001Welcome to the April 23rd, 2026 Parma City School District Board of Education regular meeting. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Roll call, please. Mr. Nucio. >> Dr. Early, >> present. Miss Kerpik >> present. >> Mrs. McTagard. Mrs. Sebastian >> present. >> Mr. Reyes >> present. >> Good evening everyone. Before we begin, I'd like to pause and acknowledge the tragedy that has deeply affected our school community. Our hearts are with the students, family, friends, classmates, and all who are grieving. We also extend our gratitude to the staff, first responders, and those in our community who have stopped in to support our students during this
002time. In moments like this, there are no easy words. What we can do is come together, support one another, and lead with compassion. Thank you. I will open it up to my um colleagues and other board members to give any statements they would like to give at this time. >> Thank you, Mrs. Sebastian. Um I would like to echo Tammy's sentiments here. My heart also goes out to the students family and to all of our students, staff, and community members who are impacted by this loss. I'm also deeply grateful to our administrators, crisis response team, staff, and first responders for their care and dedication during this difficult time. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Kerbick. I'm sad and I feel that nothing that I can say right now can portray the words. There's no adequate
003words to express the sorrow that I'm feeling. Um I'm praying for the family. I'm praying for the staff. I'm praying for the students, the community. Um, this impact is beyond Parma, Parma Heights and Seven Hills. Um, I'm I'm grateful for the crisis response and the resources that have been made available and I think that we need to continue as a community to have conversations surrounding mental health awareness. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Early, Mr. Reyes. >> Thank you, Miss Sebastian. I'd like to take a moment to speak to the students. I want you to know that you all matter and your safety is very important to me. School should be a place where you feel safe, supported, and able to learn and grow. And I remain committed to making sure that is true for
004each one of you. As a father of three young children, I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child. I want to extend my thoughts and prayers to the family, friends, and everyone involved. I know this has also been a difficult time for the community. My thoughts and prayers are with each one of you as well. I recognize there are real concerns about school safety moving forward. It's important that we address those concerns directly and thoughtfully. My hope is that in the event of this tragedy, our community can come together with empathy and understanding. Each person carries unseen challenges, and moments like this remind us it's important to support one another. I encourage all of you to look out for each other, offer kindness and help where it's needed, stay engaged, and I'm committed to
005listening to the community, understanding your concerns, and working together to rem uh to ensure that our schools remain safe. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Reyes. Before we move into the agenda, I want to thank everyone for the time and preparation that goes into reviewing our materials in advance. Uh the agenda and supporting documentation were distributed earlier this week via email to support thoughtful discussion and effect effective decisionmaking. Adequate review helps us work efficiently together and ensures we're prepared for any action items this evening. This aligns with board policy which reflects our shared commitment to being informed on the issues before us. With that in mind, can we confirm that all members have received and reviewed the materials for tonight's meeting? Roll call, please. Mr. Nusio. >> Dr. Early. >> Yes. >> Miss Kerik. >>
006Yes. >> Mrs. Sebastian. >> Yes. >> Mr. Reyes. >> Yes. I move to adopt resolution 2026-04-194, approval of board meeting agenda. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution 2026-04-194. Are there any questions or comments from the board? Roll call, please. Mr. Nucio. >> Mrs. Sebastian? >> Yes. >> Miss Kirpic? >> Yes. >> Dr. Early? >> Yes. >> Mr. Reyes? >> Yes. Resolution 2026-04-194 has been approved. I move to adopt resolution 2026-04-195, approval of the written record of proceedings from the April 9th, 2026 special and regular board of education meetings. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution 2026-04-195. Are there any questions or comments from the board? Roll call, please. Mr. Nusio, >> Mrs. Sebastian, >> yes. >> Miss Kerick, >> yes. >> Dr.
007Early, >> yes. >> Mr. Reyes, >> yes. >> Resolution 2026-04-195 has been approved. Um, we're going to move to the adoption of amendments. Um, so we do have an amendment tonight. Um, I want to make a motion and I just want to look. We are at >> 17. So, I think we're good with the extra. >> I think we should let everybody talk. >> Yeah. Okay. So, I'm going to make a motion um to amend the agenda to allow for a um we were going to do a total of 45 minutes, but we're just going to allow um everybody who filled out a request to be heard form uh tonight to speak. So, thank you. Um, so, um, so I'm making a motion. I need a second. Um, and that is just for this meeting.
