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GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio – The January 26, 2026 Garfield Heights school board meeting covered improving district finances, expansion of STEM opportunities, and approval to purchase a new school bus with help from a state safety grant, alongside wide-ranging updates on student achievements and upcoming Black History Month events.
Board Business and Opening Actions
The Garfield Heights Board of Education held its regular meeting at the Board of Education office on Briarcliff Drive. After roll call, the board approved the evening’s agenda and unanimously accepted minutes from its December 8 and December 15 meetings.
Members and attendees stood for a moment of silence followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by a student representative.
The board president reported no additional items under the president’s report. Committee reports followed, led by a wellness-focused update that highlighted a busy winter season for athletics, music, and band students.
Student Activities: Wrestling Wins, Choir Championships And Band Honors
A board wellness liaison offered an extensive report showcasing student accomplishments across the district.
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High school wrestling
The high school wrestling team was recognized for consistent improvement over the season. One wrestler was highlighted for earning a 20–6 record, and the team’s next tournament was announced at Shaker Heights High School. Senior night for wrestling is scheduled for Tuesday, February 10. -
Music Express and Center Stage
The district’s show choir, Music Express, will host a premiere night at Garfield Heights High School on Wednesday, January 28 at 7 p.m., with performances also featuring the middle school’s Center Stage group.
At their first competition on Saturday, January 24, Music Express:- Captured the overall grand champion title
- Won medium mixed grand champion
- Earned awards for best music, best show design, best vocals, best male vocalist for the song Halo, and best overall performer
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Pep band and boys basketball
The pep band is slated to perform at the high school boys basketball game on Thursday, January 29. At the time of the report, the boys basketball team held a 9–4 record, was ranked No. 3 in Northeast Ohio and No. 1 in Division III statewide, with another key game scheduled that week. -
Middle school and girls basketball
The eighth-grade boys team has a home game scheduled for February 2. The girls basketball team was praised for a strong start to the season, sitting at 10–1 with upcoming games on the road against Warrensville and at home against Bedford. -
Solo and ensemble band success
At the OMEA District 7 solo and ensemble contest at Madison High School, 14 student soloists represented Garfield Heights. Seven earned superior (I) ratings and six earned excellent (II) ratings.
One senior earned a superior rating with a top-level trumpet solo. Other students at various grade levels were also recognized for superior and excellent performances. -
Band director’s national performance
The district’s band director was recognized for performing in the Tournament of Roses Parade in California over New Year’s, joining approximately 360 band directors from across the country and around the world.
The report concluded with thanks to students, staff, and families for their support of co-curricular programs that continue to bring recognition to Garfield Heights City Schools.
Superintendent Highlights Weather Decisions, MLK Legacy And Black History Month
Superintendent Dr. Richard Reynolds used his report to address winter weather decisions, reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, and preview upcoming Black History Month programming.
Dr. Reynolds explained that district leaders monitor winter weather and windchill conditions nightly, with particular attention to student safety and the high number of student walkers. He emphasized that any decision to close or delay school is made with the best interests of students and staff in mind.
He also reflected on the recent observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, calling Dr. King a giant of the modern era whose work for equality, justice, and nonviolence continues to shape society. The district, he said, uses the holiday as a springboard into Black History Month, with activities and events planned across buildings to engage students and the community.
As part of that celebration, Dr. Reynolds invited the community to a Black History Month concert and cultural immersion event on Thursday, February 26 at 7 p.m. in partnership with a professional dance collective. The performance, titled “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” will:
- Bring the Motown era to life through dance, music, spoken word, monologue and narration
- Place Motown in the context of the civil rights movement
- Highlight how Black artists used joy, excellence and creativity as tools of resistance, unity and cultural transformation
More details about the event will be shared with families in the coming weeks.
Dr. Reynolds also noted that January is School Board Recognition Month in Ohio. He thanked Board President Ashley Thomas, board member Heather Morrison, and the rest of the board for setting strategic direction, answering the call to public service, and serving as a bridge between the administration and the Garfield Heights community.
Financial Report Shows Positive Trend After Recovery Plans And Levy Renewal
Under the financial section of the agenda, the board approved the December monthly financial report, covering the first six months of the district’s fiscal year 2026.
The district’s treasurer reported that:
- Garfield Heights is now trending positively toward the end of the fiscal year, a notable improvement compared with the same period last year.
- The district has navigated two recent financial recovery plans with the State of Ohio, as well as changes from the state budget bill and the passage of a renewal levy.
- Key expenditure categories, including salaries, benefits, and purchased services, are lower and tracking in line with recovery plans approved in May and November.
The treasurer emphasized that, after several years of financial stress, the district’s position is stronger than it was at this time last year, thanks to a combination of cost controls, levy support and calculated adjustments to staffing and services.
Retirement Fund Transfer Clarifies Long-Term Budgeting
Alongside the monthly financials, the board approved a transfer related to an 035 retirement/severance fund, which the district created last year.
Previously, retirement and severance payouts were paid directly from the general fund, making long-term forecasts less precise. With the dedicated 035 fund now in place:
- The district can move money from the general fund into the 035 account specifically for retirement and severance obligations.
