Board Approves School Resource Officer

Cardinal Board of Education Regular Meeting - October 14, 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: Five 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.

2.01 Presentations / Huskie Happenings 

Superintendent Cunningham displayed a photo of Mila Blankenhorn, a foreign exchange student at Cardinal High School during the 2024–2025 school year, showing the completion of a bicycle trip from  her hometown of Bremgarten, Switzerland, to the arctic circle in Finland.  She and her father traveled 2,228 miles in 37 days. 

 

Mr. Cunningham announced the homecoming court for 2026:

• Freshmen - Gracyn Kitzmiller and Micah Smith

• Sophomores - Nikya Barbee and Bryan Sanders

• Juniors - Emerald Mena and Dominic Neal

• Seniors - Elli Dubasik, Amber Penn, Adelyn Grant, Naomi Scott, Dominic Harris, Evan Jones, Jensen Yoder, and Michael Zajac Jr.  Dominic Harris and Adelyn Grant were chosen as the homecoming king and queen.

Mr. Cunningham announced that the marching band and silks flag line performed at Cedar Point's HalloWeekend where they played "Ghostbusters" while marching through the park and stopped to perform “Gimme Some Lovin.”

 

Mr. Cunningham announced that the district was rated 3.5 (out of a possible score of 5) on the state report card. Reviewer Note: Cardinal’s report card from the state is available here.  He displayed a chart showing performance by category and grade level, and showed the areas in which the district is doing well, and the areas the district is working to improve through the goals that were established at the beginning of the school year.  He explained that the scores show an average of three years of student performance.  When questioned about high school math scores, he stated that the math curriculum is scheduled for review this year, and that the committee would be looking at the scores as well as the College Preparatory Math (CPM) curriculum, which is a course not mandated by the state of Ohio.

 

Mr. Cunningham asked the board members if they had registered for the upcoming Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) conference, and asked for someone to attend the legislative session.  Board member Edna Phile agreed to attend the session.

 

3. Hearing of the Public - agenda items - none

 

4. Discussion Item

Universal Free Breakfast

Superintendent Cunningham and Treasurer Hoffmeister stated that they are looking into the feasibility of offering free breakfast to all students.  When questioned, they explained that the reimbursement for a breakfast program is separate from the free/reduced lunch program, and that if breakfast is offered to all students, no qualification is required.  Mr. Cunningham and Ms. Hoffmeister explained that Jennifer Hirsch, the Nutrition Services director, has gathered information from students through offering a tasting menu and surveying the students about their menu preferences.  They added that this information would be combined with information about item costs and presented to the board at the next board meeting so that the board can make a decision about offering a breakfast program to all students.

5.  Superintendent’s Report - Personnel Items  

Resignation

• Burkholder, Katherine - bus driver effective 10/30/2026

Substitute Hire

• Burkholder, Katherine - substitute bus driver

Classified Hires:

• Layfield, Olivia: paraprofessional aide (elementary) previously approved on 9/23/26 for hire pending receipt of documentation.  Documentation has been received. Approval effective date of 9/28/26.

2026-2027 Supplemental (Co-Curricular)

• Stefani, Charlotte

  • elementary music program, 0.03

  • marching band assistant, step 0, 0.06

• Baker, Hailey; marching band, step 2, 0.16

2026-2027 Supplemental (Athletics)

• Blair, Brianna: girls basketball, middle school step 2, 0.08

• Cassandra Brilla: winter cheer middle school, step 0, 0.05

• Kelly Wojtasik; winter cheer high school, step 2. 0.10

2026-2027 Extended Educational Program Services

• Blair, Brianna:

  • study table monitor, 0.10

  • math competition, 0.10

• Corrections to salary schedule steps (from previous meeting agenda):

  • 9/9/26 Mazzolini, Karyn: after school monitor, 0.10

  • 9/23/26 Kruse, Luke: study table monitor, 0.10

  • 9/23/26 Mast, Kristan: after school monitor, 0.10

Positive Behavioral Intervention & Supports (PBIS) Building Leader: $1,400 per person

• Amanda Hamrle - Junior High

• Maureen Fowler - Senior High

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

• Cardinal, Missy -  October 27, 2026 - November 6, 2026

• Cardinal, Andy -  October 26, 2026 for approximately four weeks.

Substitutes; Teachers (Paraprofessionals)

• Kolat, Tayor

• Barthelmes, Denielle

Substitute Kitchen Staff

• Hilger, Kristiana

 

ALL APPROVED 5-0

 

6. Superintendent’s Report - Additional Items

 

6.01 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Cardinal Board of Education and Cardinal Education Association - School Psychologist

Mr. Cunningham explained that this is a contracted service for evaluations of preschool students with suspected disabilities.

 

6.02 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Middlefield Police Department

Mr. Cunningham stated that this is for the services of a school resource officer.

