001Everybody ready? Move. Yes, you're good. Good evening. Tonight is Monday, July 21st. Welcome to the Lakewood Board of Education meeting. Um, Ms. Kundiff, can you call the role? Miss Katsenberger, present. Mrs. Shaughnessy, present. Mrs. Clark Sutton, here. Mr. Callahan, here. Miss Dottman, here. Uh, next, I'd like a motion to appoint a treasurer prom. So moved. Second. Uh, Miss Condiff, can you call the role, please? Miss Katsenberger, I. Mrs. Shaughnessy, I. Mrs. Mr. Clerk Sutton. Hi, Mr. Callahan. Hi, Mrs. Dman. Hi. Great. Um, I would invite everybody to join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Uh, next, do I have an a motion
002to for the adoption of the agenda? Yeah. Uh, I move adoption of the agenda with three changes. Um, the first is item K10, appointment of a Lakewood Public Library trustee to be moved to the superintendent report. Um, item M6, uh, Lakewood Rec and Education Commission appointment to be moved to the superintendent report. And then we have a correction to item N2 which should have been should have been first reading um not approval on one reading. Do we have a and other business? Do I have a second for that motion with changes? Second. Wonderful. Um Miss Kundiff, can you call the role? Miss Katsenberger. I Mrs. Shaughnessy. I Mrs. Clark Sutton. I Mr. Callahan. Hi. Miss Dottman. Hi. Great. Uh, do I have a motion for approval of the minutes? So moved. Second. It's been moved
003and seconded. All in favor? I. Moving right along to the superintendent's report, which will be given by assistant superintendent Christine Dr. Palumbo. Thank you, President Katenberger. Um, I would first like to call to the podium uh Mr. James Crawford, director of the Lakewood Public Library, as well as Percy Soiac, uh the president of the board of trustees. If you guys could join us at the podium to speak, please about um your recommendation for reappointment of the library trustee, Mr. Michael Artbower. Good evening and thank you Assistant Superintendent Palumbo, President Katzenberger, Vice President Shaughnessy, members of the board of education, members of the public in person, and those attending virtually. I'm very grateful for this opportunity to speak to you tonight. Again, my name is Persiac. I'm a member of the board of trustees of the
004Lakewood Public Library and I'm also currently serving as the president of the board. I'm here this evening with with you to bring forward the nomination of Mr. Michael Artbower as trustee to the Lakewood Public Library. During his previous tenure as a trustee, Mr. Artbower served as president of the board and in which time he successfully navigated the library through the COVID pandemic. He also was president during the tremendous and very impressive renovation of the Madison branch. Mr. Art Brower brings strong experience in management, training, and communication to our board. I should also note that he was a commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps. The board of director, the board of trustees is grateful to Mr. Artbower for his continued willingness to support the library and to serve. I would thank you in advance
005for supporting his reappoint and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you. Thank you. Do any of my fellow board members have any questions? is Mr. Crawford speaking or are we and then taking questions or um I'll answer any questions but I otherwise defer to Mrs. Soiac the board president and I would like to uh welcome Mr. Artpower who's here and like Mrs. Soiaak I I welcome your favorable consideration. I didn't want to be asking questions before they were finished with their presentation. So um but I do have questions. Mr. Outbower. Um, thank you for your service in the Marine Corps and thank you for your service to Lakewood. Um, what made you want to be on the board of trustees? Like what makes somebody do that? Uh, it was a desire
006to to serve the community and a love of all things book. I know books that brought me to my life path. And it was just kind of a natural um when I I asked around a neighbor of mine, Mr. Christopher Johnson, who was a at one point the president of the board uh of a place to serve. He recommended this one to me and and I thought about it. This was absolutely perfect. Um I have truly uh enjoyed, loved, embraced, hated all of them. my time with the board co as we all know very challenging tried all of our souls the wonderful renovation project um a challenge but uh an awesome result and that fills my soul to to see what we did as members of the board the director and the faculty not the
007faculty I work at Cleveland State the uh the staff of the library to to breathe new life into that for the community and to see it move into the 21st century uh with technology and um openness for uh the citizens of Lake and all who come to both of our branches. Um that means a lot to me, you know, my service in Marine Corps. This is my service to the community. Thank you very much, Mr. Arborower. We have many boards and commissions in this city and people don't always know what you do when you're on them. So, I thought I would give you the opportunity to explain that. So, thank you for your service. And just a reminder, what is the length of the term? It's seven years. That's a lengthy term. I just I
