Solon schools announce staff departures and severe bus‑driver shortage; director of business and personnel to lead Perrysburg Schools

At its April 13 meeting, the Solon Board of Education approved a slate of personnel actions — retirements, resignations and a series of nonrenewals — and heard district administrators describe immediate staffing pressures, especially for bus drivers.

The board accepted retirement notices, including Denise Grama (22 years) and Jessica Chang (3 years), and approved a list of resignations. The superintendent told trustees that Mike Acum, the district’s director of business and personnel, is leaving to become superintendent of Perrysburg Schools in the Toledo area. “Mike is leaving us because he is going to becoming the superintendent of Perrysburg Schools, in the Toledo area,” the superintendent said.

Administrators also said the district is facing a critical shortage of bus drivers. The superintendent described the situation as “very, very tight” and said the district will hold a driver recruitment event on May 16 at Parkside Elementary from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., offering paid training and benefits to prospective drivers.

Separately, the board approved a nonprofit of nonrenewals that the superintendent framed as a regular, annual staffing‑right‑sizing process driven by registration and enrollment. Trustees approved an unpaid childcare leave for Colleen Marsh for the 2026–27 school year and authorized an as‑needed substitute teacher contract for Zachary Hess.

The board did not take further emergency action at the meeting; administrators said hiring and recruitment efforts are underway and encouraged community members to apply for driver positions.