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Board Hires Dr. Stephen Norris as Elementary Principal

Cardinal Board of Education Regular Meeting July 8, 2026

Meeting Details: The Cardinal Board of Education met for a regular meeting at the Cardinal Board of Education Office, 15982 E. High St., Middlefield, 44062 at 6:30 pm.  The agenda is available online here. Click on the Meeting tab in the upper right hand corner and then on the date of the meeting.  This meeting is in person only with no livestream or video.

Board Attendance: President Linda Smallwood, Vice President Barb Rayburn, and members Anita Marlowe, Ruth Natali, and Edna Phile.

Staff Attendance: Superintendent Jack Cunningham, Treasurer Kathryn C. (Katie) Hoffmeister

Others in Attendance:  Prospective staff members Stephen Norris and Guy Layfield, their wives, and several other members of the public.

1. Opening Items:  The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.  Roll call was taken.

 

2. Presentations: Huskie Happenings

Superintendent Cunningham announced that a parade was held for the athletes who had participated in the state track meet.  He announced that the high school basketball team participated in the Eastern Ohio Basketball Camp, and that the Middlefield Recreation Program softball team for girls ages 14 and under won their championship on July 1.

 

3. Hearing of the Public (agenda items) - none

 

4. Discussion Item(s):

4.01 Superintendent Discussion Items

Superintendent Cunningham announced that the board members had two items for possible discussion:  the high school spring musical and a proposed girls’ softball trip out of state for spring 2027.  Board President Smallwood stated that the items would be discussed later in the meeting as agenda items.

 

4.02 Treasurer Discussion Items

Treasurer Hoffmeister announced that the district has a 50% carryover due to the sale of a building (the former Jordak Elementary).  She explained that the county treasurer recommends a carryover of no more than 40%.  She stated that there was no second reading of the proposed renewal of the operating levy on the agenda, because the budget commission met two days prior to tonight’s meeting and she had not received the certification information from that meeting.  She stated that for this fiscal year, each program and building would have the ability to track expenditures by using the online budgeting system. 

There were no questions or discussion.

5.  Superintendent’s Report 

 

5.01 Personnel Items 

Administrative Hire:

• Stephen Norris, Cardinal Elementary School Principal, Step 12 in the Administrative Employee Handbook, effective August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2029, at a salary of $93,726.52.00 for 218 days annually; the board also authorizes up to three (3) full workdays prior to August 1, 2026 at his per diem rate based on the 2025-2026 contract year.  Observer Note: Dr. Norris was the Principal for High School/Middle School of the Fairport Harbor Exempted Village School District for the 25-26 school year.  He served as the Assistant Principal for High School in the North Ridgeville School District during the 24-25 school year.  Prior to this, he taught government and economics in the Willoughby Eastlake School District for 20 years. See this Cleveland.com article for more information.

Certified Hire

• Guy Layfield- 7-12 ELA (English Language Arts) Teacher, 1 year limited contract, Step 6, MA+30 ($62,400) on the CEA salary schedule for the 2026-2027 school year.

Bus/Van Drivers approval for 2026-2027

BUS DRIVERS

• Harold Adams

• Katherine Burkholder

• James Butvin

• Frank Casalinuovo

• Patricia Murphy

• J Joshua Nau

• Brenda Reese

• Petra Springer

• Vanessa Tucholski

• Valerie Warner

• Edward Youngs

• Wayne Luetjes

VAN DRIVERS (ONLY)
With Students

• Diane Baumgartner

• Kyle Deckerd

• Jennifer Fekete

• Taylor Kolat

• Simone Lee

• Cyndle Purchase

• Taylor Thomas

• Michael Topalian

• Sue Urbanski

• Dakota Ward

• Jeramie Gates

• Leanna Herr

• Madison Bean

• Jimmy Soltis

• Dawn Basham

• Kayleigh Moran

Rescind Supplemental - Athletic

• Maddie Bean, Girls Volleyball - JV/Asst.

• Angela Kriynovich, Girls Volleyball - Freshman 

Supplemental - Athletic Hire

• Maddie Bean, HS Volleyball Volunteer

• Melissa Cardinal, Girls Volleyball - Freshman, Step 2,  0.13 

• Angela Kriynovich, Girls Volleyball - JV/Asst., Step 2,  0.13

• Kevin Johnson, Softball - Head Coach , Step 1, 0.11

ALL APPROVED 5-0

 

5.02 CLSD (Cardinal Local School District) Paraprofessional Handbook

 

ALL APPROVED 5-0

6.  Superintendent Additional Items

6.01 Agreement with Education Alternatives (EA) for the 2026-27 School year.

Two students will attend the Ravenna location. Reviewer Note: Under state and federal laws, public school districts must provide “a free and appropriate education” (FAPE) for their students. EA is a service provider equipped to educate students with varying educational, emotional and physical needs and meet the students’ FAPE requirements.