008congratulations on wanting to serve again. I was lucky enough to serve on the library board very before this board and um but you have you're going to have your hands full as we do with the um legislature not just in the financial aspect of it but in the push back on local control and recognizing what the community wants. So, I um am thankful that you're willing to take your experience on to do that. As I pondered what I might say tonight, that is the that had crossed my mind. Uh we know that there are financial uncertainties now uh with the new budget. We know that there are pushes for censorship that uh is an affront to what we think a public library should be. And we as a board and with the director and the
009staff are are ready to hold our ground and be the stewards of of good citizenship and what is access to all materials that we can. Thank you for that. Thank you. We ready for the if you want to go ahead and have a seat and we'll do our next next component. Thank you very much. We vote later or do we can do it now? You want? Okay. Sure. So, we moved it to this part of the agenda, right? Yes. Yes. So, that's education. That's in the education section. So that would be you, Lisa. Okay. Sorry, I'm finding it. Mrs. Dman, I'm sorry. I know you're We'll give you a moment, but it's Thank you. I was not here last meeting. All right. All right. For um Lakewood Public Library Board of Trusty reappointments. Is it
010here? Um, be it resolved by the board and of education of Lakewood City School District that Michael Artbower be reappointed as a trustee of the Lakewood Public Library to a term commencing on September 12th, 2025 and expiring on September 12th, 2032. Second, this is a roll call. Yeah, Miss uh Kundiff, can you call the RO? Miss Katenberger I Mrs. Shaughnessy I Mrs. Clark Sutton I Mr. Callahan hi Miss Dman hi and it has passed. Congratulations Mr. Thank you so much. [Applause] Next I would like to invite to the podium Mr. Mark Walter our director of community and district activities. He will speak about the CRAC recommendation um appointing as a new CRAC commissioner, Mr. Christo Christopher Furrow. [Applause] Good evening, President Kassenberger, Vice President Shaughnessy, distinguished board members, Dr. Palano, Miss Kundiff. Uh, thank you
011for giving me the opportunity to, um, ask you to act on the resolution to, uh, approve Chris Peron's appointment to the Community Recreation and Education Commission. So, um, full transparency, I knew Chris when he was an 11th grader at Emerson Middle School. Just 11year-old when I say 11 years ago or no, 11year-old in the sixth grade. Sorry. Just very excited to learn science. That's all I remember of him. Um, but, uh, he has a a long history with with the Lakewood City Schools as well as the the recreation department and athletic department. Um, within the school system, he went to Taft. Looks a little different. Um, Emerson when it was a middle school and then he graduated in 2007 from Lakewood High School. Um, he also had a pretty diverse uh, career path. He actually
012started his career working for the Akran Arrows, now the Rubber Ducks as the clubhouse manager um for the then Cleveland Indians affiliate. Um he's worked in retail banking for several years and currently he's an account executive for Highland Software. But more importantly, he moved back into Lakewood how many years ago? 2020 with his lovely wife Chelsea. and he has uh two daughters, one in entering Garfield in sixth grade, one at Emerson, and then a three-year-old son, and they're um I don't know if your son's not he's not actively engaged in uh wreck programs yet, but his daughters are close. Yeah. Soon. And um he also is coached in our in our basketball programs. Um, in his letter of interest, Chris stated, "Ultimately, my intention is to serve the community in a meaningful way. Given the
013impact Lakewood recreation department and sports programs had on my life, I feel obligated to protect that experience for my kids and all others in Lakewood moving forward." So, um, when we the the, um, CRC commissioners interviewed, they were clearly impressed with Chris's, um, his story, his commitment to kids, um, and his his long history in Lakewood. So, um, at this point, we are asking that you, um, approve his nomination to the Community Recreation and Education Commission. Thank you. Do my fellow board members, does anyone have any questions or comments? I've seen Chris coach and I have to say I appreciate not only what you do for the girls on your team, but also girls on the other team. I think it's really important that we take a more holistic view and I think I appreciate
014you continuing your volunteer work even further. So, thank you. Do you have anything you want to say? Just thank you. Um, I'm honestly grateful and excited to, like he said, kind of give back to the place I grew up and a lot of the stuff that makes Lakewood such a special place. Uh, so just thank you. Thank you. Wonderful. I know this is a second reading. Would we just be okay? It's a separate vote. So we would just be part of the regular or we just vote. We do now just like a HR, right? Yes. Yeah. Yeah. We moved it out of HR, so we'll vote on it now. Okay. So, we uh do I have a motion to approve this appointment? So, move. So, moved. Yeah. And all in favor? We'll vote on it