008>> A second. We have a motion and a second to amend the agenda to allow um, all speakers to speak tonight. And that's passed. Mr. Nucio, real quick, >> I have a clarification. Is that any people who've turned in the forms as of >> right now? who we have in hand. >> Okay. So, as of the ones who've turned in their forms, you currently have on your table. >> Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Roll call, please. Mr. Nio, >> Mrs. Sebastian, >> yes. >> Miss Kerick, >> yes. >> Dr. Early, >> yes. >> Mr. Reyes, >> yes. >> The motion has passed. >> Um, we are going to now move on to information to the board. Um, starting with Dr. Hunt. Thank you. >> Thank you. I have several items I'm going to share
009with you this evening. Uh first I would like to share uh just a slightly modified version of the statement I made yesterday to our media. So I'm going to read that. Uh first I want to share my deepest sympathies to the family for this tragic loss. Our hearts are with the students family and friends as well as our staff and school community who have been impacted by this event. We are committed to sharing accurate and verified information with our community and with the media while also respecting the integrity of the ongoing law enforcement investigation and student privacy laws. as we heard from Parma Heights Chief Green that there is no further threat to any of our buildings, especially at Valley Forge. This unfortunate situation has also caused a great deal of uh fear in our
010school community among students and families about school safety and security in the Parma City School District. We understand that many families have questions and concerns regarding safety, including how a weapon could have entered our school. At this time, specific details related to this incident, including any prior concerns, remain part of an active investigation. As that process continues, the district will be conducting a thorough review of all safety and security protocols to identify any areas for strengthening and to ensure that our practices remain as effective as possible. We will provide updates to our community as information is confirmed confirmed and appropriate to share. The district maintains a comprehensive layered approach to safety that includes a dedicated safety and security team that is employed by Parm City Schools. We have a very strong collaboration with local law
011enforcement in all three of our communities. We conduct safety training and we have procedures and protocols that we follow in these situations. While no system can eliminate every risk, these measures are designed to both prevent incidents and to ensure an immediate and a coordinated response when needed. In this instance, emergency protocols were activated and carried out as intended. Staff responded immediately. The building was secured in a short amount of time and students were safely directed to appropriate locations while first responders were quickly engaged. The response unfolded as designed to protect others and to bring the situation under control even in the face of a tragedy. We are deeply grateful to the staff for their quick action and care for students during this incredibly difficult situation. So, if you're keeping up with uh what we've been
012posting, uh both of our high schools were closed today to students uh as we provided care for staff um for our students that were able and willing to come in to work with mental health professionals. We do have a return plan. So on Friday, uh, April 24th, students at Normandy High School will return to a typical schedule. Students at Valley Forge High School will return to an abbreviated schedule, and we will be providing mental health services uh, throughout the day. From 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Valley Forge, we will have uh, grades 11 and 12 attending. And from noon to 1:30, we will have grades 9 through 10. On Monday, all schools will return to their typical schedules. We believe it's important to get back into a routine where students can begin to feel safe
013and comforted with staff and peers. Testing schedules for the buildings have been shared with families, and we did push out testing. As we prepare for students to come back, we recognize the concerns that families have. Additional supports will be in place, including an increased staff and security presence as well as access to counseling services for students and staff. We remain focused on providing a safe and supportive environment and will continue to review and strengthen our practices. And I want to remind everyone here, especially our students, if you see something, say something. We can't intervene if we don't know. Help is available for those in crisis. I would point you to the safer Ohio school tip line at 844-723-3764 or you can call or text 988 or you can chat online at 988lifeeline.org. We also extend
014our sincerest gratitude to the staff, students, and first responders from Parma and Parma Heights, Mayor Gallo, Mayor Deer, Mayor Basiado, as well as our partners at Kyhoga Community College for their swift and coordinated responses. I also want to thank our internal team, uh, especially Janine Andrewski and Rachel Urban, our two high school principles, who worked very closely in this very unfortunate situation to make sure students and staff and families got the care that they needed. Dr. Amy Cruz, who led our crisis response, Bill Pelco, our director of security, and Carissa Cochran, our director of communications. And so we turn to the question of what now? And so I want to address that briefly. So I want to reiterate that we currently have a multi-layered approach in place to address safety and security in our district.
015As I shared earlier, and to repeat, this includes dedicated safety and security staff employed by our system, collaboration with our local law enforcement in all three communities, as well as the training that we've done uh in these situations. As we reopen school, we will have increased safety and security measures uh in terms of law enforcement patrolling inside and outside of our buildings. Our district safety team will also be visible in our buildings and we will remain vigilant about see something, say something. In the last 48 48 hours, we've worked closely with the Parma Heights Police Department to make immediate additions to safety protocols that we have in place at Valley Forge High School. The police department is increasing patrol patrols around the school, but they are also implementing an increased officer presence inside the building
016by providing additional officers inside of the school. >> Dr. Hunk, go ahead and and finish what you were saying. >> I'll wait. >> Okay. We are going to ask we we appreciate >> we appreciate everybody coming out tonight and we really want we really response has been seriously inadequate. >> I would just ask in light of us coming together, we want to be able to hear all of you. We will not be able to do that if it continues like this. We please ask you to refrain from doing that. Thank you, Dr. Hunt. >> Thank you. >> Next steps. I will be convening a superintendent committee on school safety and security that will include experts in the field to advi to advise our district moving forward. This will be a comprehensive group made up of
017administrators, board, safety forces, our court system, mental health professionals, and school support organizations. I will convene this group upon the con conclusion of the investigative process and this will be our first step to review this situation and to identify areas for improvement or strengthening our future. I will provide greater details about participants uh and meetings in the near future. I also want to address uh a lot of uh what I'm hearing about grants and obtaining grant dollars. And so uh I'm going to go back a couple of years in 2024. I know there was a board meeting that addressed not only the grants but also metal detectors in this district. And it was not something that this district chose to do. But I do want to point out some uh items for you. We have
01812 uh grants that we've been awarded since 2020 leading into this year totaling approximately $1.7 million. So, I'm just going to I'm going to read the list so that you hear this. The Attorney General School Safety Grant, we uh we were awarded $50,000 that allowed us to purchase two-way radios and repeaters. That was in 22. Another attorney general safety grant in FY23. Approximately the same amount of money, $50,000 for emergency trauma supplies, safety gear for security personnel, and dash cams. Attorney General's uh school safety grant in FY24, $41,000 for a video system, safety glass, film, CCTV monitors, Attorney General School Safety Grant in FY25, uh for security cameras, $40,000 in 26, $40,000 for our visitor management system. Bureau of Workers Compensation, $40,000 in FY20 for security window film. Bureau of Workers Comp school safety HVAC
019equipment uh in FY23. Bureau of Workers Comp school safety and security in FY26, $38,000 for security cameras. ODOT Safe Schools, bike safety items for students, $15,000. That was in FY20. Um, OFCC school safety grant, $78,000 in FY23 for radios with emergency lockdown firmware. An OFCC school safety grant worth $1.2 million for our vestibule security cameras, security doors, locks, video, intercoms, radio equipment, communication upgrades. That was FY24. and a stronger connections grant for $144,000 and FY24 for school resource officers. So, we are going to continue to look very closely at our safety and security protocols and how we address safety and security in our district. Finally, I want to add that we will be moving board meetings to Valley Forge High School beginning May 7th. That space is being outfitted with lighting, uh a new screen,
020uh a projector, uh and it will be a better space for us to hold these meetings. Thank you. That's all I have. >> Thank you, Dr. Hunt. And I just want to mention too that we have um been talking about that because of the feedback um from people who attend uh with the acoustics in here not being able to hear us. So we were actually um talking about that for a little while based on feedback. So thank you Dr. Hunt. Um I'm going to hand it over to Dr. Early. Do you want to with the student spotlight? You do you have a statement with that? >> No. Just out of this evening, we had planned recognitions for um some staff and students that will be rescheduled for a future meeting date. >> Thank you, Dr.
