The Euclid Board of Education met on December 10, 2025, in the Board Room at the Fordyce Administration Building at 7:00 pm.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Board President Gabrielle Kelly, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
All Five Board Members were present.
The Board reviewed and accepted the agenda for the evening.
The Board adopted the minutes for the November 5th, 12th, and 19th, 2025 Board Meetings.
Chardon Hills STEM School Recognitions and Presentation
Four outstanding Chardon Hills STEM School Students were recognized as Students of the Month:
Louisa “Lulu” Pastor, a first-grade student who is a leader in her classroom community that demonstrates respect for peers and adults, acts responsibly in both academic and social settings, and consistently shows kindness. She eagerly takes on challenges, works well with others, and is a valued member of the Chardon Hills family.
Nona Blaha, a third-grade student, is hardworking, curious, and consistently gives her best effort in all subject areas. She goes above and beyond in her learning, shows exceptional kindness toward others, willingly helps classmates, and serves as a true leader and role model at Chardon Hills.
Isaiah King, a fourth-grade student, is a dedicated and hardworking learner who has made tremendous progress since joining Chardon Hills in 2024. He is well-liked by both students and staff and has become an essential and positive member of the school community.
Trandon Davis, a fifth-grade student, demonstrates outstanding character and leadership through his involvement in Student Council, Safety Patrol, Junior Librarians, Morning Announcements, and Orchestra. He consistently leads by example, supports his peers, and represents Chardon Hills with pride, responsibility, and enthusiasm.
Head Custodian Kyle Korpowski and BCBA Therapist Jack Bundy were recognized
as Staff Members of the Month.
Mr. Korpowski has taken great pride in his work, and the school building has truly never looked better. Staff and parents frequently comment on how great the building looks. His outstanding work benefits the entire school community.
Jack Bundy is new to Chardon Hills this year and constantly supports students who require additional behavioral assistance while building meaningful relationships. His calm presence, positive attitude, and unwavering belief in students make a lasting impact, and he has been an invaluable asset to the school.
Kindergarten Teacher Amanda Ruple was recognized as Faculty Member of the Month
for her positive and cheerful outlook and for being a “kid connector,” building strong relationships. Ms. Ruple serves on the DLT, BLT, and MTSS teams, regularly volunteers for district learning walks, and actively participates in professional peer learning. Her leadership, collaboration, and commitment to the school community are evident daily.
Mrs. Theresa Carter was recognized as Family Member of the Month. Mrs. Carter is
an active member of the PTA and leads a parent group focused on strengthening family partnerships and engagement at Chardon Hills. She is a dedicated parent and advocate whose passion for children is evident in every role she serves, including as a biological, adoptive, foster, and bonus mom. She has long supported children and families through her service on the Board of Directors for Step Forward and the State Advisory Council for the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center. She created a parent-engagement program at Chardon Hills that includes launching Parent Cafes, which provide opportunities for families to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another.
Following the recognitions, Principal Deana Stinchcomb and Assistant Principal Bill Mayer presented to the Board showcasing the energy, growth, and innovation happening at Chardon Hills STEM School.
Using the School theme of “Imagine, Believe, Achieve,” the presentation highlighted the STEM-focused vision. The principals shared how staff and students are working together to improve attendance, strengthen family engagement, foster positive behavior, and drive continuous improvement.
STEM
As a designated STEM school, Chardon Hills integrates science, technology, engineering, and math into daily learning experiences across subjects and activities. Students benefit from hands-on labs, engineering challenges, and inquiry-based learning that makes science come alive. Some hands-on learning experiences include building circuits, designing bridges, and using wind power to drive vehicles. The dedicated Technology & Robotics classes use the International Society for Technology in Education Standards to strengthen technology skills through hands-on learning with Canva, Google programs, and other digital tools.
Instruction
The school’s instructional program is anchored in aligned resources, intentional collaboration, and hands-on learning designed to strengthen foundational skills—especially in math. Teachers leverage tools such as Xello, virtual field trips, career cafés, and partnerships with organizations like the Cleveland Clinic and the Urban Agriculture CTE Program to connect classroom content to the real world. Students engage in career exploration, interactive demonstrations, and authentic learning experiences that broaden their understanding of future pathways.
Instruction at Chardon Hills is supported by intentional coaching cycles, data analysis, and collaboration. Weekly Teacher-Based Teams (TBTs) meet to review data and plan targeted supports, focusing on increasing rigor and ensuring that instruction aligns with student needs. Classroom walkthroughs and coaching cycles help administrators support instructional growth, while leadership meetings provide space for deeper reflection and continuous improvement.
Math instruction features problem-based learning, pattern blocks, graphing activities, and early multiplication exploration, supported by Bridges Math in Kindergarten. Teachers employ a “You do, we do, I do” model that prioritizes student reasoning, productive struggle, and mathematical discourse. Small-group instruction is driven by real-time data and student need, allowing educators to adjust quickly and effectively. SEL-aligned partnerships—such as ZENworks Yoga—further support whole-child development and strengthen executive functioning and self-regulation.
Attendance
Attendance remains a central driver of student success at Chardon Hills, and the school’s proactive approach has yielded strong results. With an average daily attendance of 95.32% in the first 60 days and 151 students achieving perfect attendance in the first quarter, the building has created a culture where “If You Miss School, You Miss Out!”
