Strongsville board hires Impact Group month‑to‑month for bond communications at $5,000 per month

The Strongsville City Schools Board of Education approved a communications contract with Impact Group on Nov. 20, 2025 to support the district’s master facilities and potential bond outreach. The board voted unanimously on a motion to contract at $5,000 per month. The contract is structured as a month‑to‑month engagement (Impact Group provides an estimated 40 hours of work per month under the fee). The motion passed on a unanimous roll call (Miss Thek, Mrs. Bissell, Mr. Griffin, Mr. Miko and Mrs. Ham voting yes).

Board members debated two finalists — Impact Group and AdCom — and weighed short‑term advantages (Impact Group’s familiarity with school district rules and local campaigns) against AdCom’s broader branding and long‑term strategic approach. Several trustees and administrators said they favored Impact Group because it can quickly meet the legal and technical demands of a facilities campaign and has local experience; others encouraged future engagement of AdCom for longer‑term branding, possibly in overlap with Impact Group.

What the contract covers: Staff described the work as communications and outreach support for the district’s master facilities planning (informational materials, community engagement planning, messaging that adheres to applicable campaign and school‑communication rules). Trustees emphasized the need to remain within legal communication boundaries and indicated district staff will approve materials before release.

Next steps: Impact Group will be onboarded immediately to support near‑term outreach while staff continue to refine bond program details and schedules. The board left open the possibility of engaging additional vendors for complementary services later, subject to separate approvals.

Representative quote: "Impact Group understands the law and the nuances around that," one trustee said during deliberations, noting the need for rapid, compliant outreach.