021Early. Um and typically we do committee meeting reports. We decided to postpone those as well. Um we wanted everybody to have time to comment. Um so there are there are committee reports, but we are not going uh to report on those until next meeting. Um, so I'm going to then move into communications. Are there any communications from board members? Okay. Treasurer, >> not tonight. >> Thank you. And I do believe that there was a PTA council report. Is that correct? But they're also going to wait until the next meeting. Um, so we appreciate that. So with that being said, we are going to move into uh public comments for agenda items, I believe. Um so um we have an invitation to the public to address the board of education with comments concerning agenda items to
022be adopted this evening. I do not believe we have any. Okay. So then we will go ahead and move on to looks like we business we don't have anything for business correct uh nothing for curriculum as well and we will move on to finance Mr. Reyes >> sorry >> you did okay I apologize. You can come up. Uh Hillary Jackson Good evening. My name is Hillilary Jackson. I am a parental rights advocate and I am here today because multiple parents in the district have asked me to speak on their behalf. >> Miss Jackson, can you say your address? >> 6955 Arlington Street, Brexville, Ohio. Many of those parents have expressed that they do not feel safe coming before this board themselves. They fear retaliation both for themselves and for their children due to what they
023describe as combative and unprofessional conduct by this board. I am here specifically regarding the concerns surrounding the Greenbryer Middle School principal. Out of the hundreds of complaints I have received from parents across this district, the overwhelming majority involve Greenbryer. Every single one of those situations points to the same troubling pattern by the principal. Neglect, lack of care, and behavior that is simply inappropriate for someone entrusted with the well-being of young children. Parents are deeply concerned that instead of termination or resignation, this principal will simply be reassigned to another position within the district. Where have we seen this song and dance before? Oh yes, with the gym teacher that turned health teacher. And we know how that turned out. I have personally Order. Miss Jackson, we're going to ask you to complete your comments. No performance.
024Just complete your comments. >> You got it, Tammy. All right. I have personally reviewed video footage showing inappropriate interactions with students, including swearing and threats from this employee. I have also seen text communications where she expressed her clear annoyance and lack of remorse for a situation that she herself was directly responsible for when she suspended a student and accused her of lying when she trusted her principal to protect her. Additionally, based on records requests, there are serious concerns about whether proper mandatory reporting procedures were followed by this employee. Now, many recent records request responses from this board have been either incomplete, over redacted, or straight up denied or ignored. If the district can provide clear evidence that all legal and procedural obligations were met, I will absolutely retract that concern. But as it stands, the
025lack of transparency only deepens the distrust. I also want to address something that I have heard repeatedly from members of this board and community that politics do not belong in education. On that point, we agree. And yet at one point, political messaging has been displayed within Greenbryer Middle, courtesy of the principal, including Black Lives Matter and Pride flags in a building serving children too young to process or understand the weight of those issues. This is not about denying anyone's beliefs. It is about recognizing that government institutions, especially elementary and middle schools, should not be promoting ideologies that divide rather than unite. Political messaging in schools do not foster inclusion. It creates division and alienates a significant portion of students, parents, and staff. The only flag that should be displayed in a government building is the
026American flag. So, I will close with this. On behalf of the countless parents who have entrusted me to be their voice, we are not asking. We are demanding accountability. We demand the resignation of the Greenbryer principal and we strongly appro oppose any reassignment within this district. Our children deserve better and our parents deserve to be heard without fear. Thank you. So, thank you. We are now going to move to um I think we're at finance. Mr. Reyes. >> Thank you, Miss Sebastian. I move to adopt resolution 2026-04-197, approval of the March 2026 financial report. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution 2026-04-197. Are there any questions or comments from the board? >> Roll call, please. Mr. Nucio. >> M. Mr. Reyes. >> Yes. >> Dr. Early. >> Yes. >>
027Miss Kerpek. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sebastian. >> Yes. Resolution 2026-04-197 has been approved. >> I move to adopt resolution 2026-04-198, supplemental appropriations. Second. >> We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution 2026-04-198. Are there any questions or comments from the board? >> Roll call, please. Mr. Nucio. >> Mr. Reyes? >> Yes. >> Dr. Early? >> Yes. >> Miss Kirk? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Sebastian? >> Yes. Resolution 2026-04-198 has been approved. Do any other board members have anything further to discuss regarding finance? This concludes finance. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Reyes. Human resources. >> Oh, isn't me. >> Yeah, it's a second. I'll read. Okay. I move to adopt. Yeah, I move to adopt resolution 2026-04-199. Approval of the following certified exhibits. Confirmation of certified appointments. Confirmation of stipen amounts. Confirmation of change
028in certified assignments for the 2026 2027 school year. Confirmation of certified substitute appointments. Approval of certified non-compensated leaves of absence. And acceptance of certified resignations. Second. We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution 2026-04-199. Are there any questions or comments from the board? >> Miss Sebastian? >> Yes. >> Thank you. I would like to speak specifically on item number three, confirmation of change in certified assignment for the year 2026 2027. Uh while respecting all prior discussions, I do not believe reassigning this individual from principal to teacher is appropriate. Given the history of public concern around prior board actions, I cannot support this reassignment. For that reason, I move to divide the question so that number three is considered separately from items number one, two, four, five, and six. So, Mr. Rice would need
