Cuyahoga Falls board elects Alicia Coco president, approves OSBA memberships and appointments at organizational meeting

The Cuyahoga Falls City Board of Education held its organizational meeting Jan. 8, 2025, and unanimously elected Alicia Coco as president and Mister Gomez as vice president, approved participation in the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) legal assistance fund and renewed the district—s OSBA membership, and set regular 2025 meeting dates.

The board opened by approving the meeting agenda and a consent agenda of routine items by roll-call vote. Alicia Coco was nominated and elected president by unanimous voice/roll-call vote; the board then administered the oath of office. Coco thanked her colleagues and said she would lead the board "with integrity, transparency, empathy, advocacy, and respect," and said she looked forward to continuing work on the district—s academic and financial goals. Mister Gomez was nominated and elected vice president by unanimous vote and also took the oath of office.

In other formal actions, the board voted to participate in the OSBA legal assistance fund and to renew the district—s OSBA membership for 2025, including a subscription to School Management News for $150 and annual dues as stated on the record (amount read into the minutes). The board set its 2025 regular meeting schedule in accordance with the Revised Code cited on the agenda and made a series of presidential appointments to standing committees and liaisons, including finance, athletics, student achievement and wellness committees.

The board also polled members on the board-of-education member insurance option listed on the agenda; each member who responded answered "No" when polled (recorded as "No" votes in the minutes). The meeting concluded after a roll-call vote to adjourn.

Votes at a glance - Approve agenda/consent agenda: approved (roll-call: Alicia Coco Aye; Mister Gomez Aye; Mister Harris Aye; Missus Schaefer Aye; Miss White Aye). - Election of president (Alicia Coco): approved by unanimous ballot (roll-call recorded as Aye from all members present). - Election of vice president (Mister Gomez): approved by unanimous ballot (roll-call recorded as Aye from all members present). - Resolution to participate in OSBA legal assistance fund: approved (roll-call recorded as Aye from all members present). - OSBA membership renewal (2025), including subscription: approved (roll-call recorded as Aye from all members present). - Board-of-education member insurance option (poll): each polled member recorded "No." - Set regular 2025 meeting dates (per Revised Code): approved (roll-call recorded as Aye from all members present). - Adjournment: approved by roll-call.

The meeting included the board—s annual opening statements of vision, mission and strategic goals and a list of presidential committee appointments (6–12 construction core team; business alliance counsel; athletics and activity counsel; board policy committee; financial advisory committee; foundation and alumni association; legislation liaison; student achievement liaison; district wellness committee). The board noted that public participation procedures are available on the agenda and that individuals wishing to address the board on non-agenda items must notify the superintendent or board president three business days before the meeting.

No substantive policy debates or contested votes were recorded in the transcript; the meeting focused on organizational housekeeping, appointments and statutory compliance.

Next steps: the board adjourned at 5:29 p.m.; the minutes record that the next regular meeting will occur at the location listed on the agenda.