Tallmadge board approves audits, vendor and union contracts, OKs personnel slate; levy decision depends on Ohio budget

The Tallmadge City Board of Education on June 18 approved a series of routine contracts and personnel actions while delaying a decision on a proposed November millage until the state completes its budget work.

Board members voted to award a five-year audit contract to Julian and Group, approve a one-year contract with Total Education Solutions for alternative placement services, ratify a one-year contract with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1 covering classified employees for 2025–26, and adopt a memorandum of understanding offering a conditional severance plan to eligible classified staff. The board also accepted the Tallmadge Middle School 2025–26 handbook and approved a bulk slate of personnel items, including the recommendation to hire Megan Griese as assistant principal at Tallmadge Elementary School.

The board’s superintendent said the district will postpone setting a levy millage for the November ballot until the state budget—specifically the school funding portion—has been finalized. By statute, he noted, the district must set its levy by June 30; however, competing budget proposals in Columbus mean the district does not yet know the precise funding picture and said it will determine a millage after the Legislature completes negotiations.

Most votes were unanimous. The board recorded aye votes from members present on the finance report, vendor and audit contracts, the SEIU contract, the severance MOU and the personnel package.

The five-year audit agreement with Julian and Group covers the district’s annual cash and GAAP audit work; the superintendent said the firm scored highest under the state-created RFP process and will average $21,390 per year. The board approved the recommended one-year contract with Total Education Solutions to provide alternate-placement programming for the 2025–26 school year; the superintendent said the district currently has two students in that program and expects enrollment to decline early in the year.

The one-year agreement with SEIU Local 1 runs from June 30, 2025, through June 29, 2026, and the MOU on a severance plan applies only to classified employees who meet eligibility criteria (generally 12 or more years of service or retirement-age staff). District leaders described the severance offer as a cost-saving option that is unlikely to produce net savings in most scenarios but is being made available to eligible employees.

On staffing and handbooks, the board approved a number of hires, resignations and retirements as part of a bundled personnel motion. The board announced retirements and resignations among long-tenured custodial and teaching staff, moved Jennifer Stewart back into a counseling role at Tallmadge Elementary School, and recommended Alexis Klein to fill an intervention-teacher vacancy. The board also accepted the middle-school handbook for 2025–26, which adds a footwear requirement and restricts smartwatches along with existing limits on phones and other electronics.

District leaders also summarized cost-reduction steps and facility projects. The superintendent listed several positions the district will not refill immediately—among them MTSS coordinator, an assistant treasurer, and several teacher positions—and said the MTSS work will continue at the building level. Summer projects include new classroom partition walls and carpeting at Tallmadge Elementary School, ongoing baseball-field construction with a planned community opening tied to “meet the teams” events, and a roughly $200,000 weight‑room upgrade funded chiefly by a near-$130,000 donation from the Tallmadge Boosters and a donation of more than $50,000 from the Lowry family. The board was told it will be asked next month to consider a 15‑year naming-rights resolution for the upgraded facility.

Administrators also alerted the board that the district is negotiating how to share career-technical education costs with a six-district compact; the superintendent reported the district currently spends about $1.4 million on career-tech and said the board may be asked to participate in that process going forward.

Athletics highlights were presented: several members of the girls’ track team and individual athletes earned state and suburban-league honors, and the softball program won a district championship.

Votes at a glance: The board recorded approval for the following items during the June 18 meeting (motions and recorded votes as announced on the record): - Financial reports for April 2025 — approved (recorded ayes: Davis; Pasarelli; Ross; Farris). - Contract with Total Education Solutions, July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 (alternate placement) — approved (recorded ayes: Ross; Davis; Pasarelli; Farris). - Five‑year audit contract with Julian and Group (average annual cost $21,390) — approved (recorded ayes: Pasarelli; Ross; Davis; Farris). - One‑year collective-bargaining agreement with SEIU Local 1, June 30, 2025–June 29, 2026 — approved (recorded ayes: Pasarelli; Davis; Ross; Farris). - Memorandum of understanding to offer a severance plan to eligible classified staff — approved (recorded ayes: Ross; Davis; Passarelli; [recorded fourth aye not specified by name]). - Tallmadge Middle School handbook, 2025–26 — approved (recorded ayes: Passarelli; Ross; Davis; Farris). - Personnel bundle (items 5.1–5.29, including appointment of Megan Griese as assistant principal at Tallmadge Elementary and hire of Alexis Klein) — approved (recorded ayes: Ross; Passarelli; Davis; Farris).

Discussion and next steps: Board members scheduled a July 14 work session to continue levy planning and said they will set a millage only after the state’s school-funding decisions are finalized. Administrators said they will return with a resolution next month regarding the proposed 15-year naming-rights agreement for the weight room and will continue to update the board on career-technical cost-sharing talks.