Cardinal Superintendent Presents Goals for the 2026-2027 School Year
Cardinal Board of Education Regular Meeting September 9, 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 and Treasurer Kathryn C. (Katie) Hoffmeister.
Others in Attendance: Five members of the public were in attendance, including a reporter from the Geauga Maple Leaf, parent Jennifer Owens, and Jennifer Miller, vice president of the Cardinal Athletic Boosters.
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:
2026-2027 District Goals
Superintendent Cunningham announced that the three goals for the school year are:
Mathematics: Improvement in scores of 5% by midyear, and another 5% at the time of the End Of Course (EOC) exam. Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing will be used to measure growth for grades K-8. In addition, state benchmarks will be used to assess growth for grades 3-8. For grades 9-12, the Ohio State Test (OST) will measure growth. He stated that this would allow teachers to provide individual intervention to students who are not meeting the district goal of 5% growth at the midyear assessment. He stated that the district is continuing the second year of the Bridges math curriculum for grades K-5, and College Preparatory Mathematics (CPM) for grades 6-12. He noted that students in grades 7 and 8 are in need of the most intervention in mathematics, and a volunteer tutor, a retired teacher, will provide intervention services for two hours each week.
Literacy: Teachers in grades 3-12 will focus on oral reading fluency and accuracy.
Absenteeism: The district is implementing a Chronic Absenteeism Reduction Plan. He explained that chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% of the school year, or 110 hours. The district had a baseline chronic absenteeism rate of 19% for the 2024-2025 school year, and 19% for the 2025-2026 school year. He noted that in 2025-2026, the elementary school showed a 3% or 4% decrease. The district goal for the 2026-2027 school year is to reduce the chronic absenteeism rate to 15%, and to 11% for the 2027-2028 school year. The district is using positive behavior strategies, the Stay In The Game! curriculum for grades K-2, online mental health services for families, and Multi Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) for targeted early intervention strategies. Observer Note: MTSS provides three tiers of support to students: Universal - high quality instruction and positive behavior strategies for all students; Targeted - extra small group instruction or support for students who need more help; Intensive - personalized, specialized intervention for students with significant needs.
Mr. Cunningham also updated the board about the professional development activities from the previous week, including a presentation by motivational speaker Brian Mendler about how to engage students, a presentation on the Writing Revolution curriculum, and a presentation on using Artificial Intelligence as a tool to enhance instruction.
3. Hearing of the Public (agenda items):
Parent Jennifer Owens asked for clarification about how a student’s chronic absenteeism is reported. Mr. Cunningham stated that it is reported to the state of Ohio, and the district’s absenteeism percentage is an item on the district’s state report card.
Jennifer Miller, representing the Cardinal Athletic Boosters, explained the extensive work that took place to obtain the new swiss cheese trailer, donated by Hans Rothenbuhler, founder of Rothenbuhler Cheesemakers, and how many businesses and individuals worked together to have the trailer operational for the county fair. She reported that they had sales of $23,625 at the fair, despite the bad weather, and they had 75 volunteers at the swiss cheese trailer. Observer Note: The cheese trailer is a fundraising concession stand operated by students, staff and boosters.
4. Discussion Item(s):
5. Superintendent’s Report (Personnel Items)
Supplemental Athletic 2026-27 SY
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Velasquez, Doug: Athletic Strength Coordinator, 0.04
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Fekete, Jennifer: Girls Basketball - 8th grade, step 2, 0.08
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Blystone, Brandon: Volunteer, High School Football
Supplemental Co-Curricular 2026-27 School Year
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Kennedy, James: Academic Challenge, 0.20
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Fekete, Jennifer: Builders Club - 7th & 8th grades, 0.20
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Mazzolini, Karyn: After School Monitor, at EEPS rate of $36.00/hr.
Observer Note: The EEPS rate refers to the negotiated salary agreement, and is used to calculate the rate at which a teacher is paid for co-curricular supplemental duties.
