Nordonia Builds HR Department at No Added Cost, Honors Career Center Leader and Cheers Rushwood Readers

The Nordonia Hills Board of Education met Oct. 20 at Northfield Elementary School. Members created a human resources director role, honored a longtime community volunteer and heard from some of Rushwood Elementary’s most dedicated young readers. Board members present were President Liz McKinley, Vice President Jason Tidmore, Chad Lahrmer, Matt Ford and Sandra Caramela-Miller. Every vote passed unanimously. No residents signed up to speak during open forum. Before the regular session, the board held a 6 p.m. special meeting. That agenda listed an executive session to consider the purchase or sale of property. No action on the matter was reported during the regular meeting. Rushwood Rolls Out a 180 Day Reading Challenge Superintendent Casey Wright explained that each meeting features one school sharing a highlight. This month, Rushwood Principal Ashley Turner brought the school’s reading program. Last year, Rushwood students read more than 1 million minutes through a program called Millionaire Minutes. Paraprofessional Becky Decrane took over the program about three years ago. She said feedback from teachers and students led to changes this year. Students now keep a daily reading log for 180 days. Instead of tracking minutes, they color or check a box each day. Parents still sign off on the calendar. Every 30 days, students can return to collect prizes, and eventually they will earn new books. Grand prizes await those who finish the full challenge. The goal is engagement without pressure. Some younger students found recording minutes confusing, according to the presentation. The simpler calendar lets them fill it out on their own. Mrs. Zaccardelli, who runs the Rushwood media center, introduced three of the school’s top readers. She said they have met every reading goal since arriving at Rushwood. All three entered this month’s bookmark contest, themed “Reading Is Cool.” They also completed Golden Ticket books, which are chapter books students read in full before writing a report to earn a special prize. Two of the three had poems published in a young poets anthology released this fall, Zaccardelli added. Each student told the board what they enjoy about the program. They praised its flexibility and the freedom to pick their own books. The readers received certificates as Rushwood reader leaders, along with gifts. Ford credited parents for supporting literacy at home. McKinley agreed, saying a love of reading starts with bedtime stories. Career Center Earns 5 Stars Again James E. Virost, Nordonia’s representative on the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center board, delivered the CVCC report. He announced that the career center once again earned a 5 star rating on the state report card. He also shared several program updates: Adult evening cooking classes launched this year and have been selling out. The Power Equipment Technology program hosted Ohio Machinery representatives, including Ohio CAT and Ohio Peterbilt, to discuss career opportunities. The program also received a Tier 1 Ohio Machinery Partnership banner. Auto Body Repair and Refinishing students attended the Auto Collision Experience in Columbus with more than 400 students from across Ohio. They saw live demonstrations, met vendors accepting job applications and completed mock interviews. Two donated Peterbilt trucks are being used in the diesel mechanic program, an update Virost first shared at the board’s prior meeting. Virost said CVCC enrollment sits near capacity at about 1,000 students. The center accepts only juniors and seniors. He reported a placement rate of 90% to 95% after graduation. CVCC Superintendent David Mangas visits Northeast Ohio employers to learn what skills they need, Virost explained. Those conversations shape partnerships with companies such as Swagelok. Programs drawing only four or five students are reviewed and may be dropped. Students who decide a trade is not right for them can switch programs. Caramela-Miller said she was a Nordonia ninth grader when CVCC opened. Her grandson, a senior in the digital design program, already has a job waiting, she shared. The next CVCC board meeting is Thursday, Oct. 29, following the all boards dinner at 5 p.m. Virost Honored for 15 Years of Service McKinley announced that the Ohio School Boards Association honored Virost for 15 years of service. He served three years on the Nordonia board and has spent the past 12 representing Nordonia at CVCC. Virost was also recognized at a football game this fall. He has announced girls soccer games and serves as the voice of the Nordonia High School Marching Band. After retiring, Virost said, he felt “it was time to give back to the community.” He thanked the board for reappointing him last year to another three year term. Committee Reports Cover Food, Fundraising and Safety Ford reported on the Nordonia Schools Foundation. About 65 students take part in its student food program. Participants make roughly three food bank trips each month, collecting abou