015as a roll call. Yes. As a Oh, was a Oh, that's what I was asking. Did Yes, this is a roll call. Okay. So, Miss Condiff, can you call the role? Mrs. Kenberger. Hi, Mrs. Shaughnessy. Hi, Mrs. Clark Sutton. Hi, Mr. Mr. Callahan. Hi, Miss Stoman. Hi. Great. The motion has been carried and congratulations. [Applause] And this concludes the superintendent report. Thank you. All sorts of fun new things tonight. Um, we will now move on to the communications part of the evening. Anybody who's here for uh extra things, this is the time when you can excuse yourselves if you are so inclined. You don't need to stick around. You're welcome to, of course. But if you'd like to go about your merry way for the evening, please feel free. Thank you. Have a lovely evening.
016Thank you. Congrat Congratulations. Great. Okay. Um, first we'll start with board comments. Do any of my fellow board members have any? I do, President Kenberger. Just a a note of um well, one, I hope everyone's having a having a good uh summer. Um, I know there's a lot of camps and clinics and summer activities through Lakewood Recreation and and and other programs um across the district. Uh, and hope folks are taking advantage of those. And I just want to recognize our our our summer pool staff who work for the the community recreation education department who are well trained and present and and serving our community very well uh seven days a week at at Foster and VEX pools. I know my family's had uh a little bit more time than me to enjoy them, but
017I've been there as well and uh just wanted to note that. So, thank you. Um fall activities, you can already start registering for a lot of them. So definitely if you are interested and I think it's and sports or activities like definitely take a look at those things before they're fill up. Uh I uh ditto Mr. Callahan. I hope everyone's having a a good summer and making some good summer memories. Um I uh I would like to just put a shout out to urge people to be cautious and careful and respectful of their neighbors. Um there have been some near misses. Um my husband runs uh in the early morning and driving is not automatic. You have to look at a lot of things and um and walkers have to look before they cross the
018street and bikers have to look before they turn. Like all of us have responsibility in keeping ourselves and each other safe. So, please just slow down a little bit and look around before you make a cross um across the street. Um and then um we will be um voting on a few things this evening um which I don't uh disagree with, but I I just would like to make it known that I I need to be sure that there is time for me to review policies before I vote yes on them. Um I it's I'm not a rubber stamp for Neiola and I just want time to understand. I'm voting yes because if it's really horrible we can change it. Um and nothing's horrible but I just I don't I need more time than that.
019So thank you. Colleen Betsy, did you have anything? Not till I get to Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Thank you. I know that there's a that's a great process improvement we can work on. Um, and uh, can I know that H2O had their summer clothing sale this past weekend, so that was I just uh, it's sort of a shout out to folks that um, over the summer a lot of our student organizations and and uh, um, I know that there are sports teams that are practicing and holding camps and holding doing a lot of uh, coaches are involved and students are involved and um, I just wanted to give a shout out to everybody who continues continues their work over the summer. That that is uh keeps things going and um gets everybody geared up for
020things starting very very soon. Um I think we're about a month away almost exactly to the start of school. I I can't believe it either. Um so uh thank you to everybody for keeping the the fire stoked. Um, that being said, is we all set with board comments? Okay, then we'll move on to public comments. Um, our first uh speaker is Kelly Moyer. I think we should Oh, I'm sorry. Before you speak, just a reminder that everybody has three minutes. We'll have the timer. Um, don't forget to state your name and your street. Just the street you live on. You don't need to have your full address. And uh, if it gets to three minutes, I will cut you off. I don't know, but I know you've been here before, so you're probably familiar with
021the drill. That five is not accurate. Just kidding. Oh, that's okay. Uh, good evening. My name is Kelly Moyer. I live on Lakeland Avenue and the parent of four children, three of whom attend Lakewood schools and one future Ranger who just turned one. And, uh, frankly, I can't believe that I'm back here again on the same topic, uh, the potential closing of one or more of our neighborhood elementary schools. Specifically, I'm here tonight deeply concerned about the ongoing delays in the process. Starting in the fall of 2024, almost nine months ago, we were told that the decision would be made in May. Then in May, we were told that the decision would be pushed to September after the new school year begins. The reason given was that the state budget needed to be finalized and
