close to what is desired. The Transportation Department renovation is close. “We will go from that to a more detailed drawing for estimations and bids.”
The Board recognized the retirement of Raoul “Ray” Vonderau. They also accepted the following resignations:
Theodor Dehrmann/Substitute Bus Driver/effective February 10, 2023
Gregory Hovan/Transportation Supervisor/effective June 30, 2023
Anthony Simonelli/Substitute Bus Driver/effective February 10, 2023.
The Board accepted the termination of Marcus Keta, High School Cleaner, effective January 11, 2023. They also approved the following unpaid leaves of absence:
Amend Michael Cox to extend leave to include February 20, 2023 through February 28, 2023
Amend Scott Sedio to extend leave to include January 17, 2023 (.5) through February 3, 2023
Sara Wallace/effective March 16, 2023 through June 8, 2023.
The Board approved the following change of assignments:
Maria Hebebrand/from 11-Month Secretary/High School to 11-Month Administrative Secretary/High School
Edelio Rocha/from Assistant Custodian/Middle School to Head Custodian/Middle School, effective February 1, 2023.
The Board approved the following appointments:
Certified Substitute – Nicole Figueroa/effective January 24, 2023
Classified Employees – Theodor Dehrmann/Bus Driver/effective February 13, 2023
Heidimarie Schultz/Cleaner/Elementary School/effective January 30, 2023
Anthony Simonelli/Bus Driver/effective February 13, 2023
Ryan Thozeski/Assistant Custodian/Middle School
Classified Substitutes – Lisa Flesse/effective February 9, 2023; Joseph Smith/effective January 17, 2023
The Board approved/amended the following for supplemental contracts for the 2022-23 school year, or as indicated, as needed, salary on schedule:
High School Assistant Baseball Coach Bryan Bielak; High School Assistant Baseball Coach James Hoover; High School Assistant Baseball Coach Jacob Jones
High School Assistant Softball Coach Karen Whitely; High School Assistant Tennis Coach Andrew Biegacki; High School Assistant Track Coach William Cummins; High School Assistant Track Coach Elisabeth Jasina; High School Assistant Track Coach David Marhefka; High School Assistant Track Coach Thomas Mowry; High School Assistant Track Coach Douglas Steiger; High School Assistant Track Coach Nicholas Woods; Middle School Track Coach Jamie Alexander; Middle School Track Coach Dean Chuppa; Middle School Track Coach Christopher Connelly; Middle School Track Coach Donald Filips; Middle School Track Coach Ryan Madison; Middle School Track Coach Julia Riley; Middle School Track Coach Steven Sprunger; Middle School Track Coach Charles Tesar;
The Board approved the non-licensed supplemental employment: Ashley Andexler/Assistant Softball Coach (2022-23); Andrew English/Head Boys Soccer Coach (2023-24)
The Board approved the following school volunteers for the 2022-23 school year or as indicated: Robert Craddock/Winter Sports Club/Middle School; Alex Sir Louis/Baseball; Adam Slomski/Boys Tennis
The Board approved the following supplemental contract for the 2022-23 school year: Michael Nary, High School Assistant Track Coach.
The Board approved the policy updates from NEOLA Volume 41 Number 1, and updates to policies 2416 and 5320.
The Board authorized acceptance of resignation and employment separation of Assistant Transportation Supervisor William Von Alt, effective at the end of business, February 27, 2023.
The Board approved a resolution authorizing the execution of a lease agreement between the District and the City of North Royalton for park utilization at Memorial Park.
The Board approved a resolution authorizing the Treasurer to contract for repair and replacement of select sections of the transportation facility parking lot in an amount not to exceed $135,000.00.
The Board approved a resolution authorizing an agreement with GPD Group in an amount not to exceed $60,000.00 for design services for the renovation/conversion and reconfiguration of the maintenance garage into a varsity locker room, restrooms and conference space.
The Board approved a contract with Windsor Learnwell for services provided for students placed at Columbus Residential.
The Board approved the Playhouse Square Foundation Agreement for rehearsal and presentation of graduation exercises on Friday, June 2, 2023, at the Key Bank State Theatre.
The Board approved the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio’s Governing Board Primary Service Agreement from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025.
The Board renewed membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association for the 2022-23 school year.
The Board approved John Kelly as delegate and Anne Reinkober as alternate to the Ohio School Board Association’s Annual Capital Conference, to be held November 13-14, 2023.
The Board approved the trip proposal for the North Royalton High School Varsity Softball Team to Pigeon Forge, TN, April 9-15, 2023.
The Board approved and acknowledged the following gifts and donations:
“The Langshaw family collected coats, various clothing items and toiletries from the community, with an approximate value of $5,609.00, and donated them to the Caring Closet at North Royalton High School.
-The Langshaw family donated $25.00 to the Caring Closet at North Royalton High School.
-Elaine Zigon donated $50.00 to the Caring Closet at North Royalton High School.
-Mr. & Mrs. Lapeus donated $25.00 to the Caring Closet at North Royalton High School.”
The next regular Meeting will be held on March 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the North Royalton High School Community Room.

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer