NORTHFIELD – The Nordonia Hills City School District Board of Education met Monday at Northfield Elementary to approve new superintendent goals and fill mandated special education positions while showcasing a professionally designed logo created by former student Keyshaun Smith at no taxpayer cost.
Smith presented his six-month project featuring a knight figure within a shield design that incorporates symbolic elements representing district values. The shield symbolizes protection and unity while the forward-looking knight represents courage and determination. The letter “N” anchors the design to Nordonia’s identity.
“This isn’t just a logo. It’s what it means to be a knight,” Smith said during his presentation, which included a professional video featuring student and staff testimonials about district pride.
Superintendent Casey Wright, who called Smith “the most talented individual I’ve ever met in person,” emphasized the district’s gradual implementation approach. The new logo will be phased in as existing materials require replacement rather than necessitating immediate wholesale changes.
Wright Outlines Strategic Priorities
The board approved Wright’s five key goals for the upcoming year, with facilities planning taking priority. Wright’s primary objective involves developing a 25-year master facilities plan addressing aging infrastructure needs. The comprehensive plan, scheduled for January presentation, will provide a roadmap for future operations and bond requirements based on community feedback and historical district analysis.
Additional superintendent goals include establishing a communications committee to reach residents without school-age children, maintaining community engagement initiatives, implementing professional learning communities to boost student achievement, and pursuing personal leadership development through networking with other educational leaders.
Treasurer Kyle Kipper outlined complementary goals focusing on internal operations, including expanding staff procedural manuals, streamlining annual financial reporting processes, and collaborating on the facilities master plan.
Special Education Positions Filled
Despite recent budget-driven staff reductions, the board approved hiring seven intervention specialists for special education students – positions Wright described as legally required and “non-negotiable.”
New intervention specialists include John Clay, Joe Callahan, Jen Rail, Caitlyn Puroy, Jasmine Thomas, Brandy Wentz, and Khloe Kramer. Several bring experience from neighboring districts including Garfield Heights, Revenna, and Akron Public Schools. The specialists will work with students who have learning disabilities or multiple disabilities across district buildings.
The board also approved hiring regular education teachers including Ethan Nario-Redmond for fourth grade at Rushwood, Amanda Scarupa for middle school English, Jason Zanelli for physical education, Jeff Pupki as band director, Hannah Beck for part-time kindergarten, and Mindy Strahan for first grade.
Judge Offers Legal Education Programs
Stow Municipal Court Judge Cynthia Curtiss introduced herself to the board and offered free educational presentations for middle and high school students about legal consequences. Curtiss, appointed by Governor DeWine in May, brings 35 years of litigation experience and wants to educate students about “tag along consequences” of criminal convictions, including driver’s license suspension, court costs, and limitations on record expungement.
Financial Reporting Changes
The board addressed upcoming changes to state-mandated financial forecasting requirements. Beginning this year, districts must submit three-year projections instead of five-year forecasts, with deadlines shifting from November and May to August and February. Kipper noted the earlier timeline creates challenges since revenue and budget information may not be fully available when forecasts are due.
Schedule Adjustments
The board approved moving the November meeting from Nov. 17 to Nov. 24 due to a capital conference conflict. The October meeting will incorporate the State of the Schools presentation on Oct. 13, where the board will also approve the required financial forecast, keeping the regular meeting on Oct. 20.
Committee reports highlighted the Nordonia Foundation’s successful golf outing raising approximately $18,000 and the implementation of a $700 family cap on sports and band fees.
The next regular board meeting will be held Monday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. at Northfield Elementary School.
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