Approval of Educational Attainment Salary Schedule Placement - Recommendation for approval of the following certified staff members to be moved on the salary schedule due to educational attainment as follows:
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Horvath, Darcy: MA to MA+15
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Fowler, Maureen: MA+30 to MA+45
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Cicero, Greg: MA+15 to MA+30
Volunteer
Certified Substitutes through the Educational Services Center of the Western Reserve (ESCWR) for the 2026-2027 school year
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Baldwin, Chris
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McMahan, John
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Dodson, Morris
ALL APPROVED 5-0
6. Board Items
Budget and Purpose Statement: Spring 2027 Musical
Exterior Building Signage Quote for the Elementary and Junior/Senior High Schools
Field trips:
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10th Grade College Credit Plus (CCP) US History class to the Chagrin Falls Little Theater for the Documentary Film Festival, 10/7/26
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Junior/Senior High School Choir to the Middlefield Library for a performance, 12/3/26
Donations:
1. Claridon Community Helps: book bags and school supplies
2. Kraftmaid: school supplies
3. University Hospitals, Geauga Medical Center: school supplies
4. Anonymous: Geauga County Fair Livestock Auction Purchase for Farm to School Nutrition Program, $3,000
5. Howard Bates: Geauga County Fair Livestock Auction Purchase for Farm to School Nutrition Program, $1,000
6. Hans Rothenbuhler: Swiss Cheese Trailer $57,180
Mr. Cunningham stated that the district, along with other donors, was able to work with a parent to purchase two 4H project hogs which will be used in the cafeteria program. He added that two greenhouses will be used by students in the ACE Academy to grow produce for use in the cafeterias. Observer Note: ACE Academy (Agriculture Career Education) is a public high school program in Middlefield, Ohio, that works alongside Cardinal Local Schools to teach farming and career skills.
Ms. Phile asked about the disposition of the old swiss cheese trailer as there is interest in the community about acquiring it. Mr. Cunningham and Ms. Hoffmeister explained that there are procedures to be followed when disposing of items, and the district will follow those rules when offering the trailer for sale.
ALL APPROVED 5-0
7. Treasurer’s Report
Minutes of August 12, 2026 regular meeting
Minutes of August 26, 2026 work session/regular meeting
Monthly financial reports for the month of July 2026.
Treasurer Hoffmeister announced that all budgets match the budget forecast, and that she will provide periodic updates during the year about the budgets and whether the budgets match the forecast.
Resolution No. 2027-090901: A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE TRANSFERS & ADVANCES OF FUNDS - fund to fund and intrafund transfers and advances as necessary to close fiscal year 2026, and approval for advances to be returned once the district's fiscal year 2027 commences.
ALL APPROVED 5-0
8. Legislative Update
Mrs. Marlowe stated that the curriculum for the “success sequence” program has not been distributed yet, and that the program is due to be implemented in October of this year.
Observer Note: Governor DeWine signed Senate Bill 276 into law in July 2026. The law requires the development of a model curriculum, the “success sequence,” to be developed by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, and implemented in grades 6-12 as a graduation requirement.
9. Auburn Career Center Update
Mrs. Rayburn announced that two board members are invited to attend the culinary arts program’s Fall Tasting on October 8. She noted that the district has two students enrolled in the culinary arts program.
10. Hearing of the Public - none
11. Upcoming Dates/Meetings
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September 12th: Freshman Football HOME vs. Leetonia, 10:00 a.m., Cardinal High School (CHS) Stadium
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September 12th: Cardinal Huskies marching band & flag line perform at the Berkshire Band Bonanza, 7:00 p.m.
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September 14th: Cardinal Elementary School (CES) picture day
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September 14th: Cardinal Athletic Boosters meeting 6:00 p.m., Athletic Director’s office, Junior/Senior High School
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September 14th: Middle School Volleyball HOME vs. Hawken at 5:00/6:00 p.m., CHS Gym
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September 14th: Fall Play Practices start from 4:00 - 6:30 p.m., CES
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September 15th: Junior Varsity Reserve Volleyball HOME vs. Berkshire at 4:30 p.m., CHS Gym
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September 15th: JV/Varsity Volleyball HOME vs. Chalker High School, 5:30/6:45 p.m., CHS Gym
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September 15th: Cardinal Parent Teacher Organization Meeting at Ferroni's Cafe, 6:00 p.m.
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September 16th: Varsity Golf Northeastern Athletic Conference (NAC) Championships
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September 16th: JV/Varsity NAC Volleyball, Berkshire, 5:30/6:45 p.m.
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September 17th: Girls Varsity Soccer HOME vs. Pymatuning Valley, 5:00 p.m.
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September 18th: Varsity Football HOME vs. Canton Central Catholic, 7:00 p.m.
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September 18th: Alumni Band Night, 7:00 p.m.
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September 19th: 7th Grade Volleyball HOME Tri with Berkshire/Garrettsville at 10:00 a.m.
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September 21st: Girls Varsity Soccer HOME vs. Bristol, 5:00 p.m.
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September 21st: JV/Varsity Volleyball HOME vs. Lordstown, 5:30/6:45 p.m.
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September 23rd: MS Football HOME vs. Jefferson, 5:00 p.m.
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September 23rd: Board of Education Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
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September 24th: BMX (Bicycle Motocross) Bullying Assembly, 1:00 p.m.
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September 25th: Kiwanis Fish Fry, CES Cafeteria
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September 26th: Cardinal Cross Country Invitational, 9:00 a.m
12. Adjournment
APPROVED 5-0
The meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
Next meeting: September 23, 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: September 11, 2026
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