Board Update

Good Evening:

If you have any friends or neighbors who would like to receive my weekly e-mail updates please let me know and I will be sure to add them to my e-mail list. I am working hard to make sure all those in our district are kept informed what’s happening with the School Board and the North Royalton School District.

Below are the links to the Audio Recording and Minutes of the April Regular School Board Meeting:
Audio Tape
http://www.northroyaltonsd.org/external/audio/041111RegMtg.mp3
Minutes
http://www.northroyaltonsd.org/public/files/boardminutes041111.pdf


LAST WEEK IN YOUR SCHOOL BOARD

The School Board met on May 9th for its’ May Regular School Board Meeting. Some highlights from the meeting. The board had several guest. High School English Teacher Mike Hemery, was recognized for being a published author. A High School Student gave a presentation about her recent internship with District Communications Person Charlene Paporizos. Also High School Teacher Jen Forshey was recognized for being awarded the Plain Dealer’s Crystal Apple Award. The Board approved an appropriations adjustment. A transfer from the General Fund to the Bond Retirement Fund was approved. The Board approved Five-Year Forecast and Assumptions. The Board unanimously approved Resolution No. 2011-92, Statement of Opposition by the North Royalton Board of Education to HB 153 Relating to Public Education Funding. The Board accepted various resignations and changes in personnel. A few worth noting: the Board accepted the resignation of the administrative contract of Beth O’Donnell and then accepted recognizing her continuing teaching contract by operation of law. The board also approved amending the administrative contract of Jeff Hill, to reflect his transfer to the position of Building Principal at Valley Vista Elementary effective August 1, 2011. In addition the board approved Mickey Becerra to be the new High School Principal effective August 1, 2011 through July 31, 2013. The Board approved a resolution for a reduction in force and suspension of certificated/licensed staff contracts. The following positions have been eliminated: School Counselor, ECC Music, ECC Art, and Small Group Instructor (St. Albert the Great School). By a 4-1 vote the board approved layoffs of classified staff. The following positions have been eliminated: (1) Cafeteria Worker each at (Albion, Valley Vista, & Royal View School) and 1 Aide at the Middle School. I voted No. I opposed specifically the layoffs of the cafeteria workers. Since taking office back in 2010, the Board has been discussing sustainability issues with funding our food services department. One of the major losses in revenue for the district food services department is the ECC. I believe the district must deal directly now with the issues of the long-term viability of the ECC food service program and pursue much more creative options. My fear is until then, regardless of these layoffs we will return right back in this same situation next year. I hope the administration can prove me wrong, but I just couldn’t support these cuts. Also by a 4-1 vote the board approved a Resolution Authorizing a Change Order of $152, 359.51 to the General Trades contract with JTO, INC. for increased scope of work to the High School Stadium Project. I vote No on the change order. As a former high school varsity athlete and as an Athletic Boosters Member I am a big supporter of the Stadium Project. I have even personally made donations to the project and want to see it get completed. However, I couldn’t support the change order. People want this project done right. The resolution and extra costs would not have been necessary if our architect did not make a mistake. The board had 3 options to correct this. I believe option 2 of bidding this work out separately was the better way to go. The board approved a resolution granting an easement for water utility purposes to the City of Cleveland in connection with the Stadium Improvement Project and authorizing the Treasurer and President of the Board to execute an easement for water meter vault agreement. Board also approved a resolution authorizing the execution and delivery of a retail power sales agreement between the district and the Ohio School Council’s endorsed supplier, First Energy Solutions. The Board approved also various other agenda items, and such other matters that came before the Board.
Here is a link to the Audio Recording of the May 9th Board Meeting:
http://www.northroyaltonsd.org/external/audio/050911RegMtg.mp3

On May 11th Cuyahoga Heights School Board Member Reno Contipelli and I organized a Joint Press Conference for School Districts in Cuyahoga County on State Budget Cuts. Over 7 area school districts participated and Ohio School Boards Association’s Legislative Services Director Damon Asbury gave an update on the state budget and what districts could to lobby the legislature. The Cleveland Plain Dealer covered the event and their article can be found at: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/05/educators_urged_to_keep_the_pr.html#cmpid=v2mode_be_smoref_face

On May 12th attended the North Royalton High School Senior Scholarship Night. I also had the honor of presenting the recipient my 7th Annual Dan Langshaw Leadership Scholarship to Lauren O’Connor. John Quincy Adams once said: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader”. Lauren is definitely a leader and I wish her the best with her studies at Bowling Green State University. Congrats to all those in the Senior NRHS Class of 2011, who received local college scholarships.

