By Bethany Ulrick

Attendance: Board President Pamela Wind, Board Vice President Kari Suhadolnik, board members Antoinette East-Jenkins, Mike Sheehan and Tina Merlitti

Treasurer Patrick Goclano, Superintendent Felisha Gould and Assistant Superintendent Kristen Prough

The Stow-Munroe Falls High School marching band will perform at the Cleveland Browns halftime show on Dec. 7. 

The board voted to approve the formation of a high school girls flag football team. All expenses except transportation will be paid for by the Cleveland Browns for the first year of the program. 

Revenue for October 2025 is down 60% compared to October 2024; Treasurer Patrick Goclano explained that this is mostly due to when they received payments from taxes that they know are coming in, and that there is no need to be alarmed. However, there will be a spending deficit of approximately $600,000 this fiscal year. 

The board passed a resolution to request assistance from the Ohio School Boards Legal Assistance Fund to offset the costs of pending lawsuits and approved the resignation of Goclano.

Goclano said that House bills 129, 186 and 309 are being sent to the governor’s office to sign or veto this week. He explained that these bills would change how levies work and how property taxes can increase. Goclano said that these bills, if passed, would cost many school districts several million dollars, and that Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools stand to lose around $10 million. If the legislation passes, the district would start losing money in the calendar year 2027, but Goclano and Superintendent Felisha Gould would immediately begin looking at the budget and determining where cuts could be made. 

PDFs of the full financial report and the presentation explaining in detail how the pending legislation would reduce the district’s revenue by several million dollars are available in full online on the Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools website. 

Superintendent’s Report: Superintendent Felisha Gould

Echo Hills Principal Kate Hamilton introduced a group of fourth grade students to demonstrate what they are learning in math class. They presented on the topics of factors, prime numbers  and composite numbers. 

High School Update: Assistant Superintendent Kristen Prough

The high school had a celebration for this year’s exchange students, who are from Nigeria and Peru. 

The high school marching band will be performing at the Cleveland Browns halftime show on Dec. 7. The band will also have a concert on Dec. 11, and the high school choir will have a concert on Dec. 4. 

Recognition 

Bulldog Center Stage Awards were presented to the following staff for going above and beyond their duties: Kitchen Manager Amanda Donatelli, first grade teacher Stephanie Elton, custodian Dena Hillman, Highland Principal Nick Kish, intervention specialist Paige Krol, fourth grade teacher Nicole Piland, Special Services Supervisor Dana Pisani, intervention specialist Jackie Schaffter, bus aide Tammy Shaffer, school counselor Sarah Smith and third grade teacher Jacqueline Zaucha.

The middle and high school fall head coaches were also recognized for their hard work this season.

Comments from Audience on Agenda Items

One resident said that Treasurer Patrick Goclano and Gould should have received Bulldog Center Stage Awards, as well. She congratulated Gould on winning the Education Award from the organization 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland.The resident also expressed that she was sad to see Goclano leave the district and wished the board luck in finding a replacement. 

Head high school swim and dive coach Ryan Miller spoke on the proposal for an extended field trip for the swim team, which was voted on and approved later in the meeting. He said that the invitational is a very exciting opportunity for the students.

Superintendent’s Consent Agenda

There was no discussion and following items were unanimously approved by the board:

Superintendent’s Recommendations 

The superintendent’s personnel recommendations and the swim and dive team extended field trip were approved. 

Treasurer’s Consent Agenda: Patrick Goclano 

Goclano presented the October financial report, which is available online to read in full at the Stow-Munroe Falls City School board website. 

The district currently has a cash balance of $19.2 million. The district started the fiscal year in July with $10.7 million. There is a 60% decrease in revenue from October 2025; however, Goclano explained that this is due to the timing of funds from property taxes coming in and is not a reason to be alarmed. 

There will be some deficit spending for the current fiscal year. The district is projected to bring in $75.8 million in revenue, but projects $76.4 million in expenditures. 

The financial report was approved. 

New Business 

The board passed a resolution to request assistance from the Ohio School Boards Legal Assistance Fund to offset the costs of pending lawsuits. They are not guaranteed to receive money if they request it. Board Member Mike Sheehan abstained from the vote. 

The board approved the resignation of Goclano. Board members expressed their gratitude for the work he has done for the district and wished him well. 

Old Business

The board had a second reading of updated policies regarding transportation, assignment and transfer of staff, and released time for religious instruction during the school day. No vote was taken, because items need to be read three times before action is taken. 

Discussion Items

Goclano said that House bills 129, 186 and 309 are being sent to the governor’s office to sign or veto this week. This report is also available on the board’s website.

He explained that, currently, the district has nine separate levies that are mostly continuous and will not need to be renewed, but that the amount of money they bring in changes due to property tax reappraisals. They also have several emergency levies that will not be able to be renewed if certain legislation is passed. The funds lost would need to be made up with new levies. If the levy put on the ballot to replace the emergency levy ending Dec. 31, 2026, does not pass, the district will lose at least $3.6 million. 

Goclano also explained the difference between tax years and collection years. The tax year runs Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, and the collection year is the following year. He said that it is currently tax year 2025, but the district just finished receiving funds for tax year 2024.

He said House bills 129 and 186 would not impact the district in the current tax year, but they would take effect in tax year 2026. This would result in a $3.7 million decrease in the calendar year of 2027. He emphasized that this is just money lost from local funding and does not account for state funding, and that these bills would impact many other districts, as well.

Goclano then explained how each bill would affect Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools’ budget. He said that House bill 129 would change millage floor calculation and would result in a loss of $2.7 million. House bill 309 would allow the county budget commission to reduce the amount of a levy after it has been approved by voters, if they deem the amount to be excessive, though the bill does not define excessive. House bill 186 would cap the increase in property taxes at the 20-mill floor to the rate of inflation. And House bill 335 caps revenue growth from inside millage to inflation. Goclano added that he personally submitted testimony in opposition of House bill 335 because it would cost many districts several million dollars each.

If these bills pass, the district would have a projected loss of at least $10 million, starting in the 2027 calendar year. He and Gould would begin looking into budget cuts immediately after the bills were passed, so that the district would be prepared by the time the budget is effected.

Goclano said that the board and members of the community should contact the governor’s office to voice their concerns about the legislation. Goclano will also be submitting testimony to the governor’s office.

Comments from Audience

A Stow resident thanked Goclano for how his presentations allowed her to understand the district’s financial matters. She also congratulated Gould on receiving the Education Award from 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland. 

Sheehan made a motion to include board member-elect Jason Whitacre in the executive session, but it was not seconded. The meeting moved into executive session and was adjourned.