029a second in order for that to >> second. >> We have a motion and a second. And um so can you restate you want what to be divided. So item number three to be considered separately from items number one, two, four, five, and six. >> Do you need me to restate that or is it okay with his >> No, I understood his motion. So we'd have to vote on that motion. >> Yeah. So roll call, please. Mr. Nucio, >> Mr. Reyes. >> Yes. >> Dr. Early. >> Yes. Miss Kerik. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Sebastian. >> Yes. >> So then we're going to vote on the rest of the issues on here and then >> can you restate them as so I think it would be important to >> I I think Mr. >> Yeah. If
030you >> Mr. Mr. Ray should receive >> we're voting. >> Yes. >> You want me to read? >> Yeah, Mr. Ry should restate that. >> It doesn't matter who reads it, just somebody reads it. >> So, Mr. Nucio, please correct me if I'm wrong, but the first vote would be on item number one, confirmation of certificated appointments. Item number two, confirmation of stipen amounts. Item number four, confirmation of certificated substitute appointments. Item number five, approval, approval of certificated non-compensated leaves of absence. And item number six, acceptance of certificated resignations. >> Correct. >> Second. >> We're waiting for a roll call on that. >> We already did. >> We just have to vote now. Correct. On the first group. >> So, we're going to we're going to vote on uh number one, the confirmation of certificated
031appointments. Can we make sure that it's clear on our screen and the resolutions up there? >> We're not going to vote separately on each one. We're just excluding number three and voting on the rest of them. >> Okay. But can when we do that, can we make sure that that's I want to make sure that's transparent. >> When you want when number three is up, you want that to appear. >> Yes. So, we're not actually voting on three on this one right here. >> Just so you understand. >> Yeah. >> Do you want me to do Do you want me to do roll call? >> Roll call, please. Mr. Nusio. >> Okay. Mr. Reyes? >> Yes. >> Dr. Early? >> Yes. >> Miss Kerpek? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Sebastian? >> Yes. Can I say a
032statement or make a request of the board for the item that we just separated? Can we and whatever the appropriate pathway is move that to next meeting's agenda to discuss it and vote on it then I prefer not to discuss it or not to vote on it this evening. >> So Dr. Early, you could make a motion to postpone the confirmation of change in certifi certificated assignment for 202627 school year. And you need a you need a second and then we can take a vote on that. >> Second. >> Oh, I I thought you already made the motion. >> So, I'm making a motion to propose >> to postpone >> postpone to the next regularly scheduled board meeting. the certificated confirmation of change and certified assignment for the 2627 school year. Second, we have a
033motion and a second to postpone um the which which resolution is I'm trying to look uh the confirmation of change and certificated assignments for the 2026 2027 school year. Roll call, please. Mr. Nosio, >> Dr. Early. >> Yes. Mrs. Sebastian, >> yes. >> Miss Kerpik, >> yes. >> Mr. Reyes, >> no. >> Do you understand by voting no, you you're saying you want to vote on it today? Is that correct? >> Correct. >> Okay. Just making sure you understood. >> Okay. So, we can move on to the rest of HR. The motion did not pass. Uh, I'm sorry. The motion did pass to postpone. You can go now. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> And may I may I clarify on like my request? Um I think this is something that I would like to think
034about further and in light of everything that's happened this week. That's why I'm making this request. So thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Early. Miss Kerpic. >> Thank you. I move to adopt resolution 2026-04-2000, acceptance of certified retirements. Second. We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution 2026-04-2000. Are there any questions or comments from the board? >> Roll call, please. Mr. Nucio. >> Miss Kerbick. >> Yes. Dr. Early, >> yes. >> Mr. Reyes, >> yes. >> Mrs. Sebastian, >> yes. Resolution 2026-4-2000 has been approved. >> I move to adopt resolution 2026-04-201 acceptance of certified of certified administrative retirements. >> Second. We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution 2026-04-201. Are there any questions or comments from the board? >> Roll call, please. Mr. Nucio. >> Miss Kerbick. >> Yes. >> Dr.
035Early. >> Yes. >> Mr. Reyes? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Sebastian? >> Yes. Resolution 2026-04-201 has been approved. I move to adopt resolution 2026-04-202 recommendation for continuing contracts 2026 2027. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution 2026-04-202. Are there any questions or comments from the board? >> Roll call, please. Mr. Nucio. >> Miss Kirbeck. >> Yes. >> Dr. Early. Yes, >> Mr. Reyes. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Sebastian. >> Yes. Resolution 2026-04-202 has been approved. >> I move to adopt resolution 2026-04-203. Approval of the following classified exhibits. Confirmation of classified appointments. Confirmation of classified replacements. Confirmation of change of classified assignments. Acceptance of classified resignations. Approval of classified non-compensated leaves of absence. >> Second. We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution 2026-04-203. Are there any questions or comments
036from the board? >> Roll call, please. Mr. Nucio. >> Miss Kerbick. >> Yes. >> Dr. Dr. Early. >> Yes. >> Mr. Reyes. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Sebastian. >> Yes. Resolution 2026-04-203 has been approved. >> I move to adopt resolution 2026-04-204. Acceptance of classified retirements. >> Second. We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution 2026-04-204. Are there any questions or comments from the board? >> Roll call, please. Mr. Nucio. >> Miss Kirbick. >> Yes. >> Dr. Early. >> Yes. >> Mr. Reyes? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Sebastian? >> Yes. Resolution 2026-04-204 has been approved. >> Unless another board member has anything to discuss. This will conclude human resources. >> Thank you, Miss Kerbick. Uh we do not have any policies for tonight. I I don't believe um information requested by board members. >> Miss Sebastian.
