Board proposes roof repairs; approves boost in kindergarten tuition
by Laura Bednar
Feb. 21 board of education meeting
During a special meeting of the Nordonia Hills Board of Education, Director of Business Casey Wright proposed taking $1.5 million from the $2.5 million permanent improvement fund to replace sections of roof for Northfield Elementary, Rushwood Elementary and the middle school. Treasurer Matt Brown said additional money would flow into the permanent improvement fund, according to the district’s five-year forecast.
Wright said the targeted buildings were priorities because of roof leaks. The Garland Company will supply roofing materials if the project progresses; the roofs would carry a 30-year warranty. Installation would be bid out, according to Wright.
No decision was made, but if the project moves forward, plans are to finish it this summer.
Wright also suggested the district create a long-term capital management plan for each school building. He met with three companies which create multiple-year plans for schools. This concept is commonly used for businesses but not schools, as most educational institutions follow “run to fail” models in which maintenance is performed only when equipment fails, according to Wright.
For $30,000, a company will send engineers to check the systems in all six school buildings, determine systems’ end-of-life and create an informational database. There would be additional software costs in the future to update the digital database. Superintendent Dr. Joe Clark said, “It’s a good planning tool to bring to the community.”
Kindergarten tuition
During the regular meeting, board members approved tuition for full-day kindergarten at $2,800, a $100 increase from the previous three years. Board member Amy Vajdich said the finance committee compared tuition to other districts, and those that don’t charge usually have cash from a levy or savings that allows them to do so.
“We don’t have the money,” said board President Chad Lahrmer, adding that the district can’t afford to eliminate tuition but subsidizes some of the cost.
Ohio allows schools to charge tuition because all-day kindergarten is not a required offering. Half-day kindergarten will continue to be free.
In other news
A representative from the Ohio Auditor of State’s office presented the district with the “Auditor of State Award with Distinction” for a financial audit that met the criteria of a “clean” report. Less than 5% of entities audited in the state receive this award.
A new class, “Writing for Wellness,” will be offered at the high school. Board member Liz McKinley said it is given by the English department and is designed to create “empowerment towards well-being through writing.”
The district will begin livestreaming board of education’s special meetings in March. The regular meetings have been livestreamed since fall 2022.
Donations
North Summit Lions Club donated $1,625 toward the cost of one automated external defibrillator device. VFW Post 6768 Northfield also donated $1,625 toward the cost of an AED device.
The Chapel donated a 70-inch flat screen TV and stand for Nordonia High School, valued at $723.
The Summit County Master Gardeners donated four copies of the book “The Garden Next Door” to be distributed to Northfield, Ledgeview and Rushwood Elementary schools and Lee Eaton Intermediate. ∞