022the task force wanted to meet again to see how the budget may affect district finances. As a reminder, this process started with the superintendent telling us that this decision was not financially motivated. While the budget is now complete, the task force has not been contacted to set up a meeting. And here we are with no timeline, no updates, and no clear communication from the district. We haven't even heard the report that was the outcome of the task force's tireless months of work. The superintendent told us on June 12th that the report would be delayed, and we've heard nothing since. Actually, there's been no mention of the task force or the penning decision at any schoolboard meeting since the school year ended. These delays are not just inconvenient, they are damaging. Every time the community is
023left waiting, it deepens a sense of mistrust. Parents are expected to make long-term decisions about their children's education and well-being. Some of the most important work that we have as parents. Yet, we're being left in the dark. By delaying the decision again and again, you're asking families and students to step into another school year with anxiety, confusion, and instability. By not speaking up, you're forcing people to instead rely on speculation and rumors. That's not fair to our children, to our educators and administrators, or the community as a whole. We understand that these are difficult decisions, but transparency and timely communication are the bare minimum that we deserve from you, our elected officials. I just know that there are some of you out there that want to put this issue to bed, that want to move
024on, pass a levy, get our finances in order, and work together with the community to build the trust back again. If there is a to new timeline, please share it. If there are updates, please tell us. And if there are no updates, then at least acknowledge that and give us a realistic sense of the timeline and what happens next. Because silence after broken promise after broken promise of action sends a loud message and that's not one of trust. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker is Allison Gaul. Hi, my name is Allison Gaul. Good evening. I live on Ethel Avenue. Um, and I'm the parent of two enthusiastic rangers, one of which who is starting kindergarten and counting down the day. Months ago, I spoke from a veteran teacher's perspective about trust. I'm speaking again tonight
025because I'm still concerned about the continued uncertainty surrounding the issue of closing or repurposing a school or two. We are once again on the precipice of losing community support and trust in district leadership. Back in the fall, we were told a decision would come in May with plenty of time to process and move forward. Um, now with even the state budget finalized, we're still waiting with no clear timeline and little communication. Not since the superintendent's beginning of May video message posted on the website. As parents and community members, we are still talking, speculating, theorizing. Uh, we haven't forgotten what was proposed and we're still rallying support for keeping all the schools open. We want to trust the process, but that's difficult without transparency or regular updates. And this isn't just about planning. It's about trust
026and working together as a community. As a community member, I feel like something will happen without my knowledge or that things are moving behind closed doors or with no more task force or community input. And while that may not even be remotely true, that's the impression that comes across. And it's that impression that matters. Having to go through the beginning of the school year like that will be detrimental to relationships with and among parents, students, and your teachers and staff as everyone will still feel in limbo. If closure or repurposing is the main topic of conversation, it will distract from the strong foundations needed at the start of the school year. And if there's no message, your teachers and principles will shoulder the brunt of that mistrust. Trust me, it's all a parent will ask
027about. I recognize these decisions are complex and I appreciate the care that's being taken, but clarity is key to keeping families, educators, and especially the broader voting community engaged and informed. We want to be partners in this process and that starts with open ongoing communication, even if the news is no news yet. Honestly, many of us who have been following along feel forgotten when instead we should be working on the next hurdle, the upcoming levy. So tonight, I'm respectfully asking for the following. A clear updated timeline, a summary of what has already been discussed. Clear information on the finalized state budget and how that is expected to impact the district and this non-financial decision, and most importantly, a commitment to more regular updates moving forward, even if there's no new information to report. I understand
028there are complex and difficult decisions, but stronger communication builds trust and keeps our community engaged. We're here and we care deeply and we want to work together to support our schools and children. Thank you. Um our next speaker is Gabriel Cooper. Hi, Gabriel Cooper. Sloan Avenue. Um I'm here without notes, so I'm going to try to keep to the time. Um, and what I'd like to say tonight is also sort of in the vein of transparency, and I read up on the rules on what we're supposed to be doing at the public comments. And there is no requirement for you all to engage with me. That's 100% clear from the letter of the law. Um, but what I would like to do is to invite you to be more open about what you are thinking