037>> Yes. >> Thank you. Uh so I just have a couple of questions for Dr. Hunt in regards to the statement you made earlier today. Um, do we have any temporary changes that'll be in place for next week other than the other items that you mentioned? I >> think I mentioned that we are going to have increased um law enforcement in the buildings. Yes. >> Okay. Um, you also mentioned a superintendent security committee. >> Is that correct? >> I am going to convene a superintendent safety and security committee. Yes. >> Would it be possible to allow two board members to be part of that committee? >> Yep. As I did mention, we will have board um availability to sit on that committee. Yes. >> Thank you. That's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you,
038Mr. Reyes. Anybody else? >> Okay. Uh we are now going to move into um public comments. Before we do that, I do have to read um our policy on public comments. The Parma City School District Board of Education is a decision-making body. We value comm community input and we appreciate those who have taken the time to participate this evening. Before we begin public comment this evening, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the weight of what our community is experiencing. We understand that many in our community are hurting. They have questions and they want to be heard. That is completely valid. At the same time, we ask that all comments be shared with care and respect out of respect for the student, the family, those directly impacted impacted, including staff that was in the
039building. And we will not engage in discussion of specific details related to the incident. We also ask that speakers be mindful not to share personal or identifying information about the student or any other students. As a board, there are limitations to what we can respond to in this setting, particularly regarding student matters in ongoing situations and investigations. Our focus right now is on supporting our students, staff, and community as they grieve and begin the healing process. We appreciate your understanding and your commitment to keeping this space respectful for everyone. We will now move into the public comments. Um, request to be heard forms are required to be submitted in advance by completing a request to be heard form and submitting it in person to our administrative secretary. Only those who have completed this process will
040be permitted to speak. We ask that you refrain from shouting um during somebody's time. If information is not read readily available, a district administrator or an appropriate design may follow up to ensure a respectful and productive environment. Comments must be directed to the board president and speakers are asked to refrain from defamatory, obscene, abusive, derogatory, irrelevant, repetitive or disruptive remarks including verbal criticism or complaints against an individual employee of the district. Personnel matters in certain student related issues are governed by board policy and law and cannot be addressed in a public forum. Uh the presiding officer may terminate a speaker's privilege of address if after being called to order the speaker persists in improper conduct or remarks. Individuals who do not adhere to these expectations may be asked to stop speaking and if necessary to
041leave the meeting. So with that being said, I am going to call up our first speaker, Patrick Lloyd. And please state your name and address. Thank you. Hello, my name is Patrick Lloyd. I am a 12th grade student at Valley Forge High School. I was fortunate enough to not see the body nor to blood. However, I was within 30 ft of turning the corner to where the dead body was. I was close enough to hear to gunshots and close enough to hear the screams of my loved ones and all of my classmates. We are in an unprecedented time where we need more security. We need to consider these items. One, implementing metal detectors and in the meantime, implementing clear backpacks in our schools. Number two, we need to petition whoever the prosecuting body is to
042prosecute whoever supplied the handgun or failed to properly lock up that handgun. That was a felony and that that was should not have happened. Then we need to stiffen the punishments for those who verbally bully others. Currently, no contact contracts are not enough. Physical fights get you 10 days out of school. No one's died from a physical fight, but someone has died from bullying. We need to take that weight of physical fights 10 days out of school and consider something very similar to verbal bullying. Then I would like Mr. Ryers to be on that security council that the superintendent is um forming. I have seen a lot of compassion from him and a lot of professionalism from that man and I trust him. Lastly, um we need to petition the state and the federal government
043for funding for the metal detectors. I know we are not a very rich school. We do not have that kind of money just lying around. Otherwise, we would have already had it two years ago. So, we need to petition whoever has the money to get us that money. And we don't have to be nice about it. We have to be direct and we have to be loud about it because we need it. Thank you for your time. Thank you Sharon Physic Sharon Fitzick 6495 Gale Drive 7 Hills Ohio. First, I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to our students family and friends. To the teachers and staff who knew her and are affected by this young lady's passing, my heart is with you. To our safety and security personnel, thank you. Although our district
044has experienced this heartbreaking event, I am encouraged by the number of people in this auditorium. Civic engagement is so very important and is needed if we truly want to bring about change. However, if you really want to see change, then this advocacy, this energy needs to be directed squarely to where it belongs, where our advocacy will make a difference. And to make our voices heard, the state of Ohio through our state leaders need to actually hear from us. Flood our elected representatives with emails and phone calls to their offices. Send the same email daily. Give the same voicemail over and over again, multiple times a day, every day. Our state leaders need to get the message. They need to know that we will no longer tolerate the inaction historically shown by them toward Ohio's public
045schools. We need the resources to provide safe and secure learning environments. We need the resources to provide for the mental health and well-being of every single child that attends our schools. The very people we elected to go to Columbus to represent us need to be responsive to the requirements of this community and communities just like ours across this state. That will not happen until we demand it. Bringing concerns to our district's administration and to our board of education is worthy. But to make the biggest impact, every single person in this room needs to contact their elected officials at the state house today. Do not wait. This action is imperative if we want to make a positive and a powerful shift for our children, their educations, and for our public schools. Thank you. Thank you, Daniel
046Zet. I hope I said that right. If I didn't, you can correct me. Name and address, please. >> Oh, can you say it in the microphone so everybody can hear you? Thank you. >> Um, Daniel Deweiler, 9540 NWJ Promo, Ohio. Um, I'd like to point out a concern about how everything was handled. Um, our son was missing for an hour and a half to almost two hours. We had police looking for him. His phone was dropped in the school during the whole incident. And our son wasn't the only one that was lost out of this whole incident. And the fact that they had everybody go to try C. The teacher that told him to get out told him just to leave premises. Didn't even tell him where to go. Nothing. I think that teachers need
047better training on how to prepare for situations like this if it ever happens again, which I hope it never does. We should be calling our state leaders and demanding emergency funds to put in temporary metal detectors that could be put up in a day by one person till we can get the funding to put in permanent ones over the summer. Um, that's all I really have to say. It this really bothered all my kids though and they don't even want to go back to school because they don't feel safe. My daughter goes to Thorough Park and she doesn't want to go back to school because of everything that happened. She witnessed everything firsthand because she was in her car with us when we went to go to Valley Forest to try to find her son
