Canfield Local principals lay out kindergarten readiness, registration and safety plans for 2026–27

Travis Lavy, principal of CH Campbell Elementary School, opened a kindergarten informational meeting for incoming families and introduced Michael Flood, principal of Hilltop Elementary School, who led the presentation on readiness and enrollment logistics.

Flood said the state of Ohio has updated its kindergarten readiness checklist and that the district will follow the state’s new age cutoff: children must be 5 years old by the first day of school. "That means that this upcoming school year, it's going to be August 24th," he said, adding that families whose children do not meet that date may pursue the district’s early-entrance process.

The early-entrance pathway begins with a conversation with a principal and a referral form, Flood said. Candidates undergo IQ and achievement testing in reading and math, social-emotional rating scales and classroom observations; a team meeting then decides whether whole-grade acceleration is appropriate.

Flood described Canfield’s full-day kindergarten as "kindergarten 2.0," with daily reading and math blocks, embedded science and social studies, and daily specials such as art, STEM, music and physical education. "In Canfield, kindergarteners are walking out ready to read," he said, noting the district’s aim that students leave kindergarten with early reading skills.

On class size, Flood said typical kindergarten classes range from about 18 up to 26 students. He also reviewed daily hours (8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.), special testing days the district uses to meet incoming kindergarteners one-on-one, and that the first instructional day for K–5 will be August 26.

For registration, parents may schedule appointments through the district’s online appointment system ("My Conference Time") beginning in March and April. Flood told parents to bring the child to the registration appointment for initial hearing and vision screenings, and to complete registration in the Final Forms web platform selecting the 2026–2027 school year. Required documents include the child’s birth certificate, one parent’s driver’s license, a major-utility or other proof of residency (phone and internet bills are not accepted), immunization records and any applicable custody paperwork.

Flood described the district’s layered safety measures: Canfield shares a school resource officer with the elementary buildings ("Officer Caris" was named), uses secure vestibules and the Raptor visitor-screening system, runs regular safety drills and maintains a nurse on site. He said the district has upgraded digital cameras and added an AI camera system called Zero Eyes, which the district described as able to detect if a gun is brandished and "immediately notifies law enforcement as well as the school." Flood also noted bus cameras with audio as part of transportation oversight.

The district offers before- and after-care through a partnership with Zion Christian Church at Hilltop; a shuttle transports students between Hilltop and CH Campbell for those programs. District transportation also serves several local before/after providers, and some outside providers arrange their own pickups. Flood advised families to keep transportation arrangements consistent and to notify the school office if plans change.

Parents asked questions in a brief Q&A. One meeting participant asked which IDs are required for registration; presenters advised that the child’s birth certificate and a parent’s driver’s license are the primary documents. Another asked whether the SRO is a Canfield police officer; presenters confirmed the SRO is provided through a partnership with Canfield Police Department and that the officer splits time between the elementary buildings. A parent of a child with an IEP asked about transition services; presenters said transition meetings typically occur in April–May and include preschool staff, the district psychologist and service providers to outline supports for kindergarten entry.

Flood and Lavy closed by offering to stay after the presentation for individual questions, reminding families where to find school assignments and the district calendar online, and encouraging involvement in PTA activities, summer tours and pre-kindergarten sessions for children who may benefit from an extra transition program.

The district posted screening days for CH Campbell (April 30) and Hilltop (March 1 and March 8) and announced a PTA-sponsored Safety Day on August 8, 2026, with bus practice and family-focused safety stations.