State Budget Update
I urge all residents to contact state senator Tom Patton as soon as possible to voice your concerns on HB 153, the State Operating Budget. Also continue to contact our state representatives Mike Dovilla and Marlene Anielski as well. Below is their contact information:

State Senator Tom Patton
24th Senate District
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square, 1st Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8056
SD24@senate.state.oh.us

State Representative Marlene Anielski (Broadview Heights portion of our school district)
17th House District
77 S. High St
12th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 644-6041
Fax: (614) 719-6956
district17@ohr.state.oh.us

State Representative Mike Dovilla
18th House District (North Royalton portion of our school district)
77 S. High St
12th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-4895
Fax: (614) 719-6957
district18@ohr.state.oh.us

Forbes.com
North Royalton City Schools is featured once again on www.forbes.com for being one of 67 cities picked as “top education towns” in America. In a recent rating from GreatSchools, North Royalton was among the top 10 cities in the country in the $100K - $200K range that offer families stellar public schools and city services. Not only did North Royalton receive its own profile page on the website, but it was included in the overall feature story. They praised North Royalton City Schools’ Business Advisory Council and how it has tapped local business leaders to help shape its curriculum through this committee.

The profile on North Royalton states:
“Oompah-pah! Oompah! The marching band at North Royalton High School, one of the best in Ohio, has trumpeted at the Rose Bowl and Indianapolis 500, with almost 300 students enrolled in its ranks annually. Five choirs also chime in this second-suburb-near-Cleveland on this list. Academically, North Royalton makes the best of good teachers and high parent involvement, with 90 percent of its graduates entering college. A recent activity that exemplifies community support is the "Stuff the Bus" food drive, sponsored by school bus drivers. Albion Elementary School consistently earns an "Excellent" rating on its state report card, plus it offers student leadership positions and has earned Buckeye Best Healthy School awards for three years. Royal View Elementary has been named a Nationally Recognized Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education this year. As for family life, North Royalton offers a relaxed, small-town pace just 15 miles from the bustling urbanism of Akron (population 200,000) and 18 minutes from Cleveland (population 400,000). Plus, it provides top-notch outdoor spaces, including a soon-to-be new 15-acre park with walking trails, a community garden, and natural springs in the heart of town.”
The listing was as follows:
Pella, IA
St. John’s, FL
Niceville, FL
Ovideo, FL
Penfield, NY
Haslett, MI
Westlake, OH
Mason, OH
North Royalton, OH
Franklin, WI
The district’s profile link is:
http://www.greatschools.org/find-a-school/moving/slideshows/4012-best-cities-2011-100k-199k.gs?page=9#slide

The complete story link:
http://www.greatschools.org/find-a-school/4062-best-cities-live-and-learn-2011.gs?page=1


THIS WEEK IN YOUR SCHOOL BOARD

This week there are various meetings and events.

School Green Team Committee Meeting on May 17th at 3:00pm @ the North Royalton Board of Education Office Conference Room, 6579 Royalton Rd., North Royalton, OH 44133.
Monthly Coffee with School Board Member Dan Langshaw
If you are a constituent living in the North Royalton School District, you are invited to attend my next monthly constituent coffee on May 26th at the French Quarter Café located at 5540 Wallings Road in North Royalton from 6pm to 8pm. I hold these coffees in order to stay in touch with fellow residents and listen to their feedback one on one. There is no appointment necessary. Simply stop by and talk to me. Hope to see you there!
Weekly E-mail Updates
If you have any friends or neighbors who would like to receive my weekly e-mail updates please let me know and I will be sure to add them to my e-mail list.

Website Under Construction
I just wanted to let you know that my website is currently under construction. I will be unveiling my new and improved website at www.danlangshaw.com in the coming months. You can follow me on Twitter @Langshaw4board. I also have a blog at http://votelangshaw4board.blogspot.com.

My Contact Info
If you ever have any questions or concerns please feel free to give me at call at 440-596-0078 or e-mail me at dan.langshaw@northroyaltonsd.org.

Have a great week!

Dan Langshaw
North Royalton School Board Member
440-596-0078
www.danlangshaw.com

“Putting Students First”