Parma board approves organizational consent package after debate over legal counsel list and purchase-order limit
Summary
The board approved its 27-item organizational consent resolution but took separate votes and extended discussion on committee scheduling, the district's approved list of law firms, and a $1,000,000 blanket purchase-order limit; trustees pressed for additional transparency and a follow-up work session.
The Parma City School District Board of Education adopted its 2026 organizational consent package but separated several items for discussion and votes after trustees raised procedural and oversight concerns.
The board initially read 27 organizational items covering meeting schedules, memberships, professional services, purchasing authorizations and policy affirmations. Board member Nick Reyes removed four items from the consent agenda for separate consideration: the committee meeting schedule (Item 2), employment of legal counsel (Item 5), the blanket purchase-order cap (Item 10), and affirmation of the policy manual (Item 11). The board proceeded to discuss each pulled item in turn.
On legal counsel, trustees asked how the district would replace a firm that is ending services. Dr. Cruz and Treasurer Mr. Nucio explained the consent item authorizes a pool of qualified firms (special education, labor, HR specialties) the district may use; selecting a specific firm for particular work would happen later and the board may amend the approved list as needed. Trustees also discussed whether personnel matters about firms belong in executive session; legal counsel clarified executive session may cover personnel topics but not which outside firms the district should hire — that selection must occur in public session.
On procurement, the treasurer explained that auditors recommended a $1,000,000 blanket purchase-order ceiling as an administrative limit and clarified the difference between "blanket" orders (routine non-recurring purchases) and "super blanket" authorizations (recurring large items such as utilities). Trustee Ashley McTaggart and others argued for more oversight and proposed lowering the ceiling to $500,000 to improve transparency; the board voted to keep the $1,000,000 ceiling with one recorded no vote.
On the policy manual affirmation, members questioned a whereas clause that said the superintendent could "establish a policy committee." Legal staff said the substantive item before the board was adoption of the policy manual and that the whereas language provides context; trustees agreed to revisit the wording in future resolutions and adopted the affirmation.
The board then approved the consolidated organizational-resolution (2026-01-07) after the separate discussions and roll-call votes. Members who raised concerns requested additional committee and committee-meeting transparency going forward.
What happens next: trustees scheduled follow-up discussions and the board confirmed committee assignments for 2026. Several members asked staff to provide more committee materials and to record and share agenda-meeting recordings so members can review proposed items in advance.