The school works closely with families to ensure students are present and on time every day. Studies show that strong partnerships between schools and homes are essential to ensuring student attendance and success. Students can also earn classroom and individual incentives for strong or improving attendance.
Chardon Hills once again earned the Ohio PBIS Silver Award, placing it among fewer than 4% of schools statewide. This positive culture—rooted in being Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Learn—directly contributes to strong daily attendance and sustained engagement. Initiatives such as 2x10 check-ins, home outreach, and consistent communication significantly reduced Tier 2 and Tier 3 absenteeism, lowering the combined rate from over 20% to just 13%.
Parent Engagement, Celebrations & Clubs
Family partnerships and celebrations are essential pillars of the Chardon Hills experience. Events such as Father’s Walk, PTA Movie Night, the 700 Club Breakfast, and the First Quarter Awards Ceremony drew exceptional turnout, with parents filling the cafeteria and supporting students’ achievements. Assemblies—including the Veterans Day Ceremony—highlighted community pride and student leadership.
The school also offers a wide array of clubs that nurture student voice, creativity, and belonging. The Girls Group focuses on personal expression through art; the Boys Group explores leadership and service through STEM projects and community food-drive efforts; and the Story Makers Club engages writers in grades 1–5 in collaborative storytelling. Partnerships with the Southern Enterprise School of Arts and the newly launched Youth Wrestling Program further expand enrichment opportunities, emphasizing character, discipline, perseverance, and teamwork.
Board Member Recognition
After the School Recognitions and Presentation, the Board recognized the contributions of outgoing board member Pam Turos. Mrs. Turos served on the Board for four years; this was her last regular meeting.
There were no visitor comments relative to the agenda.
Reports and Recommendations of the Treasurer
This portion of the meeting covered the district's financial data. Euclid Schools Treasurer Patrick Higley led the Board Members through the District Financial Statements.
The Board approved the Financial Data report for November 2025 and approved payments.
The Board approved health care rates for 2026 with Medical Mutual of Ohio.
The Board approved the written plan regarding the 2028 projected deficit, required by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
Reports and Recommendations of the Superintendent
Personnel
The Board approved changes to Certified and Classified personnel, including resignations, terminations, retirements, permanent substitute appointments, non-teaching appointments, non-teaching assignments, extra-duty, athletic-duty, and athletic-duty resignations.
Contracts/Agreements
The Board approved a proposal from the Experience Management Institute to conduct research, data collection, stakeholder engagement, and data analysis on enrollment and withdrawal trends to support the district’s commitment to meeting the needs of Euclid families.
The Board approved the purchase of the Nukase Phone Security System, which will help Euclid High School stay in compliance with Ohio Law requiring districts to establish and enforce model policies for student phone storage and limiting the use of personal electronic devices during the school day.
Contracts/Agreements - Title Services
Through a consent agenda, the Board approved an agreement with McKeon Education Group to provide a speech pathologist at Our Lady of the Lake and a Memorandum of Understanding with Wickliffe Mater Dei Academy to provide pooling services using Title I funding for students who reside in Euclid.
Miscellaneous
The Board approved the Open Enrollment Pilot for the 2026-2027 school year. This open-enrollment pilot will allow schools to participate at varying levels based on their capacity voluntarily.
Policies
The Board conducted the annual review of Policy 5113 relating to Inter-District Open Enrollment.
The Board conducted second and final readings for several policies:
Nondiscrimination based on Sex in District Programs or Activities
Participation of Community/STEM School Students in Extra-curricular Activities
Interscholastic Athletics
Assignment and Transfer
Withdrawal From School
Personal Communication Devices
The Board conducted a first reading of several polices:
Drug and Alcohol Testing of CDL License Holders and Other Employees Who Perform Safety-Sensitive Functions
Release Time for Religious Instruction
Audit
School Safety
Student Abuse and Neglect
Transportation
Transportation for Non-Routine Trips
Equivalent Education Outside the Schools & Participation in Extracurricular Activities for Students Not Enrolled in the District
Superintendent’s Informal
Superintendent Papouras recognized the CTE programs that collaborated to create the CandyLand Winter Wonderland Lighting Experience outside of Fordyce. Through teamwork, creativity, and technical skill, students from the Robotics, Construction, Music Engineering, and Studio Art & Visual Design programs built an impressive display. He encouraged everyone to stop by Fordyce to see the lights.
He also noted the Board’s approval of an update to the District’s cell phone policy, which was altered to align with State Law. During the meeting, the Board also approved the purchase of NuGerm Phone Cases for the High School to help the school stay in compliance with the new law.
Mr. Papouras reminded the community about the upcoming Culinary Bistro Holiday Buffet on December 17th. The buffet will offer three seatings at 11:00, 11:45, and 12:30. The cost is just $16 per person. Reservations can be made by calling (216) 797-7977 or emailing bistro@euclidschools.org
Finally, he reminded families about the upcoming Winter Break, encouraging students to finish strong academically and emphasizing the importance of attendance these last few days of the first semester and the beginning of the second semester. The last day of school before winter break is Friday, December 19th, and school will return on Monday, January 5th.
There was one person for Public Participation.
New Business/Old Business
The Board appointed Selina Wright to serve as President Pro Tem for the opening section of the January 2026 Organizational Meeting, until a new President is elected.
Executive Session
The Board entered an Executive Session at 8:44 pm to consider the appointment of a public employee.