Passage of Charter Amendments could change how we vote

The North Royalton City Council adopted two pieces of legislation that will place two charter change issues on the November ballot. The initial discussion on these issues began at the April 6 Council Review and Oversight Committee. A City Charter, comparable to a constitution of a State or the United States, serves to define the organization, powers, functions and essential procedures of its government. In North Royalton, changes to the charter can come via two methods, both with need the approval of the voters. The first is to introduce proposed changes through City Council, which can be int ....

Senior prom will be a ‘Night Under the Stars’

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It’s Prom weekend for North Royalton High School seniors and students are excited for their “Night Under the Stars.” This year’s prom theme, “Night Under the Stars,” is quite literal – Prom will take place outdoors at the high school’s Serpentini Stadium beginning Saturday, May 22, at 6 p.m. A large canopy will be set up and all attendees will receive a “Prom-cho” (poncho) in the event of inclement weather. Students will dine on catered Antonio’s and enjoy a visit from the East Coast Cust ....

School Board News

The May meeting of the North Royalton Board of Education took place on Monday, May 10. The Board appointed District Assistant Superintendent James Presot to serve as Superintendent, on an interim basis, effective June 1 - 30. Accolades to soon-to-be-retiring North Royalton School Superintendent Greg Gurka were presented by Broadview Heights Mayor Sam Ali and North Royalton Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz. Gurka noted that “I have stated continuously that we are lucky to have a great relationship with our cities.” He went on to say that “we can’t do the things we do with our schools without ....

Construction moves forward for new school year

North Royalton School Superintendent Greg Gurka stated that the school construction projects are moving ahead very well and administration is looking forward to getting the keys to the new elementary school in the next few weeks. He added, “if anyone would like a brick from the old High School, there’s a pile of them by the construction trailers. You can help yourself to how ever many you would like.” (Note: the bricks will be available only until tomorrow, May 21.) Gurka is referring to the bricks that were part of the demolition of the 1950s and 60s section of the High School, which be ....

City to be included in the Purple Heart Trail

Residents are invited to attend an event that adds North Royalton to the list of hundreds across the United States that honor the Military Order of the Purple Heart and are a part of the Purple Heart Trail. The event will take place on Saturday, May 29, at 11 a.m. near City Hall, in Memorial Park on State Road. According to Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz, Resident Joseph Meyers contacted him in April, asking if the City could be a part of the Purple Heart Trail. He noted that “the Trail is a series of schools, highways, cities and states that all band together to support those in appreciation for ....

Critical Race Theory is brought up at School Board meeting

A North Royalton resident addressed the North Royalton Board of Education at its May 10 School Board meeting, regarding, among other things, critical race theory indoctrination and provided them with information regarding the subject. Critical race theory, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, is an “ intellectual movement and loosely organized framework of legal analysis based on the premise that race is not a natural, biologically grounded feature of physically distinct subgroups of human beings but a socially constructed (culturally invented) category that is used to oppress and expl ....

Council approves position of Planner in Building Dept.

A new position is in the process of being added to the city ranks as a result of a revamping of the North Royalton Building Department. Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz introduced legislation at the May 4 City Council meeting that would add the position of Planner to the Building Department. Antoskiewicz said that “it’s really part of a re-organization of everything. Part of what I want to do, since we got a new Engineer, we did some self-analysis. This new position will take over the boards of BZA (Board of Zoning Appeals) and the Planning Commission.” By adding this position, it will free up ....

NRCS Honors “Teacher ” and “Support Staff” Person of the Year

North Royalton City Schools announced the Teacher of the Year and Support Staff Person of the Year. The Teacher of the Year is Cheri Rourke, who is a first-grade teacher at Royal View Elementary School.  She has worked in the District since 1989.  “Mrs. Rourke is a dedicated, knowledgeable and passionate educator,” said Principal Kirk Pavelich.  “She also excels in our District as a leader, as her experience makes her an invaluable resource not only for her colleagues in the first grades, but also for her fellow teachers throughout the building and the District.  When it comes to ea ....

Mother’s Day is a chance to reflect on your journey as a Mom

Life before kids can be largely egocentric. Every milestone we achieve before having children typically serves ourselves and our own best interests. We are, essentially, living for ourselves. But when women have kids, something switches over. We stop living for ourselves and start living for our children. And while this switch is beautiful and purposeful, it’s not always easy. Sometimes it is downright hard, and our knees buckle from the weight of it. But this loss of identity and time of adjustment also paves the way for a new and greater sense of self. Mother� ....

Students share Covid experiences through words

It may be hard to believe or imagine, but there may come a day when today’s youngest students don’t really remember the events that unfolded during the Covid-19 pandemic. Though they will likely recall the mask-wearing and remote schooling to some degree, the day-to-day details and nuances of academic life during a pandemic may get fuzzy as the years go on and they mature into older adults in the decades to come. In reflecting on this thought and the popular book series “I SURVIVED” that tells terrifying and thrilling stories from history from the eyes of fictional kids who lived thro ....