The Nordonia Hills City School District Board of Education met Tuesday for a regular meeting that opened with an agenda change, carrying over an unfinished executive session from a previous meeting to the close of Tuesday’s business.
President Liz McKinley called the meeting to order, and members Jason Tidmore, Sandra Caramela-Miller, Matt Ford and Chad Lahrmer answered roll call along with McKinley.
Treasurer highlights falling expenses
Treasurer Kyle Kiffer delivered the district’s year end financial update, marking the close of fiscal year 2026 and the first full year of the district’s strategic plan. Kiffer noted that under House Bill 96, forecast presentations are shifting from May and November to February and August, a change he said he was not thrilled about but would follow.
Revenue for fiscal 2026 rose about 4.3 percent compared to fiscal 2025. Property tax collections tied to the district’s five mill levy, which began in May 2025, increased roughly 9 percent. State aid showed mixed results, with a 12 percent increase offset by a 16 percent decrease tied to the expiration of a science of reading stipend. The district’s settlement payments from the MGM agreement also dropped sharply, falling from $2.4 million in year five to $465,000 in the final year, accounting for a $2 million swing.
On the spending side, salaries and wages decreased about 2 percent from the prior year, purchased services fell 2 percent, and supplies and materials dropped nearly four and a half percent. Kiffer credited a multiyear strategy of reducing staff through attrition, restructuring positions and closely managing contracts.
Total expenditures came in about $772,000 lower than the prior year, while revenues finished about $2.5 million higher. That combination pushed the district’s cash balance up 1.29 percent. Compared to the February forecast, actual revenues landed $314,000 higher and expenses came in $582,000 favorable, a total swing of $896,000 toward the cash balance and an overall forecast accuracy variance of just 0.22 percent.
Strategic plan progress spans five objectives
Kiffer walked the board through year one progress on the district’s five strategic plan objectives. Completed enrollment studies aligned with the facility master plan approved earlier this year, and independent projections from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission matched the district’s own numbers.
The district also published a shortened, more visual annual financial report and began holding quarterly finance advisory committee meetings, with the next one set for August 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Annex building at Northfield Elementary. Meetings are open to the public.
Grant funding helped offset general fund costs this year, including a career tech partnership with CVCC that saved roughly $30,000. The district also completed an E rate technology project and exercised its purchase option on a laptop lease. Looking ahead, Kiffer said the district plans to develop a board approved cash balance policy over the next several committee meetings.
Under the facilities objective, Kiffer said funds tied to the MGM settlement have been substantially spent, and future capital needs will shift toward periodic transfers from the general fund into the permanent improvement fund. On budgeting, the district moved its process up to January and February to align with the new forecast schedule and introduced a per pupil allocation model for building budgets, which officials called a transition year they intend to refine.
For technology, the district shifted its laptop purchasing timeline from midsummer to spring, giving the IT department more time to prepare devices before the school year begins.
Board members praised the reduction in expenditures. One member said the numbers reflected how much work the district has put in over the past several years. Kiffer also mentioned an ongoing staffing comparison study, expected to be completed soon, that will be included in the district’s upcoming audit.
Legislative update on math intervention law
No residents signed up for open forum, and the board had no CVCC report this month since the organization does not hold a July meeting. A board member gave a brief legislative update on Senate Bill 19, signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine. The bill requires intervention services for students struggling in math and mandates a review of math curriculums statewide. The board member noted the law is an unfunded mandate that applies only to public schools, and encouraged continued attention to how state requirements affect districts differently.
Consent items and meeting date change
The board approved two consent items on a single vote. The first was a second reading of an updated student absenteeism policy, which the district said better aligns with state guidance for reducing chronic absenteeism through family engagement and more timely reporting to the courts. The second was the district’s annual resolution covering transportation for students attending private schools, updated this year with new language allowing the district to seek reimbursement from the state for about half the cost.
Members also approved moving the August regular meeting from Tuesday to Wednesday, August 26, due to a scheduling conflict for Treasurer Kiffer. The meeting will still be held at 7 p.m. at Northfield Elementary.
SRO agreements and new online learning day option
The board approved school resource officer memorandums of understanding with the city of Macedonia covering Ledgeview Elementary and the high school for the 2026 to 2027 school year.
Members also approved an annual resolution allowing the district to use up to three online learning days in place of snow days when needed. Curriculum Director Carol Tonsing developed the plan, which requires teachers to be available for instruction on any day the option is used. Officials stressed the vote does not eliminate snow days but adds flexibility if the district accumulates enough missed hours that summer makeup days would otherwise be required.
Consortium agreements for language learners and math training
The board approved joining the Summit County Educational Service Center’s Title III consortium for the coming school year, which supports English language learner programming and costs about $6,000 in Title III funds. Members also approved a contract with the Summit ESC for AQR Math Pathway training, continuing work Nordonia pioneered several years ago on an alternative path to Algebra II equivalency that other districts have since adopted.
Personnel changes include new technology supervisor
Among certified personnel items, the board approved bringing behavioral specialist services in house instead of outsourcing to an agency, a change expected to save about $20,000 while keeping the same service level. Lauren Horst was appointed to the new district behavior specialist position for the 2026 to 2027 school year. The list also included a stipend for Heather Eckenrode to write IEPs for students using vouchers to attend private schools, student teacher supervision stipends for several staff members, and pay for Elizabeth Raseta to complete CPR certification training so she can continue teaching the course to students each summer.
Classified personnel approvals included the departure of longtime district courier Courtney Jaggers, whose part time position could not be converted to full time.
Exempt personnel approvals included the hiring of Steven Pulskamp as the district’s new technology supervisor, effective July 27. He replaces Steve Rutherford, who resigned effective July 1 after ten years with the district to take a position at another school system. Technology Director Mike Russ thanked Rutherford for his service and said staff technology advocates and the district’s business director sat in on interviews for the replacement. Russ said the hire is an early step toward restructuring a technology department that currently relies on just two people to support a $70 million organization.
The board also approved a supplemental coaching appointment allowing Vice President Jason Tidmore to join the middle school football coaching staff as a volunteer. Tidmore abstained from the vote.
Board business and next steps
Members approved appointing McKinley as delegate and Caramela-Miller as alternate delegate to the Ohio School Boards Association’s annual business meeting in November. The board also renewed its local government services contract with the Ohio Auditor of State’s office, which has compiled the district’s financial reports for roughly 25 years.
With no further public business remaining, the board moved into the previously postponed executive session to close out the meeting. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, at 7 p.m. at Northfield Elementary.
