The July meeting of the North Royalton Board of Education took place on Thursday, July 16.
The Board nominated Jacquelyn Arendt, Christina May, Michelle Bauer, Carlin Culbertson and Bridget Wu for the Ohio School Boards Association’s Recognition Award.
The Board amended the contract of Jeff Cicerchi, Superintendent, to ensure compliance with the Ohio Ethics Law, as it pertains to the Superintendent and his spouse, both being employed by the Board. (See Cicerchi option)
The Board approved the Comprehensive Continuous Improvement Plan grants for 2026-27 as listed.
Title I-A Improving Basic Programs $409,682.76
Title II-A Support Effective Instruction $113,136.22
Title III Language Instruction for English Learners $49,344.64
Title III Immigrant $13,898.30
Title IV-A Student Support and Academic Enrichment $32,743.20
IDEA-B Special Education $1,053,814.70
IDEA Early Childhood Special Education $24,363.83
The Board approved the following transfer: from 001-General Fund to 300-950A-Athletics, $115.000.00
The Board approved change funds for those school operations requiring them for the 2026-27 school year:
Middle School Media Center $20.00
High School Media Center $20.00
Elementary School Cafeteria $100.00
Middle School Cafeteria $100.00
High School Cafeteria $100.00
High School Letterman’s Club $50.00
High School/Middle School Athletic Dept. $ 4,000.00
High School Student Activity Office $30.00
Middle School Book Store $150.00
Middle School Office $50.00
Transportation Department $150.00
The Board adopted the Suburban League Conference Salary Schedule for Officials and the North Royalton High School/Middle School Salary Schedule for Athletic Event Workers for the 2026-27 school year.
The Board approved the following accounts:
200-990B Class of 2030 High School 9th Grade Freshman
The Board approved the high school fees for the  2026-27 school year.
The Board approved the following fees for the  2026-27 school year:
Kindergarten $50.00
Grades 1-4 $65.00
Grades 5-7 $70.00
Grade 8 $80.00 + World Language Fee if applicable
Middle School Athletics Participation Fee $100.00
High School Athletics Participation Fee $125.00
Middle School Activity Participation Fee $30.00
High School Activity Participation Fee $30.00
The Board approved the following athletic event ticket prices for the  2026-27 school year:
All Sports $10.00 for Adults (All Sports except JV Football/Freshman Games)
JV/Varsity (V)  $5.00 for Students (K-12)
Senior Citizens free with identification (60 or older)
JV Football Adults $4, Students $2
JV/V Soccer, JV/V Volleyball, JV/V Basketball, Wrestling $10 Adults, $5 Students
V Football Adults $10, Students $5
Football Season Reserved Seats Season Pass:  $75.00 (5 Home Games x $15)
Reserved Parking Pass Football Games:   $50.00 (5 Home Games x $10)
7th/8th Grade No charge for admission
The Board agreed to enter into annual financial statement services with the Local Government Services Section of the State Auditor’s Office for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 for annual cost anticipated not to exceed $21,850.00.
The Board accepted the following resignations:
Resignation
Areta Solecky/Data Entry Clerk/Transportation/effective August 14, 2026
Retirement
Mary Oldag/Administrative Secretary-11 month/Middle School/effective September 1, 2026 (last day of work will be August 31, 2026)
The Board approved the following certified, licensed and classified appointments, effective 2026-27 school year, or as indicated:
Certified Employees
Lauren Bucciere/Intervention Specialist – Pre-K/Elementary School
Richard Emch/World Language/High School
Classified Employees One-Year Limited Contract
Jennifer Beck/Cafeteria Worker/High School
Jessica Butcher/Aide/Elementary School
Dean Chuppa/Aide/Middle School
Kayla Kaye/Aide/Elementary School
Julie Pavelich/Aide/Elementary School
Amritha Sailesh Karathody/Aide/Middle School
Jennifer Swanson/Aide/Middle School
Florica Todut/Cafeteria Worker/High School
Classified Employee One-Year Limited Contract (2025-2026)
Chad Toth/Assistant Custodian/High School
The Board approved the re-appointment of Jack Matthews, Artis Powell and Chad Toth on a one-year limited contract, salary on schedule.