6.02  Contract with Christia Lesher and Associates

For professional development for paraprofessionals and transportation aides, paid for with Title II funding; two day training, with day one virtual, and day two in person.  Superintendent Cunningham announced that the item concerning reimbursement for cash tips would be removed from the agreement before signing.

6.03  BusRight Licenses Renewal for FY27.

ALL APPROVED 5-0

6.04  Spring 2027 Musical Production of Hadestown: Teen Edition

Mrs. Smallwood asked for a motion to table the approval, as the script had not been read by the board members prior to the meeting.

MOTION TABLED 5-0

6.05  Softball Trip 2027 Season

Mrs. Smallwood asked for a motion to table the approval, as the board needed additional details from the athletic director prior to approval.

MOTION TABLED 5-0

7.  Treasurer Items

7.01 Minutes of June 10, 2026  meeting

7.02 Minutes of June 24, 2026 meeting

7.03 Monthly Financial Reports for the month of June 2026

Mrs. Smallwood asked for the monthly report to include a description of each fund.  Ms. Hoffmeister stated that she would run reports with descriptions of the funds in the future.

ALL APPROVED 5-0

8.  Legislative Update 

Mrs. Marlowe stated that the legislature is in recess until the next election. Reviewer Note: The Ohio General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene September 15, before the November 3 election.

Mr. Cunningham announced that the governor had signed a bill detailing the order for “success”, which must now be included in a course. Reviewer Note: On July 7, 2026 Governor DeWine signed into law SB 276 referred to as the ‘Success Sequence’ bill which will require that Ohio schools teach students to graduate high school, get a job and get married before having a baby, in that order, as part of the curriculum for grades 6-12. The nonpartisan Ohio Legislative Service Commission’s final synopsis of the bill was not available at the time of this report’s publication. See here for an article about the new law by the Ohio Capital Journal.

Mrs. Smallwood stated that the legislature is considering whether to decide when a district should close buildings, whether they should be required to sell buildings to other schools.

Mr. Cunningham said the legislature’s transportation committee is considering recommendations concerning whether districts should be required to provide transportation to community schools, charter schools, and private schools. Reviewer Note: Under current Ohio state law (Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3327, specifically ORC 3327.01 and ORC 3327.02) public school districts are required to provide transportation to certain private (nonpublic) schools. Ohio law requires public school districts to transport eligible K–8 students to nearby private schools, with high school transportation optional unless the district provides its own high school service. Districts can refuse if transportation is deemed impractical, but must offer a ‘payment in lieu of transportation’ and allow appeals.   

9.   Auburn Career Center Update - none (no meeting in July)

 

10.   Hearing of the Public - non-agenda items. There were no public comments.

 

11.  Upcoming Dates/Meetings

• July 9th: Music Boosters Meeting at Ferrorni's Cafe (14950 Harrington Way, Middlefield, OH 44062) @ 4:30 pm.

• July 15th: Cardinal Run for Fun Youth Running Program @ 6:00 pm. 

• July 17th: The Yoder Brothers' Memorial Scholarship Foundation and Reverse Raffle @ 5:30 pm at the Generations Event & Reception Center (12809 Chillicothe Rd., Chesterland, OH 44026)

• July 20th - 24th: Cardinal Huskies Marching Band & Flag Line Hell-O-Week @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

• July 22nd: Cardinal Run for Fun Youth Running Program @ 6:00 pm. 

• July 22nd: Board of Education Meeting @ 6:30 pm. 

• July 27th - 31st: Cardinal Huskies Marching Band & Flag Line Band Camp @ 9:00 am - 9:00 pm. 

• July 31st: Cardinal Huskies Marching Band & Flag Line Band Camp preview show @ 7:00 pm at Richard A. Moss Field 

14.  Adjournment  

 

APPROVED 5-0

The meeting was adjourned at 6:51 pm.

 

Next meeting:  July 22, 2026 - Regular Meeting/Work Session, at 6:30 pm at Board Offices, 15982 E. High Street, Middlefield, OH.

 

Observer: Dorrie Keough

Editor: Rooney Moy

Reviewer: Carol Benton

 

Submitted: July 11, 2026

 

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