Twinsburg board approves routine personnel, purchases, MOUs and superintendent contract in 5-0 votes

The Twinsburg City School District Board of Education on Dec. 11 approved a package of routine personnel actions, donations, technology purchases and administrative agreements, including a new employment agreement for Superintendent Catherine M. Powers, in a series of unanimous votes.

Board President Leah Travis opened the meeting and led routine business before the board approved minutes, financial reports and multiple personnel and contract items by roll call. The board voted 5-0 on every formal action recorded in the meeting.

Why it matters: the votes finalize contracts, purchases and staffing changes that affect operations for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 school years, including the district's technology purchases, an educational services agreement for a hospitalized student, a multi-year employee assistance contract and the superintendent's employment agreement.

Most significant approvals

The board approved the superintendent's employment agreement with Catherine M. Powers, effective Aug. 1, 2025, through July 31, 2027, as presented to the board under separate cover. The board also approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) adjusting evaluation-cycle deadlines for teachers on extended leave and an MOU on science-of-reading professional development and stipends (effective for the 2024–25 school year).

Personnel, payroll and donations

The board accepted the certified and classified personnel recommendations and several resignations and retirements, including acknowledgment of Jim Reese, principal at RBC, and administrative assistant Kathy Dinkeldine, who is retiring after long service. The board approved a one-time 0.75% bonus for school psychologists for the 2025–26 school year and approved a revised administrative salary schedule retroactive to Aug. 1, 2024.

Purchases, licenses and contracts

The board approved purchasing interactive flat panels from CDW‑G LLC (Vernon Hills, Ill.) for $12,936.55 and HP notebooks from CDW‑G LLC for $106,200; both were charged to the permanent improvement fund. It approved renewal of RAZ+ (Learning A–Z) licenses for two primary schools at $10,540.17 (Title I and Title III funds). The board approved LearnWell to provide educational services to one hospitalized student at a cost not to exceed $2,000, and it approved a three‑year employee assistance services agreement with Impact Solutions / All One Health Resource Corporation at an annual cost of $14,490 (general fund).

Student trips and donations

The board approved an overnight extended trip for fifth graders to the Henry Ford Museum and Village in Dearborn, Mich.; the two student groups are scheduled to travel in May 2025 (specific travel dates were included in the board packet). The board approved, as presented, additional smaller donations and in‑kind gifts to district schools totaling multiple items and modest dollar amounts, including a $108.40 apparel sale donation and a $78 donation to the Class of 2025. Several equipment and media‑center items were removed from inventory per the exhibits provided to the board.

Other approvals

The board determined the impracticality of district transportation for certain students and approved a per‑student payment of $583 for those students (these students are in addition to previously approved cases listed on prior meeting dates). It also approved the academic calendar for the 2025–26 school year and updated job descriptions for a data specialist and software support specialist. The board approved retired police officer Eric Sawyer as the school resource officer at Wilcox Primary School effective Dec. 9, 2024, at an hourly rate of $35.

Vote summary and procedure notes

Most bundled items were approved as grouped resolutions. Where the board discovered an error in dates for two resolutions (items 16 and 17) referring to the school year, board member Mrs. Crawford moved and Mrs. Egan seconded a correction changing those references to the 2024–25 school year; the board approved that correction by roll call before proceeding to the final vote on the bundled items. All formal votes recorded in the meeting were 5–0 in favor.

Lesser details and next steps

Many exhibits, including personnel lists, vendor quotes and contract texts, were provided to the board under separate cover. The board did not debate most items at length during the meeting; where discussion occurred it consisted of brief acknowledgements (for example, thanks to staff for responding to a roof leak and recognition of retiring employees). The board chair and superintendent closed the meeting with holiday remarks.