 

6.03 School Resource Officer Program Funding Agreement with the Village of Middlefield

This is for shared funding of the school resource officer.

 

6.04 Education Services Center (ESC) Addendum: Curriculum Team professional development sessions

This addendum adds twelve professional development sessions, at 45 minutes per session, for a total of  $7,420.00.  The funding source is a federal grant under Title II A of the Every School Succeeds Act (ESSA).

 

6.05 Additional licenses for the Unique Learning System-Everway Subscription

This adds additional licenses to the current subscription, which provides a modified curriculum for three cross categorical classrooms for students with significant special needs for the 2026-2027 school year.  The cost is an additional $786.43.

 

6.06 Simplify Learning: Licenses for the 2026-2027 School Year

This is for two licenses for Cardinal Elementary School Intervention Specialists to use the Simplify Learning program, at a cost of $420.60.

 

6.07 Pisanick Partners, LLC Nutrition Contract for the 2026-2027 School Year

This is a new resource for the district and will help with building cafeteria menus and maintaining compliance with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards

 

6.08 Field Trips 

1. Maltz Museum, 8th grade, Mr. Cicero, November 18, 2026

2. Middlefield Chamber of Commerce, Choir and Jazz Band, Mrs. Angelo and Miss Baker, December 9, 2026.  Mr. Cunningham noted that the Chamber of Commerce meeting will be hosted by the district and will be held at the elementary school.

3. Kent State University Geauga- Cardinal Elementary School, 6th grade, October 23, 2026

6.09 District Bus Use

Use of a district school bus for the East Geauga Kiwanis Stuff the Bus event at the Middlefield WalMart on Saturday, November 28, 2026 at no cost to the district. This is in concert with the Cardinal High School  Key Club and Cardinal Middle School Builders' Club.

 

6.10 Budget and Purpose Statements

1. Senior High School Yearbook

2. Grades 7-8 Yearbook

6.11 District Support Organizations

1.  Cardinal Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

2.  Cardinal Music Boosters 

3.  Cardinal Athletic Boosters

6.12 Grant Award Notification

Martha Holden Jennings Grant, $15,000 Fund 019

Mr. Cunningham stated that the funds will be used for two overnight camps: the sixth grade camp will be for two nights, and the tenth grade leadership camp will be for one night.  Both groups will raise funds to cover the remaining costs.  He hopes to finalize plans next month and is working to coordinate transportation for students participating in school sports programs.  

 

ALL APPROVED 5-0

 

7. Treasurer’s Report 

 

7.01 Minutes of September 9, 2026 regular meeting

 

7.02 Minutes of September 23, 2026 regular/work session meeting

 

7.03 Financial reports for the month of September 2026.

 

7.04 Fiscal Year 27 Amended permanent appropriations- first modification

Federal Consolidated grant FY26 carry over increases: 

Fund 516: $12,591.68

Fund 572: $1,359.09

Fund 584: $4,476.02

Fund 590: $68,393.99

Martha Holden Jennings Grant increase: 

Fund 019: $15,000.000

ALL APPROVED 5-0

8. Legislative Update - none

9.  Auburn Career Center Update - 

Mrs. Rayburn reported that the ribbon cutting ceremony for the additions to the career center, which include six medical rooms, will be on October 16.

 

10.  Hearing of the Public - none

 

11.  Upcoming Dates/Meetings

• October 15th: Supporters of Cardinal meeting in CHS Cafeteria at 7:15 p.m. 

• October 15th: Junior Varsity Reserve Volleyball HOME vs. Geneva at 5:00 p.m.

• October 15th: Girls Soccer HOME vs. Maplewood at 5:00 p.m. 

• October 19th: JV Football AWAY @ Berkshire at 6:00 p.m. 

• October 21st: Girls Soccer HOME vs. Waynedale at 7:00 p.m. (first playoff game)

• October 22nd: Varsity Volleyball HOME vs. Bloomfield at 7:00 p.m. (first playoff game)

• October 26th-30th: CES PTO penny wars

• October 26th: End of the year marching band concert at CHS gym at 6:00 p.m.

• October 28th: Board of Education meeting at 6:30 p.m.

• October 29th: Cardinal PTO Track or Treat from 6:00-7:30 p.m. 

• October 30th: CES Halloween parties and trick-or-treat 

• November 5th: Student Council blood drive at CHS gym from 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

• November 6th: End of the 1st quarter

 

12.  Adjournment  

The meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m.

 

APPROVED 5-0

 

Next meeting:  October 28, 2026 - regular meeting/work session at 6:30 pm at board office, 15982 E. High Street, Middlefield, OH.

 

Observer: Dorrie Keough

Editor: Sarah McGlone

Reviewer: Carol Benton

 

Submitted: October 16, 2026

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