048and she's terrified. It this doesn't just affect the high schools. This affects every school in the district and something needs to be done for safety in every single school, not just the high schools. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Deweiler. Sheila Heaggelan Hegelin name and address please. >> I'm sorry. When you when you step up to I should be I I should clarify. When you step up to the podium. Yes, please. >> Okay. 10,000 Vienna Drive Parma, Ohio. >> Hi. Um I don't have a fancy speech written. Um I do have five kids in the Parma school district ranging from kindergarten to senior. Um what I think is most important, what I see in my five kids who are very different social groups, very different um schools is the main thing with the school is
049we need more supports and more resources for reporting bullying and harassment. because I've seen firsthand what happens when something happens to a kid and they don't know who to go to to report it. There's no there's no system to do that. So, I'm nervous. I'm sorry. Basically, what I would like is um there to be some kind of uh maybe a workshop for kids to go to monthly where they can feel comfortable discussing things with teachers. maybe have uh peer uh role models available that maybe they would feel more comfortable talking to and uh stuff like that. Maybe um just something there that they know is available all the time across all the schools from high school to elementary school. Um and I know a lot of it starts at home. We have to teach
050kids and do stuff like that. But our kids spend a lot of time at school there. A lot of them is shaped at school. So it would just be nice to have those supports in place for these kids that if they are shoved down or feeling picked on or feeling outed from their peers that they have someone to go to, they know where to go to to discuss these things and feel protected and safe and not like it's just going to make things worse. Um I don't have much else. Just uh thank you to everyone at Valley Forge who responded. I was right across the street when it happened. I have two kids there, a senior and a sophomore. And um I just, you know, I'm I'm very thankful that, you know, my kids are
051okay and uh thankful to everyone who uh got there very quickly. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Hagglin. Erica Smullik. Good evening, Erica Smolik, 8315 Bowerdale Avenue. Excuse me, I'm not a public speaker. Good evening. My name is Erikica Smolick. I have four children, one graduate and three currently in Parma City School District. I'm going to get straight to the point. We had a shooting in our school. A student walked the halls all day with a gun. And since then, I have seen no clear changes, only empty reassurances. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> One second, please. One second. Can you You have the microphone. Okay, >> better. >> Good. Okay. We had a shooting in our school. A student walked the halls all day with a gun. And since then, I have seen no changes,
052only empty reassurances. Mental health support matters. It absolutely does. But a counselor cannot detect a weapon in a backpack. Something needs to change now. Can any of you guarantee that my children are safe? That they will come home at the end of the day because I shouldn't have to look my 10-year-old in the eyes and give them reassurance I'm not confident in. We put security measures in places we value, city buildings, events, government spaces. So, why are our children not given the same level of protection? We were told police responded in 90 seconds. And I want to say I am grateful for the police and fire departments. But let's be honest about what that means. 90 seconds is not prevention, that is a response. If that student had chosen to act, how many lives could
053have been changed in these 90 seconds? We were lucky this time. Metal detectors and bad checks may not stop everything, but they are a step toward prevention. Toward stopping a threat before it reaches a classroom because this should never begin in a school. Prevention first, not after. Have you asked the students how they feel safe? Have you asked the parents because right now many of us feel unheard? You ask this community to support levies and funding. We ask, we are asking for something in return. Real visible action that puts our children's safeties first. Our kids are not numbers. They are not test scores. They are our future. And right now, we need to know they are being protected like it. Prevention equals protection. And right now, our kids don't even have enough of it. Thank
054you. Thank you, Miss Smolick. Gabe Martin. Hello, my name is Gabe Martin. Do I have my address? I live at 2510 Center Drive. I'm currently a senior here at Normandy High School. The incident that occurred this week has had a profound impact on our school community, and many of us are still processing what has happened. To begin with, what concerns me the most is not just the tragic incident itself, but what may have led to it. When students struggle with their mental health, they should be able to ask for the help they need and actually receive it. Research from schools safety.gov shows students are far more likely to receive and complete mental health support when it's provided through the school. If students feel their concerns about their mental health health aren't taken seriously, then that's
055a serious issue within the school system. Nevertheless, I believe we need to scrutinize the priorities this district holds. For instance, students notice priorities. When phone rules are enforced more consistently than safety concerns like bullying or building security, it sends a message about what matters most. As a person with late arrival, I come in during third period through the back bus loop doors. Nearly every day I've come through those doors, I have not once been asked for my late arrival card or question at all. I'm a student, but realistically speaking, anyone could do the same. When smaller rule when smaller rules are enforced more consistently than something as basic as knowing who is entering the building, it raises serious concerns about where our focus really is. Furthermore, in September of 2024, former superintendent Dr. Smile said
056in an interview with News5 that metal detectors can create a false sense of security that the district had implemented other effective measures such as dual locking vestibules. However, if these measures are presented as more effective, it is worth asking what they're actually preventing. If I'm able to walk through those dual locking vestibules without having to identify myself, then the effectiveness of those measures come to in come into question. This suggests there may be gaps in the current approach that are worth re-evaluating. Meanwhile, I understand funding can pose a challenge to providing enhanced security measures, especially with levies not passing. However, there are pro there are proven researchback ways to strengthen both safety for schools and mental health support for students. Research shows that partnerships with healthcare providers significantly improve student outcomes. To focus more on
057prevention, schools can use confidential mental health screenings with licensed professionals to catch issues early while protecting privacy. Teachers want to act as therapists, but be trained to recognize warning signs and refer students to the right support. Peer programs would peer programs would be staff supervised so students aren't handling serious issues alone. While no issue prevents every incident, early intervention reduces escalation, making school safer overall. In conclusion, I asked the board to take action not just not just by responding to this incident, but by working to prevent the next one. That means prioritizing mental health support, listening to student concerns, and re-evaluating whether current safety measures are truly protecting students. At the end of the day, this isn't about policies or funding. It's about students. It's about kids sitting in classroom every day who want to
058feel safe, heard, and supported. Right now, some of them don't, and we shouldn't have to wait for another incident like this to get it right. Prevention should be the priority, not just the response. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Martin, Michael Po. I can't Okay, thank you. >> Good evening, board. My name is Michael P, 9436 Independence Boulevard. I'm a community member, a former student. My question is when is enough going to be enough? You've seen this on the news constantly. You guys didn't take an action two years ago with smilec. What else are we going to do to implement the change? Kids get bullied day in and day out every single day. But what are we going to do as a board? I asked you guys to make sure safety implements were effective immediately.
