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Superintendent Nowak outlines staggered start, device rules and ParentSquare rollout
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Nowak previewed a staggered start (Aug. 13 for select grades; full return Aug. 18), a stricter middle-school cell-phone policy, continued universal free breakfast, and the district-wide rollout of ParentSquare for ADA-compliant mass communications.
BEXLEY CITY — In her first official regular board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Nowak told the Bexley Board of Education the district is preparing for a staggered start and several operational changes for the 2026–27 school year.
"On Thursday, August 13, we will welcome students in grades 1 to 5 at the elementary, 6th grade at Bexley Middle, 9th grade at Bexley High School, and a partial roster of kindergarten," Dr. Nowak said, adding that all students will be in session on Monday, Aug. 18. She described the staggered start as an "intentional orientation" to help kindergarten, sixth- and ninth-graders acclimate.
Dr. Nowak described a new middle-school policy restricting student access to cell phones and personal devices throughout the school day (including lunch), a tighter rule than last year; high-school students must store devices turned off but may use them at lunch, and elementary rules remain consistent with prior years. She also announced the district will continue offering universal free breakfast and that lunch prices will hold steady for 2026–27.
The district is rolling out a new mass-communication platform, ParentSquare. "This has been rolled out in athletics, as well as across the school community for academics," Dr. Nowak said, noting ParentSquare's ADA-compliance and translation features and that staff training is underway. When asked whether ParentSquare would replace FinalForms for forms management, Dr. Nowak said FinalForms will remain in use for some athletics and other forms while the district evaluates ParentSquare's form capabilities.
Dr. Nowak also announced a personnel recommendation to hire Kelly Stuckey as EMIS Student Information System Coordinator to replace Pam Muenter, who is retiring at the end of September after serving the district since 1999.
