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Elyria City board accepts Northwood presentations, approves contracts and personnel changes
Summary
At its May 7 meeting at Northwood, the Elyria City Board of Education heard presentations from students and staff, accepted two $10,000 donations, and approved multiple consulting, service and personnel items; the board later held an executive session with no action to follow.
The Elyria City Board of Education on May 7 approved several district contracts, accepted two donations and ratified a slate of retirements, resignations and new appointments after hearing presentations from Northwood Elementary and Middle School students and staff.
The presentations opened the meeting at Northwood. "It was truly heartwarming to witness all of the enthusiastic people at the event trying new foods, engaging in diverse cultural activities," said Bridal Large, a first-grade teacher at Northwood, describing the school’s cultural night and other inclusion-focused programs run by the equity and PBIS committees. Student speakers from Northwood — including Riley Minnick, Mara Thomas and Brynn Walker — described classroom projects, extracurricular opportunities and support for mental health. "I feel like the school cares about our mental health," said Brynn Walker, an eighth-grade student.
Board President (name not stated on the record) and the board then moved through routine business. The board approved the meeting minutes and, on a single roll-call vote, approved the treasurer’s package that included a proposed three-year consulting agreement with Gallagher and an Ohio Medicaid school program services agreement with Western Herd. The board also acknowledged two donations: $10,000 from Blackbaud designated for the Emerson Trust and $10,000 from Aramark.
Treasurer Colleen Apold told the board the district is considering trimming the size of its annual financial report to save roughly $13,000 per year; she said the board will take a formal vote on which report to use at a future meeting once the district’s contract term requires selection.
Superintendent Anne Slush presented several action items that the board approved, including a consulting contract for 2024–25 (listed as the Insight contract in meeting materials), a sponsorship agreement allowing GGC to operate concessions at the district athletic complex, an amended Aramark educational services agreement and a $100 stipend for staff who complete suicide-prevention training. The board approved those items by roll call.
The board also approved a series of personnel actions. The superintendent asked the board to accept retirements and resignations, and to confirm new certified and classified hires and supplemental athletic and extracurricular contracts for the 2025–26 school year. Among those announced in the meeting were the retirement of Carrie Pope after 37 years in the district, resignations including Heather Baker and June Marico, and new hires including Miriam Sedoo, Leslie Kosic, Tiffany Easton and Allison Brady. The board approved the personnel package by unanimous roll call.
Near the end of the meeting the board moved to hold an executive session “for the purpose of the appointment, employment, or compensation of an employee or official as provided in Revised Code 5709.40 to Revised Code 5709.43,” the language read into the record. The motion was approved by roll call; the board stated afterward that the executive session produced no action to follow.
The superintendent closed with calendar notes and recognitions: the district’s Special Olympics event is scheduled for Friday, Elyria High School graduation is May 27 at 7 p.m., and the superintendent thanked community members and volunteers who worked on the recent levy campaign. No changes to district levies or budgets were reported at the meeting.
Votes at a glance - Approval of meeting minutes — Outcome: approved. Roll call recorded as: Brent Parker (Aye); Mike Gebhardt (Aye); Miss Kristoffin/Miss Castorfen (Aye); Missus Seguin (Aye). Motion carried. - Treasurer action items (approve three-year consulting agreement with Gallagher; approve Ohio Medicaid school program services agreement with Western Herd; accept donations from Blackbaud and Aramark) — Outcome: approved. Roll call recorded as: (names on roll call recorded in transcript) motions carried. - Superintendent action items (Insight consulting contract for 2024–25; GGC sponsorship for concessions at athletic complex; amended Aramark educational services agreement; $100 stipend for suicide-prevention training) — Outcome: approved by roll call. - Personnel action items (retirements, resignations, appointments, supplemental contracts for 2025–26) — Outcome: approved by roll call. Noted retirees: Carrie Pope (37 years); Julie Porter; Sean Arno; Cheryl Roderick. Appointments announced: Miriam Sedoo; Leslie Kosic; Tiffany Easton; Allison Brady; others listed in meeting materials. - Motion to enter executive session under Revised Code 5709.40–5709.43 for appointment/employment/compensation — Outcome: approved by roll call; no action taken following the executive session.
The board announced it will return items that require follow-up — including the choice of annual financial reporting format — to a future meeting for formal approval.