029regarding the let's call it what it is, the attempt to destroy public education from the side of the state house. Um, we've used the word attack. That's mild. um what they're trying to do is erase us and we can't let that happen. I know it keeps me up at night because I have two little kids who are just, you know, on the verge of entering school system. But I want to know if you if it keeps you up at at night and if you have a contingency plan, like what's happening? All we heard was our dear treasurer provide us with the information that hey, a levy a levy is going to come. We're going to have an operations levy. Great. That's a short-term solution to a short-term problem. I want to hear what you all
030have to think about, you know, the long term. where are we going? How are we going to actually make this happen under the pressure of that great attack? Um, so I would say while you don't have to respond to me, there's no requirement to do so. I think everybody here and everybody out there is waiting for you to say something. So I would appreciate if you did. Um, and I really really would welcome seeing that kind of lively discussion here. Um, because I appreciate what um, Mrs. Clark Sutton says. uh she's not a rubber stamp. Um what we hear is roll calls and that's the extent of it in these meetings and and reports. So if some debate or discussion should could come in here, I think that would generate a lot of trust because
031it would show that you are engaging with those issues on the same level that some of us are, but we don't have the power. We gave you the power, so let's see you use it. Thanks. Thank you. So that is the extent of comments for the evening. We're moving on to consent agenda. Um do I have a uh motion to approve? So move. Second. Miss Kundiff, can you call the role? Mr. I Mrs. Shaughnessy. Hi. Mrs. Clark Sutton. I. Mr. Callahan. Hi. Miss Dman. Hi. Thank you. Um, next we have human resources. Mrs. Shanty, thank you very much. Okay, we talked about these at our last meeting, but we have a total of 98 certified U personnel action that includes appointments, special compensations, and salary and pay rate adjustments. We have 57 classified actions, appointments,
032special compensations, and pay rate and salary adjustments. And we have 45 community recreation educ and education um actions in aquatics, athletics, and programs. And I move adoption of these resolutions. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Uh all in favor? I I moving right along. Okay. Um, the next item is a resolution to approve agenda to the master service agreement between the Lakewood Board of Education and Rachel Wixie and Associates dedicated school staffing. This is the group that we use for substitute teachers throughout the district as do many other districts. Um, I move adoption of this resolution. Second. Been moved and seconded. All in favor? I. The next item is a resolution to approve the Lakewood Community Baseball Softball Association name change. Um, we talked about this at our last meeting. It will allow the recreation
033department uh greater opportunity to cooperate in providing services and will be make it less expensive for the softball group. And I move adoption of this resolution. Second. It's been moved and seconded. All in favor? I I and we've already approved the new appointment. So that concludes human resources. Great. We will move on to other board business. Still you Mrs. Thank you. We have one uh classified action or we have classified action six resignations and one appointment. And because these uh we always want to fill up positions as quickly uh as possible, they've asked that we approve this on one reading. And so I move that on one reading we approve this resolution. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Miss can you call the RO? Miss Katsenberger. I. Mrs. Shaughnessy. I. Miss Clark Sutton. I. Mr.
034Callian. Hi. Miss Stman. Hi. Thank you. And the next resolution is a resolution to amend the employment contracts of the superintendent, assistant superintendent, assistant treasurer, director of operations and treasurer. Um this is the first reading for this resolution and basically uh this board and this district has always given um the administration a pay raise equal to that give that the uh bargaining units have negotiated. So we have voted on their contracts. It's 2.7% increase. And we voted on the personnel, other personnel, the administrators, principles. And so, uh, next in two weeks, we'll be voting on the last contracts that'll be impacted by this same increase. So, by bargaining against, you're talking about the teachers and the other the other the unions. So, this is the last one. Great. I second been moved and seconded. Is
035are there any We're not voting. I'm sorry. Um yes. So we will vote on this in two weeks. And that concludes other board business. Is there a motion to adjurnn? So moved. Second. All in favor? I I This meeting is adjourned.