Madison Local board approves retirements, hires, contracts and adopts updated special-education policies

MADISON — At its June 3, 2025 meeting, the Madison Local School District board approved a slate of personnel actions including two retirements, multiple new hires and contract authorizations; adopted updated special-education model policies required by the state; and approved four consent-calendar contracts, including a one-year extension for the district’s website services.

The personnel motion approved retirements, resignations and new employment contracts. The board accepted the retirements of Tom Brady, Madison High School principal, effective July 31, 2025, and Marty Brandt, district courier, effective May 30, 2025; it also approved hires and administrator contracts that include Shannon Creekland as South Elementary principal (three-year contract, 08/01/2025–07/31/2028) and Patrick Smith as physical plant director (three-year contract, 08/01/2025–07/31/2028). The board also authorized salary notices for certificated and support staff for the 2025–26 contract year.

The board voted on the employment motion by roll call; the transcript indicates board members present voted in favor and the motion carried. The meeting record shows the board directed the treasurer to issue required ORC notices and to include the combined value of the salary notices in the FY 2026 appropriations.

Board members also approved a resolution to rescind older district special-education policies and adopt the state’s revised model policies and procedures so the district remains compliant with guidance from the Ohio Department of Education and federal requirements. The superintendent’s office told the board the district must complete this annual compliance action each year by Nov. 30.

On the consent calendar the board approved four contracts: a one-year website services agreement (07/01/2025–06/30/2026), a venue and catering contract for the Madison High School prom at the lodge/conference facility at Geneva-on-the-Lake, a contract for extended school year (ESY) services with a neighboring district, and an agreement naming Educational Services of Northeast Ohio as fiscal agent for a Title III English-learner grants consortium for 2025–26. One board member abstained from the consent-calendar vote citing insufficient information; other members voted yes and the motion carried.

Discussion around the website services contract drew the most substantive public exchange on the consent items. Board members and administrators said the current platform is not user-friendly for staff and that the district lacks a designated website manager; they described the one-year extension as a pragmatic step to allow the district time to research alternatives and complete the content migration and staff training necessary for a switch. District staff explained that the contracted provider is primarily the hosting vendor and that staff — and building principals in particular — have been responsible for making content changes because the platform is difficult for nontechnical users.

The board also approved two retirement resolutions and moved into executive session on personnel matters; members stated they did not plan to take further action after executive session and the meeting adjourned without additional public votes.

Why it matters: The personnel actions change leadership and staffing across Madison Local Schools, the special-education policy adoption preserves state and federal compliance, and the website decision affects how the district communicates with families and the community going into the 2025–26 school year.

Ending: The board did not schedule additional votes at the June 3 meeting and indicated any follow-up on the website platform and other implementation tasks would be handled by district staff before the next meeting.