Tallmadge City board approves routine items including student data privacy agreement, field trips and personnel actions

The Tallmadge City Board of Education on Feb. 19 approved a set of routine agenda items that affect athletics, student travel, personnel and student data protections.

The most substantive action was approval of a student data privacy agreement with Valamy, the vendor that provides adaptive fitness equipment and programming used by Tallmadge students and by the city recreation center. Board members approved the data privacy agreement after staff explained the district had already authorized the Valamy services earlier and that this document satisfies requirements in state law known in the meeting as Senate Bill 29 to secure student data, adhere to cybersecurity frameworks and prohibit sale of student information to third parties. The board approved the agreement by roll-call vote.

The board also approved the district's annual renewal of membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) for Tallmadge Middle School and Tallmadge High School for the 2025–26 school year, enabling students to continue competing in OHSAA-sanctioned events.

Several out-of-town, overnight field trips were approved: - Academy of Finance/BPA state competition, March 10–11, 2025, Columbus, Ohio. - Tallmadge High School softball trip, March 25–27, 2025, Vero Beach, Florida. - Tallmadge High School baseball trip, March 27–30, 2025, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The board noted that athletic fundraising covers costs for the spring travel trips.

The board approved a motion to establish a National Art Honor Society chapter at Tallmadge High School; the board was briefed on selection requirements attached to the agenda.

Personnel items 5.1–5.12 were lumped into a single motion and approved. The package included multiple hirings, one termination, and several retirements. The board highlighted two retirements in particular: Becky Steiner, leaving the district after about 35–36 years and identified in the meeting as the assistant treasurer; and Mike Shaddow, a long‑time health and physical education teacher and head track coach. The board voted to approve the bundled personnel slate.

District leaders also shared community and program updates. A longtime kitchen manager, June Smets, a Tallmadge graduate and 27‑year district employee, died after health struggles; staff said her funeral was scheduled for the coming weekend and the board used a service account to send a wreath. Superintendent-level remarks in the meeting noted an estimated 2,000,000 meals served by Smets during her career (estimate provided by staff). The board recognized donations and facilities work: a local glazing company owned by David Eid donated and installed a glass panel at Tallmadge Elementary School to better separate the media center from the cafeteria, and donors have pledged funds toward a baseball field project, including one $100,000 donation and two $50,000 donations; one dugout will be named for a donor.

Other operational items noted: implementation of new curricula, expansion of the English learner program to about 200 students, a districtwide evacuation/reunification drill scheduled for April 2 in partnership with Tallmadge police and fire and the Tallmadge Recreation Center, and changes to one grant-funded student wellness position referenced in connection with the PEGS Foundation support.

The meeting concluded with a motion and unanimous board approval to enter executive session to prepare for collective bargaining strategy. The board stated no action would be taken following the executive session.

Votes at a glance (roll-call tallies as recorded): - Approval of minutes (Jan. 17, 2025): approved; Ayes: Lowry, Ross, Davis, Passarelli; Outcome: approved. - Financial report (Nov.–Dec. 2024): approved; Ayes: Lowry, Ross, Davis, Passarelli; Outcome: approved. - Valamy student data privacy agreement: approved; Ayes: Lowry, Ross, Davis, Passarelli; Outcome: approved. - OHSAA membership resolution (2025–26): approved; Ayes: Lowry, Ross, Davis, Passarelli; Outcome: approved. - Academy of Finance/BPA trip (Mar. 10–11, 2025): approved; Ayes: Lowry, Ross, Davis, Passarelli; Outcome: approved. - THS softball trip to Vero Beach (Mar. 25–27, 2025): approved; Ayes: Lowry, Ross, Davis, Passarelli; Outcome: approved. - THS baseball trip to Myrtle Beach (Mar. 27–30, 2025): approved; Ayes: Lowry, Ross, Davis, Passarelli; Outcome: approved. - Establish National Art Honor Society at Tallmadge High School: approved; Ayes: Lowry, Ross, Davis, Passarelli; Outcome: approved. - Personnel items 5.1–5.12 (grouped): approved; Ayes: Lowry, Ross, Davis, Passarelli; Outcome: approved. - Motion to enter executive session for collective bargaining strategy: approved; Ayes: Lowry, Ross, Davis, Passarelli; Outcome: approved (no action to follow).

Meeting documents referenced on the board agenda and noted during the meeting included minutes, financial reports, trip descriptions and dates, the Valamy student data privacy agreement, the OHSAA renewal resolution and the personnel packet. The board chair and staff emphasized that the Valamy data agreement is separate from the previously approved services agreement and exists to meet state student-data requirements.