Solon board finalizes dozens of hires, expands substitute program ahead of school year

The Solon City School District Board of Education on Aug. 4 approved the district's final limited teacher contracts for the 2025–26 school year — completing a total of 31 new hires this hiring cycle — along with classified aide and monitor hires and contract building substitute appointments. Superintendent's staff said the three limited-contract hires on the agenda that night were the last of 31 new hires for the year and that administrators were "excited to have them on board." The board voted to approve those contracts by motion. The board also approved a set of classified aide and monitor hires. District officials said additional aide and monitor hires are expected as students with individualized education programs (IEPs) require staff support or as resignations occur during the year. Board members approved contracted building substitutes — staff hired to be on-site at specific buildings daily — a system the district began during the COVID-19 pandemic. The superintendent said the program fills a daily staffing need and typically allows the district to fill about 80% of substitute requests; contracted building substitutes are present every school day and, on rare occasions when not needed in a classroom, will perform aid duties or other assignments. In the retirements item, the board approved the retirement of Candy Barone, a longtime food-service worker with 23 years of service; board members offered personal remarks in appreciation.