The Board approved the following change of assignments for the 2026-27 school year, as needed, salary on schedule:
Rita Ghanem from Assistant Cafeteria Manager/Middle School to Cafeteria Manager/Middle School effective August 11, 2026
Juliann Shust from Cafeteria Worker/High School to Assistant Cafeteria Manager/Middle School effective August 11, 2026
The Board approved the following change of title effective 2026-2027 school year and going forward:
Steffani Cicerchi from Director of Pupil Services to Director of Student Services
The Board approved the policies included in the NEOLA Volume 44 Number 2 as well as the policies associated with the change from Human Resources to Business Manager.
The Board approved the Business Manager Job Description (103B).
The Board amended the adopted compensation plan for the North Royalton Central Office Administrators, for the period of August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2028.
The Board approved authorization to purchase four (4) – seventy-two passenger unitized conventional school buses from the bids received through the Ohio Schools Council on May 4, 2026
The Board approved the 2026-2027  student/parent handbooks.
The Board approved an agreement with Sheakley UniService, Inc. for TPA (Third-Party Administrators) services for the 2026-2027 school year as part of the Ohio Schools Council
Workers’ Compensation Group Rating Program.
The Board approved a three-year service agreement renewal with Trane U.S. Inc., beginning August 1, 2026, and ending July 31, 2029, for the maintenance of the building automation controls at North Royalton Elementary School and North Royalton Middle School
The Board approved the agreement with B&D Towing for the 2026-2027 school year for towing services for the District.
The Board approved the service agreement with Cintas Fire Protection for monitoring the district fire panel systems for the 2026-2027 school year.
The Board approved  an agreement with PaySchools for payment processing services for the food services department for the 2026-2027 school year with the option to renew the agreement annually thereafter.
The Board approved an agreement with Sign Language Interpreters of Cleveland, Inc., for interpreter services as needed, effective August 20, 2026, through the 2026-2027 school year.
The Board approved the agreement with Bellefaire JCB (Monarch School) for the purpose of providing special education programs and services as needed for the 2026-2027 school year at a cost of $98,026.20 a year per student.
The Board approved an agreement with Applewood Centers, Inc. (Reserve School) for the purpose of providing special education programs and services needed for the 2026-2027 school year.
The Board approved participation with the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio for the purpose of providing Inter-district services as needed for the 2026-2027 school year. (Teachers of Visually Impaired, Orientation & Mobility Trainer, Rehabilitation Specialist, Braille Services).
The Board approved participation with the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio for the purpose of providing Inter-district services as needed for the 2026-2027 school year. (Audiology Services, Teacher of the Hearing-Impaired).
The Board approved the use of buses for the 2026-2027 school year to transport:
High School band members and others involved to football games and band contests in the Northeast Ohio area; Graduating seniors, band members, and others involved to the State Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio for commencement in June, and other activities pertaining to graduation; and Students and others involved in field trips.
The Board approved the following trip proposal:
North Royalton High School Boys Soccer Team (tournament) at Baldwin Wallace University, August 2-4, 2026.
The Board approved and acknowledged the following gifts and donations:
-Clean Express Auto Wash donated $5,010 to North Royalton High School as part of a community partnership for the sale of unlimited club memberships and gift cards during its grand opening celebration.
-Chemquest, Inc. did a company match of $1,000, with Clean Express Auto Wash from the Grand Opening celebration, to donate to North Royalton High School.
-The Commencement Group donated $264 to North Royalton High School, from commission for the sale of flowers at the Class of 2026 commencement ceremony.
The next regular Board meeting will take place on Thursday, August 12 at 6:00 p.m. at the North Royalton High School Community Room.

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer