Welcome to the Kirtland Schools’ Key Communicator e-newsletter. We hope to use this tool as a two-way form of communication to share the good news going on in our classrooms, and also provide you with facts in the event of negative situations. We hope you will act as informal communications liaisons with the community and let us know what you’re hearing so we can proactively provide you with the facts of what’s happening in your schools. Thank you for your support!

Our Vision: Provide a personalized education for all students.

Our Mission: We educate students to be empowered citizens.

The commendations section of the Board of Education Meeting started by recognizing newly hired staff to the school district. Ryan Beeler was introduced as the new high school math teacher, Marissa Formichelli as the new district nurse and Kylee Sherwood as the new executive administrative assistant at the Board of Education.

The Board also recognized superintendent VanArnhem who has completed his doctoral courses and successfully defended his dissertation. He has earned his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. Here is the statement the Board shared at the meeting: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-YqwcYJ_bua3VCWDFS5X-H9oKlv-LnIsYIUzgcFk750/edit?usp=sharing

• Superintendent VanArnhem highlighted the following:

  • Congratulations to Naomi Blankenship for winning the Cooley Innovation Award at the National Invention Convention. They are a law firm that will help her file for a patent!

  • We had a donor, who would like to remain anonymous, pay off all the student lunch debt at the end of the school year at a total cost of $300.

  • He was proud to report that the initial reports coming back on our state testing show that every building in the district had their test scores increase again and the district was rated as five stars!

  • Replacement of the rubber surface on the playground is scheduled to take place this week along with the replacement of some playground equipment.

The Board voted to approve the following superintendent recommendations:

• Summer Curriculum Writing Request, Mentor Cardinal Autism Resource and Education School Agreement for 2024 Summer Program, Education Alternatives Agreement - July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, New Avenues Summer Camp for two students, Monday-Thursday, June 24-July 25 for $5,700.00, Contract for the ESC NEO for 2024-2025, Edmentum Contract for 2024-2025, Termination of Half Time Executive Administrative Assistant Position, TechSmart Agreement, Colin Bowser Two Year Contract, RIF of First Grade Position, Building Automation System Installation, Installation of Fire Alarm Panels and Peripherals Upgrade, Carpet Installation, KES and KHS Elevator Modernization, Anonymous Donation to pay off over $300 in negative meal balance accounts and the Second Reading of Policy.

*attachments to these items can be found on the district website: https://go.boarddocs.com/oh/kirt/Board.nsf/Public.

Mr. Pendleton made the following recommendations and the Board approved:

• Kirtland Public Library's Proposed Tax Budget
• Close of the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year
• Final 2023-2024 Appropriations and the annual 2024-2025 Appropriations
• Annual 2024-2025 Appropriations
• FY 2023/2024 Advances

*attachments to these items can be found on the district website: https://go.boarddocs.com/oh/kirt/Board.nsf/Public.

The Kirtland Local Schools are known for academic excellence and strong community support, and have been recognized nationally and statewide for educational achievement. The district also maintains a long tradition of distinction in a variety of extracurricular activities. The Board of Education provides open and thoughtful fiscal management of the community’s investment in the school district’s high quality educational program by ensuring every dollar spent benefits students and the community. The strategic plan for the Kirtland Local Schools can be found at: https://www.kirtlandschools.org/Downloads/Kirtland%20Strategic%20Plan%20with%20Chart.pdf