059To Mr. Reyes, I thank you for being with us. You give me shades of my father. So, thank you. But these kids deserve safety. They deserve answers from you guys. So, what I want to ask is when will it be? Because I promise you this, if I have to spam call my brother 25 times to implement make sure he's okay, I wouldn't know what to do without him. And the same goes the rest of my community members and former staff members that I've known over the years and people that I've known for years. You're not alone. Just know that you will always be heard and don't be afraid to reach out because at the end of the day, we're still a community and we all got to respect that. Show love, show support, and hold
060your loved ones tight cuz you never know when your last night is. Thank you for your attention. I appreciate you guys so much. >> Thank you, >> Alyssa Beerman. Um, my name is Alessa Beerman. I live at 8123 Dartworth Drive. Um, I am currently a junior at Valley Forge High School. And I knew the girl who shot and killed herself in the school. She lived on my street. She rode my bus. I known her for three years. Um, I've witnessed the bullying. I've witnessed her screaming out for help and um, she just didn't get the help that she needed. She was told countless times that there would be help and no one did. She told her counselor several times that she was tired of the bullying. She was tired of being treated the way she
061was. That she was screaming out for help and she never got any help. We don't have enough mental health resources at our school that the claim has they have the connections with. And I just want to know why we don't have these mental health resources. I mean, there's kids struggling with their mental health every single day and you never know when the next person's going to take their life. I just don't understand why. No one cares enough. Um, I don't really have any anything else more to say. I feel like I might cry here because it's honestly just really sad that this is happening. A lot of kids seeing this. I don't know how they feel. I wasn't there to see it and I'm glad I wasn't there to see it because I don't know
062how I would feel. But I know there's probably some people here today that I go to school with who were probably struggling with it, struggling with what they saw and struggling with what they heard. And it's not okay. Um, that's all I really have to say, but thank you. Thank you, Miss Spearman. Nicholas Hegel. Uh my name is Nicholas Haggland. I live at 10,000 Vienna Drive in Parma. Uh what I want to speak to you today is about the issue of bullying that we have. Um obviously you've heard from several students who have said that there is a massive problem. Um I also as my wife mentioned we have five children. I have heard stories as well. Um we had you know basically we had a situation where a student was not receiving the help
063and I'm here she asked for it. Had to say it with my daughter is this was a good friend of hers that she had many art classes with who she invited to her graduation party that day just two hours prior to the event. And I've had to sit with her and my wife to comfort her through that. My stepson saw the body. We've had to address that as well. And this all addresses and comes from a state of bullying where someone was so to the point that they saw no way out but to end the pain that they were in to terminate their own life. And when someone gets to that point, it's enough is enough. A suggestion of 10 days. The school board says, the school district says we have a zero tolerance policy
064of bullying. What happens? It's nice to say you have a zero tolerance policy, but if nothing happens, what's the point? But it needs addressed. It needs addressed early in the middle school. I've noticed with my children, middle school is where it really gets going. The bullying, the pushing. My daughter gets pushed down at school. I go, "What did you do? I don't know who to talk to. Well, can you find a teacher? But who? What should I say? There is no program setup. They are not informed what to do. And honestly, I would like to make a statement to to just the group as a general. It starts at home. I've been on Facebook and there are people in this room that I know for a fact I've seen the most vile comments about this
065poor girl. Just horrendous. And that is taught to your children and this creates this. Metal detectors are great. I think that's a good idea. It's a band-aid to the problem. If we fix the solution, I have high blood pressure. Instead of popping a pill, how about I just not consume caffeine a deathly amount? That'd be the better solution. And the same solution is to stop the cause for the mental health issue. So again, and then one last thing I would like to state. I voted for the levy every time. We obviously need it, people. Parma, we need it. Just vote for it. It is your children. >> Thank you, Mr. Hagland. >> Kayla Deperna or >> Haya? >> Kayla. Ila. >> Leila. Thank you. Ila Deerna. Good evening. My name is Leila Deperna. I live
066at 9814 Munich Drive and I'm a freshman at Valley Forge High School. While many parents are here to share their concerns, I am here as someone that has to walk into that building every single day. Installing metal detectors is not an overreaction. It's a necessary step to improve safety. They would give students a real sense of security and could help prevent incidents like the one that happened on Monday. I understand that Valley Forge has multiple entrances, but that is not an excuse. It is a problem with a solution. limit access to two monitored um entry points. One year the gymnasium and one year the auditorium, both equipped with metal detectors. I believe metal detectors should be implemented in all Parma schools. It is 2026 and the reality students face today is completely different from what
067adults experienced when they were in school. We can't keep pretending things are the same when they're clearly not. Monday's tragedy clearly proved that. And safety doesn't stop when the bell rings. These metal detectors should also be used during school events when large groups gather and risks can increase. I'm not just asking you to think about this. I'm asking you to act. Students are scared. We are expected to show up every day, focus on learning, and succeed. But how are we supposed to do that if we don't feel safe walking through the doors? We deserve to feel protected in our own school. Please take action and implement metal detectors as soon as possible. Thank you, Miss Pererna. All right, Zach, you're going to have to help me out with your last name. Okay, thank you. >>
068My name There we go. My name is Zachary Pakinowski. I live at 7081 West 130th. One voice is all it takes to make a difference. One voice is all it takes to save a life. The fact that she did not have anyone to go to means that there is not enough safety, not enough vocal uh what's the word I'm looking for? Uh new new uh new one. We need metal detectors. That's the fact. I come in third period each day to Valley Forge. I She opens the door. I walk in. That's it. All it takes is just someone to open up the door and there goes what? 20 lives, 30. 1,000 people would be effectively affected by that. We need metal detectors. Not just for safety, but for mental safety as well. We need more