- This approach provides a clearer picture of the true status of the general fund in the five-year forecast.
The treasurer explained that the current transfer of roughly $61,000 covers two mid-year retirements, aligning actual payouts with the new fund structure and strengthening the district’s financial planning.
Board Designates Public Records Training Designee To Meet Sunshine Law Requirements
The board also passed a resolution to designate a public records training designee, fulfilling Ohio’s Sunshine Law training requirement.
State law requires newly elected or re-elected board members to complete public records and open meetings training through the Auditor of State or the Attorney General’s office. School boards may either:
- Have each board member individually complete the three-hour training, or
- Appoint a single designee to complete the training on behalf of the board.
The board chose to continue using the district treasurer as its designated representative. Under the district’s structure:
- All public records requests, regardless of where they enter the system, are routed to the treasurer.
- The appropriate department compiles responsive records.
- The treasurer issues the formal response to the requester.
The treasurer noted that this is standard practice in Ohio school districts and that maintaining a single, trained designee helps ensure strong compliance and consistency in responding to public records requests.
District Combines Operations And Technology Under New Director Role
Board members reviewed and approved items 11.1 and 11.2, which together support a reorganization of operations and technology functions within the district.
The superintendent explained that, over the last several years, Garfield Heights has been working to consolidate departments because of ongoing financial pressures. The approved changes will:
- Combine operations and technology into a single leadership structure
- Align more closely with models the superintendent has seen work in other districts, where one director oversees maintenance, technology, and security
- Streamline communication, budgeting and project management, especially around events and districtwide initiatives
- Relieve some of the operational load currently shared by the superintendent and treasurer
The superintendent said the district already has strong processes and structures in place, including new production-style meetings for major events, and that the new director role is intended to tighten coordination rather than overhaul what is working. With another position transitioning out of the organization, the change is also expected to save money while improving consistency districtwide.
Personnel And Program Support: Educational Advancement And Credential Clarifications
Under personnel and compensation items, the board addressed two notable issues.
Support for educational advancement efforts (12.1)
The board approved a $1,000 stipend for a receptionist who has been taking on additional duties in the educational advancement department. District leaders said the department has been navigating personnel challenges and needed extra support to keep events and parent outreach running smoothly. The stipend reflects work beyond the employee’s normal responsibilities and is intended to cover the current semester while the district works toward returning the department to full staffing.
Salary lane changes tied to university coursework (15.1)
Board members also heard an explanation of a salary modification item involving coursework from Idaho State University. The treasurer explained that:
- The State Board of Education had previously halted acceptance of certain transcripts from Idaho State University because of concerns about course rigor, citing examples where courses lasting only about 20 minutes were being granted three credit hours.
- On legal advice, Garfield Heights temporarily paused salary lane changes tied to that coursework while the issue was reviewed.
- The state has since clarified that districts may accept courses that were completed by October 10, 2025.
As a result, the district is now moving forward with the salary adjustments for affected teachers whose coursework met the state’s timing criteria and standards.
New Bus Purchase Authorized After School Bus Safety Grant
In transportation-related business, the board approved a resolution authorizing participation in the Ohio Schools Council bus purchasing program, a required step before issuing a purchase order for a new school bus.
The treasurer reported that Garfield Heights recently received a School Bus Safety Grant of $49,900, awarded by the state. A district staff member led the research and grant preparation that resulted in the award.
With the resolution passed:
- The district can move forward with ordering a new school bus through the cooperative purchasing program.
- The School Bus Safety Grant funds will offset the cost, allowing the district to update its fleet while reducing the burden on local funds.
Board Hears Update On STEM And STEAM Efforts Across Buildings
During discussion of instructional items, a board member asked for details on math staffing at the high school and middle school, as well as the role of a STEM position at William Foster Elementary.
The superintendent shared approximate numbers and a broader vision:
- The high school has multiple math teachers, and the middle school has roughly two math teachers per grade level.
- STEM-focused roles exist in several buildings, but the district is working to expand and more deeply embed STEM and STEAM across all core subjects and grade levels.
He described:
- An emphasis on hands-on, project-based learning in science, technology, engineering and math
- Efforts to integrate creative and design work into ELA and other content areas, so students are not only reading and discussing concepts but also building and creating around them
- Examples from elementary and intermediate levels where teachers are incorporating engineering and the arts to strengthen problem-solving and engagement
The superintendent noted that the goal is a districtwide environment where STEM and STEAM are not confined to a single room or title, but “bleed over” into daily instruction in math, science, English and beyond.
Public Comment And Upcoming Meetings
No public comments were offered on agenda items or during the general public comment portion of the meeting.
The board then announced several upcoming sessions:
- Saturday, February 7, 9 a.m. – Special board meeting and retreat at the Board of Education office
- Monday, February 9, 6 p.m. – Special board meeting at the Board of Education office
- Tuesday, February 17, 6 p.m. – Regular board meeting at the Board of Education office
Following these announcements, the board voted to adjourn.