Board Meeting: Treasurer Search Presentations, Woodland Report, Staff Awards

STOW, Ohio – The Stow-Munroe Falls City School District Board of Education met Jan. 21, 2026, adjusting its agenda early in the evening before hearing building updates from Woodland Elementary, recognizing employees through the Bulldog Center Stage Awards, and listening to presentations from organizations seeking to lead the district’s treasurer search. The meeting ended after an executive session, with the board adjourning at 10:33 p.m.

Agenda Update and Approval

The board amended the agenda to:

Add an extended field trip for the cheer team
Rearrange the order of items, moving portions to accommodate treasurer search presentations

The amended agenda was approved.

Woodland Elementary Report Highlights 70 Years, Academic Performance

Woodland Elementary leaders highlighted the building’s 70th anniversary and shared academic and culture updates.

Key points included:

Woodland received a four-star rating from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
The school enrolls 278 students.
Leaders reported strong academic performance in third- and fourth-grade English Language Arts and math.
Woodland shared a 100% promotion rate from third grade to fourth grade.
The school reported that more than 90% of K-2 students are on track for the Third Grade Reading Guarantee.

The presentation also connected Woodland’s work to parts of the district’s strategic plan, including:

Public relations and community connections
Staff and student wellness
Opportunities for all students

Student Council: Food Drive, Recognition Program, and Recycling Goal

Fourth-grade student council members described initiatives aimed at building community and encouraging positive behavior:

A Good Neighbors Food Drive that collected more than 1,600 items
A peer recognition effort described as a “Pause Program” to promote encouragement among students
A request and goal to bring recycling back to the school

Achieve Program Coffee Cart Highlights Student Life Skills

Woodland also highlighted the Achieve Coffee Cart, a program designed to help special education students build job and life skills through school-based work experiences.

Bulldog Center Stage Awards Recognize Staff

The district presented Bulldog Center Stage Awards to staff members recognized for their contributions across multiple buildings and departments. Honorees included:

Deb Balman, Lake View — sixth-grade teacher
Dave Collins, Bus Garage — bus driver
Ashley Cook, Indian Trail — kitchen manager
Audrey Koy, Woodland — kitchen manager
Briana Del Long, Highland — kindergarten teacher
Jamie Delorenzo, Echo Hills — fourth-grade teacher
Matt Frame, District Office — custodial maintenance supervisor (absent)
Tiffany Harris, Fish Creek — first-grade teacher
Alicia Patterson, Riverview — second-grade teacher (absent)
Grayson Paula, High School — intervention specialist
Renee Stom Cook, Kempton — server

The board took a short recess before moving into the treasurer search presentations.

Treasurer Search Presentations: Firms Outline Process, Timelines, and Engagement

The board heard from multiple organizations outlining how they would conduct a search for the district’s next treasurer, including how they recruit candidates, solicit staff input, and support transition planning.

Finding Leaders

Representatives described a multi-step process — outlined as 17 to 18 steps — beginning with a “critical decisions” meeting to clarify the district’s needs, desired qualifications, and timeline.

Highlights included:

Posting and outreach through multiple platforms and networks
Optional focus groups to gather input from staff, administrators, and community stakeholders
Screening and interviews of candidates who meet licensure and profile expectations
Support for the board through structured interview facilitation, question development, and timekeeping
A suggested due diligence approach that could include additional reference outreach and in-person visits by board members

Finding Leaders also described a one-year guarantee, offering to redo a search if the placement does not work out within a year, and a one-year transition plan for the new treasurer and board.

Summit County Educational Service Center (ESC)

Summit County ESC emphasized its existing relationship with Stow-Munroe Falls as an affiliated district and described a process typically completed in about eight weeks, though timelines can vary, particularly for mid-year vacancies.

Highlights included:

Outreach through postings and a strong emphasis on network-based recruiting, including direct calls
Experience with treasurer searches and training pipelines, including coursework connected to the treasurer profession
Initial ESC-led interviews, followed by support for board semi-final and finalist interviews
Reference checks that include both listed references and additional contacts not provided by candidates
Continued support after selection, including transition planning and contract guidance

ESC representatives also noted the availability of interim treasurer support through shared services arrangements, depending on district needs.

Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA)

OSBA representatives described a structured search process with an anticipated timeline of 60 to 90 days, beginning with a planning meeting and the development of a district brochure and leadership profile.

Highlights included:

Posting through OSBA channels and national outreach networks
A digital application review system that allows board members to review candidates online and take notes
OSBA-led screening and grading against the district’s profile
Interview script development and facilitation
Reference check support, including scripts for calls
A finalist evaluation tool (described as an assessment of performance skills and mental aptitudes) intended to inform interview questions and onboarding support

OSBA also noted that background checks for finalists are included in the search cost, and the organization described a guarantee to remain engaged until a permanent appointment is made.

Executive Session and Adjournment

The meeting moved into executive session later in the evening. The board returned to public session at 10:33 p.m. and indicated there was no further business.