069people to talk to. I tried going to talk to my counselor what the day after my mom passed away. She was not there. Who else am I supposed to talk to? No one. I had no one else to talk to. So, I had to stay in my chair all day sitting there just thinking. No one to talk to. When I go to Valley Forge on Monday, I will not feel safe. That's the fact. When I go to school on Valley Forge, and if I see only one cop there, I will know you all sitting here did not do your jobs properly. When I go to Valley Forge on Monday and I do not see metal detectors, my my promise in my school board that is supposed to protect me when I go to school did
070not do their jobs properly. I do not feel safe in school anymore. School is a place of learning, not fear. School is a place of love, gratitude, not a school of fear. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Gabriella. You guys are really challenging me with your last name. >> It's okay. I'm Polish. Last name Samansky. >> Thank you. >> Uh 11417 Lndale Drive. I'm a junior at Valley Forge High School. Not only do I go there during the day, but I'm also an athlete, so I'm there after school. Um, I'm going to be completely honest here. Our school is a ticking time bomb in the aspect of security and the safety of me, my peers, and previous alumnists who walk the halls of that building. Gun violence has been an issue. First school shooting happening
071in 1966. This is nothing new. This has been on the rise. You see it all over the news. Hundreds happen a year across all 50 states. So, my question is, why do we have nothing to implement this? Schools having one to two security guards for over a thousand kids in a building is absurd. Not only that, but it's like stabbing us in the back and saying, "Here, we tried. This is the best we can do." And that should never be a school's best, but a school's worst. That should be the bare minimum. What I propose to keep um students protected in these facilities is metal detectors. Everyone here has said it. Some guy yelled it earlier. I don't know who he was, but he said it. We need metal detectors. This isn't just You're playing
072with students lives at the moment. And hold on. Sorry. I'm suffering down. Um, whatever calls it. I just think it's absurd that we don't have things to already stop this if I'm being completely honest. Our school's been around for how long? Um, in addition to this, mental health is a serious issue, especially among my generation um, due to social media. But there isn't enough resources out there. You can say we have resources. You can say you're trying, but at the end of the day, you you're not trying hard enough. There's more you can do and it's just a combination of both things that need to be enacted in order to properly protect the students who are in your buildings. Thank you, Martin Stanick. >> Martin Stansac, uh, 5,500 Regency. First of all, I want to
073congratulate the board on handling this this situation so professionally. I was thinking how I would handle it, but I think you guys did a good job. Number two, rather than blaming the board and blaming everything, why don't you guys all look at yourselves inside? To all your dads here, spend an extra 10 minutes with your family and talk to them. To all the mothers, spend some time because maybe if her friends had listened and talked, it could have been avoided. It's not the guns. It's not the gun manufacturers, it's the family. So work on dealing with your family first and then try and change the world. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Stansick. Jaden McDonald. Uh, hi Jade McDonald, 6329 Springwood Road. Um, I've gone to Valley, not Valley for, sorry. I I've gone to
074PCSD schools for my entire life, and not once have I felt heard. Um, actually in middle school, I got suspended for I actually got suspended in uh, middle school by the principal um, for um, letting her know that someone did put a gun threat. Um yeah. Um I believe >> we're gonna ask you to refrain from shouting out. You are you are taking away from other people's public comment. We want to be respectful and show that to everyone. Thank you. I apologize. Um, I believe that, um, it is everything has just been swept under the rug constantly about everything with administration. I feel like tons of students have never been heard. I feel like, yes, we need to work on it in our families. People have said terrible things online. There's people making jokes about
075what happened already at Forge. Um, it's disgusting. Personally, I believe so. Um, I knew the girl. I've known her since fifth grade. Um I I think that yes, metal detectors, but why why are students getting suspended for bringing things forward? Um why are why do we even need to do these things? Like I I don't get it. Thank you. Thank you, Paulina Russio. I think that Russio Rushio. Hello, my name is Paulina Rushio. Um, do I have to say my address? 7240 Lake View Drive. I have been a student at Valley Forge since my eighth grade year. I am currently a junior. I was the last 8th grade class. And in not one of those four years have I ever felt unsafe at that school. Now, with that, there there should be no reason that
076a student should get to the breaking point where their their release is an obsession. You guys are completely ignoring the fact it wasn't suicide. It was an obsession with the Coline school shooters was trying to recreate that whole tragedy in that entire incident. And you are completely ignoring that and saying that this was suicide when it in fact was not. Only reason it was suicide is because she got caught. Didn't want to deal with her her consequence. >> We're going to ask you to stop. We're going to ask you to stop. We're going to ask you to I'm so sorry. didn't want to deal with her consequences. We need order killing everyone else. >> We cannot allow you to continue speaking about the student and allowing you to continue to gain money as OFF OF
077OUR TRAUMA AS A SCHOOL. YOU ARE GAINING PROPAGANDA OFF OF OUR TRAUMA AS A SCHOOL. WE ARE GOING to adjourn the meeting and spread lies. >> We're adjourning the meeting. We will adjourn the meeting. >> Enjoy your lives. We're >> meeting is adjourned. Meeting is adjourned. We are adjourning the meeting. Everybody has lost their right to public comment. >> Miss Sebastian, you have to take a roll call to adjourn the meeting. >> No, we we needed to calm down first, Mr. Reyes. We needed >> You have You have to take a roll call to adjourn the meeting, Mr. Beck. We are now ending public comment at this time. We are moving into We're all in danger. Everybody talk to me. Make sure they know what they did. >> Stand up. free brother. Wow. That's what
078she something. I drama teacher giving Thank you. Super nice. Come out here. Please come down. Okay. What are you doing? Oh yeah, before I We are now going to end public comment and we are moving into new business. Are there anybody um any board members that have any new business that they would like to discuss? With that being said, we are going to move um into executive session. I move to adopt resolution 2026-04-205 to adjourn the executive session relative to negotiations. Second. We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution 2026-04-205. Are there any questions or comments from the board? Roll call, please. Mr. Nucio. >> Mrs. Sebastian. >> Yes. >> Miss Kerpek. >> Yes. >> Dr. Early. >> Yes. >> Mr. Reyes. >> Yes. >> Be it resolved that the board of education
079of the Parma City School District hereby adjourns to executive session at 6:25 p.m. relative to negotiations. We are now in executive session.