Powers led district through budget challenges, COVID-19 pandemic
The Twinsburg City School District Board of Education received notice from Powers of her decision to retire, effective July 1. The board formally accepted her retirement during a special meeting.
“The Board thanks Mrs. Powers for her service to the district and wishes her a happy retirement,” said Board President Rhonda Crawford.
Powers, who served the district for 14 years, said a recent personal loss prompted her decision to retire.
The district serves the city of Twinsburg, Twinsburg Township, Reminderville and a small portion of Aurora. The district operates five school buildings and serves roughly 4,000 students.
The district faces facility challenges following voters’ rejection of Issue 11 in May, a $107 million bond issue requesting 3.84 mills. The measure would have funded construction of a new elementary school for pre-k through sixth grade students and renovated Twinsburg High School to house seventh through 12th grades plus career tech programs. The proposal also included demolishing Wilcox Primary, Samuel Bissell Elementary and George G. Dodge Intermediate schools, vacating R.B. Chamberlin Middle School, and constructing a new stadium.
Her leadership was tested in recent years as the district faced mounting financial pressures. In May 2023, the district eliminated more than 40 positions after the Ohio Department of Education projected a $2 million deficit by fiscal year 2025. Powers worked to maintain classroom integrity while making difficult staffing cuts that trimmed nearly $2.9 million from the district’s roughly $50 million budget.
The district also pursued a 10-year, $6.21 million levy to address ongoing financial challenges, as staff cuts and increased program fees were insufficient to resolve projected deficits.
Powers guided the district through the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing safety protocols including mask requirements and coordinating vaccination clinics for students. She maintained regular communication with families during school closures and safety concerns.
In May 2024, Powers led the district’s response when lightning struck Twinsburg High School, causing extensive damage to the district’s technology infrastructure and forcing a temporary closure of all buildings.
Powers faced some community criticism during her tenure, including a petition in 2017 expressing no confidence in her leadership. However, she continued to serve and work with the school board on district initiatives.
A Twinsburg resident since 1997, Powers is married to Paul Powers, who serves as athletic director for Aurora Schools. The couple has two golden retrievers and no children.
Michael Sedlak, current director of Human Resources, assumed the role of temporary interim superintendent effective July 1 while continuing his HR responsibilities. “The Board will work in collaboration with the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Northeast Ohio to identify and appoint an Interim Superintendent to help lead the district during the search for a permanent replacement,” Crawford said.
The board stated it “remains committed to ensuring a smooth leadership transition and will provide further updates as the process moves forward.”
Powers’ contract was approved by the school board in 2019 for five years and was set to expire July 31.
Sedlak can be reached at 330.486.2020 or msedlak@twinsburgcsd.org for district inquiries during the transition period.
Powers’ retirement marks the end of an era for Twinsburg City Schools as the district continues to address ongoing financial challenges under new leadership.
