By Noell Wolfgram Evans

The Cuyahoga Falls Board of Education met for their regularly scheduled meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 20, 2025. The meeting took place in the media center of Cuyahoga Falls High School. In attendance were Board of Education President Alecia Coco, Vice President Anthony Gomez, Board Member Patrice White, Board Member Carrie Schaefer and Board Member A.J. Harris. Also attending were Superintendent Andrea Celico, Treasurer/CFO Kristy Stoicoiu and members of the district administration.

The meeting opened with a roll call. With all members present, a motion was made to approve the evening's agenda. The motion passed unanimously and those in attendance then rose to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, which was led by Celico.

The next order of business was a motion to approve the consent agenda from the treasurer’s office. Included on that agenda was the approval of the Aug. 6 meeting minutes and the approval to accept various community donations of cash and items for classroom use. Within the consent agenda, the treasurer also asked the board to approve the transfer of funds from the general fund to an account specific to activities and athletics. Stoicoiu stated that the line in the general budget for this fund is negative right now because of this transfer and the fact that there are no large revenue generating activities currently taking place. She expects this to change with the start of football season. Gomez asked if All-Season Athletic Passes were still being offered, as he found those to be a “deal and a steal. ” 

Stoicoiu stated that contracts were still being finalized but she expected that at least 10 companies were purchasing video ads for the upcoming sports season at $2,500 each. It was determined that All Season Passes are available for individuals, students and families. Seniors living in the city can attend any sporting event for free.

Stoicoiu also presented a look at the financial state of the food service department. She expected those numbers to grow once the school year took off. She suggested that there was still time for families to apply to the federal free or reduced lunch program. Gomez asked if there were certain “direct certifications” that could automatically qualify families for that opportunity. 

“Medicaid and SNAP are our big two, but we do have a few families using TANF,” Stoicoiu said. 

Families in those programs are automatically enrolled in the free/reduced lunch program. Coco said other families would encounter the registration application for the programs whenever they went into FinalForms.

Following this discussion, the treasurer’s consent agenda was approved unanimously. Stoicoiu then shared that she had recently attended a conference where one of the most discussed topics was the budget bill in the Ohio Statehouse. While there is still uncertainty around which, if any, of the governor’s additional vetoes will be overridden, school districts were being told to proceed with what they’ve been doing.

Celico then asked for board approval of the superintendent’s consent agenda. The agenda consisted of the filling of certified and classified positions, the hiring of coaches and event workers, professional development pay and acknowledging retirements. Celico also included a memorandum of understanding for the high school and Lakeland Community College to accommodate the needs of CCP students. There were also two contracts under the agenda. One was to develop an elementary, middle and high school math support program. White applauded the move and said “it’s good that we are placing a focus on academic excellence.” The second contract was for the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio to participate in their Sources of Strength program. This is a suicide prevention program that will be facilitated for select staff and student leaders. The superintendent’s consent agenda was approved unanimously.

Thanks were then offered by Celico to the board and staff for a “wonderful” convocation. Celico said she and her administrative team have been visiting various schools during the first week to meet staff and students and help where they can. 

The Stuff the Bus program “may have been the most successful ever,” Celico said. She thanked the YMCA, the Elks and the community at large for their efforts in this program. In addition to supplies, the Elks donated $4,000.

She closed by inviting all board members to go back to preschool for an open house on Aug. 28. Gomez asked if there was a way to help any eligible preschooler sign up for free books through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. A quick discussion showed approval of this idea, and Celico said she would talk to the appropriate staff.

Celico finished her remarks by announcing the State of the Schools address would be held Sept. 29. She also said preliminary plans were underway for the ceremony that will help close out Clifford Stadium.

The next order of business was for a second reading on three sections of policy. Under Personnel there was a change to Staff Conduct; under Instruction there was an adjustment to the Preschool program; and under the Student section of the policy there were changes to Student Expulsion, Weapons in Schools, Truancy, Student Absences and Excuses, and Student Withdrawal from School. With no questions on these changes, they were unanimously approved. 

Two items were added to future agenda meetings. One was the discussion of the district report card, which was added to the Sept. 10 meeting. The other was a review of the 4-year fiscal plan, which was added to the Oct. 1 meeting.

There were no committee reports, but all board members shared their thanks for the work put into the convocation and other start of school year events.

Coco said convocation was “wonderful” and was also impressed by the alumni band at the preview of the bands. White said the convocation was “nice,” while Schaefer said she loved the Meet the Tigers event because “I love seeing how many students are so involved across multiple activities.” Harris said he had an amazing time at Meet the Tigers, which he attended with his young son. In addition to his praise of the convocation, Gomez took a moment to honor Phyllis Glenny, a long-time bus driver in the district who recently passed away.

The final notice of the meeting was that everything was still on track for a planned ribbon cutting ceremony at the new school at 11 a.m. on Dec. 6. The meeting was then adjourned.