Superintendent: Ohio changes kindergarten eligibility; district posts master facility plan and project timelines
Summary
Superintendent Dominic Capel told the South Euclid-Lyndhurst board the state standardized kindergarten eligibility to require children to be 5 by the first day of school, previewed student advisory council participation in strategic planning, and posted an updated master facility plan outlining phased projects including a projected June 2027 completion for Southland renovations.
Dr. Dominic Capel, the South Euclid-Lyndhurst superintendent, told the board Jan. 6 that Ohio enacted a law standardizing kindergarten eligibility: a child must be 5 years old on or before the first day of school to enroll. Capel said the district’s prior deadline of Sept. 30 will no longer apply and that the district will update registration materials, website guidance and direct family communications by the end of the month.
Capel also reported that the district has received more than 25 applications for the student advisory council and set an application deadline of Jan. 16. He said selected students will be included in the district’s strategic planning process.
On facilities, Capel displayed an updated master facility plan on the district website tied to the recently approved levy and long-range capital strategy. He described phase 1b work (memorial gym roof, roofing at Rolling, HVAC placement) and said an Ameresco project is included in phase 2a. Capel identified June 2027 as the projected completion for Southland Elementary and the Brush performing arts center renovations; he stressed that timelines are projections and may change. Lee Fuller, who Capel named as a point person for the master facility plan, is scheduled to present financing details and construction sequencing at the February board meeting.
Capel also announced district family nights at Cleveland State University: a Jan. 17 men’s game and a February women’s game. Cleveland State provided 50 free tickets for families and free tickets for basketball players; additional tickets were being pursued.
The superintendent said the district will no longer video board work sessions to make them true working sessions, while keeping doors open for community members to attend in person.
