Dear Community,

As we approach the middle of July, I hope that you are having a safe and relaxing summer.  Summertime is always a busy time for the North Royalton City Schools as we prepare for the opening of a new school year.  As you will read, this year is no different with all the projects and activities occurring. We are excited about what is happening in our District!

The Board of Education passed a resolution to place a renewal levy on the November 6, 2018, ballot at the July 9 meeting.  The three current 10-year levies (2009, 2010, and 2011) will be combined into one 10-year renewal levy at no additional cost to the homeowner.  Renewal of this levy will continue the $2.3 million the State of Ohio contributes to the District. This is a 12.5% savings in taxes to the homeowner.  In addition, by combining three levies into one, the District will save in election costs. 

The Board of Education also took action to approve a new five-year strategic plan.  This plan will serve as a road map for our District in the areas of student achievement, communication, professional development and finances.  At the Board of Education meeting on August 13, a presentation will be made outlining the goals and action steps of the plan.

Please take a moment to read this newsletter and stay informed about what is happening in our schools and with the Board of Education. I encourage you to also read the latest edition of the
Bear Way , the District's digital magazine, by clicking here .  I welcome your thoughts and comments.  Please call me at 440-582-9030 or email me at   greg.gurka@northroyaltonsd.org.

Sincerely,

Greg Gurka
Superintendent
North Royalton City Schools

  July 2018 UPDATE


Community members, teachers, and staff participated in numerous visioning sessions to discuss the North Royalton City Schools' facilities projects in the fall of 2017. The project moved into the design development phase in February 2018. That phase has concluded and ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) and Hammond Construction are currently reviewing exterior and interior design development documents and producing estimates for the North Royalton High School and North Royalton Elementary School projects.

After voters approved the bond issue in May 2017, a building code was put in place that stated any new school structure that houses more than 50 students had to have a structure built into it that could withstand an F-5 tornado.  The requirements include this structure having its own water system, electrical system, and plumbing systems. The District's design has this storm shelter built into the new gymnasiums at both sites. This would have cost the district approximately $1 million at each site and funds would have needed to be taken from other aspects of the project. This spring, the Ohio House and Senate passed HB 21, which had an amendment in it to delay the implementation of this code for any district who passed their bond issues and secured funding before September 2019. Governor John Kasich just signed this legislation and it will now allow $2 million to be put back into the project for what the community voted.

At North Royalton High School, early site work will begin in late July. Bids are currently being accepted for the new bus and emergency vehicle access loop, which will be located on the east side of the building (behind the high school).  The work is being completed this summer and fall in preparation for construction of the building addition in the spring of 2019. The installation of an access loop will allow traffic flow patterns to be maintained during the school year while the building addition is being constructed.  The District is still anticipating that over spring break of the upcoming school year, the fencing will be put up and construction will begin on the addition at the high school.

At North Royalton Middle School (NRMS), work is currently being completed on the remaining roof sections and the exterior tuckpointing.  In addition, bids were secured to replace the heating and cooling systems in the purple and gold gyms. The bids for this work came in well under budget.  Once the bids are finalized and accepted, materials will be procured for a late summer start of the work. All systems will be replaced and in operation by fall of this year.  When the staff returns to school in the fall, the District will be engaging them much as they did at the high school and elementary school to get their input on the educational needs for their spaces.  Schematic design of the renovations at NRMS will then begin.

At North Royalton Elementary School, the District has decided to run the sanitary sewer line north to join the sewer system just over the turnpike on State Road.  There were two options. One was to run a line north and design a pumping station on the site in the same way that Pinestream Development on State Road handles sanitary waste.  The second option that was studied involved installing a gravity sewer line going south to tie into the Medina County System at the southeastern border of the city. After months of working with city officials and sewer district officials, the District has determined the best option is to proceed with the sewer line heading north.  This design will be incorporated into the plans moving forward.

At the elementary school, we have been working with the Army Corps of Engineers to finalize the wetlands study.  Upon passage of the bond issue in May 2017, North Royalton City Schools contracted with ATC Group Services, an environmental consulting firm, to perform a wetland delineation study. The District previously had this study completed in 2001, which showed limited wetland impact. The May 2017 study by ATC confirmed the findings of the 2001 study.  The District proceeded with the permit processes as required for land with minimal wetland impact as it moved into the building design process in fall 2017. The next step in the process was for the Army Corps of Engineers to confirm the wetland study. In late May of 2018, the Army Corps, along with ATC, delineated an increased wetland impact.  As the amount of wetlands increased to over a half an acre, the District is required to proceed with two permits, one through the Army Corps of Engineers and one through the Ohio EPA, as well as continue with the City of North Royalton permit process. The addition of the Ohio EPA process can take between 180 and 365 days. Due to the timeline in place by the Ohio EPA, the District anticipates the construction of North Royalton Elementary School being complete by August 2021, rather than August 2020. While the Ohio EPA reviews this plan, the District will work with the City of North Royalton and Board of Zoning Appeals to get conditional approvals on the other areas of the project that will be needed to keep the process moving forward. The District will continue to keep residents informed of the processes and decisions being made.


Logo Replaced on Stadium Field

The North Royalton City Schools' logo was replaced (under warranty/no charge to the District) this past month. 



 
  
Graph 1 compares our monthly operating receipts to the prior year actual for our fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 (July 2017 through June 2018).  You will notice two large collection points in our fiscal year which are August and February. These two months are considerably higher than the others due to real estate collection which represents over 70% of our revenues. 

    
Graph 2 compares our monthly operating expenditures to the prior year actual for our fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 (July 2017 through June 2018). You will notice a consistent expenditure pattern throughout our fiscal year due to salaries and wages being evenly distributed throughout our fiscal year. 
 
 
Graph 3 illustrates the current actual cumulative monthly operating revenues and expenditures for our fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 (July 2017 through June 2018). You will notice a gradual increase in both revenues and expenditures as we approach our fiscal year end where revenues slightly surpasses expenditures. Actual numbers for the fiscal year were revenues at $51,761,360, expenditures at $50,521,136 increasing our total operating cash balance by $1,240,224. 
             
 
Graph 4 illustrates our fiscal year to date operating expenditures by category for our fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 (July 2017 through June 2018).  Salaries & Wages represent approximately 59%, Fringe Benefits 24%, Purchased Services 13%, Materials, Supplies & Textbooks 3%, and the combination of Capital Outlay and Operational Fees 1%.
 

  
LINKS to DISTRICT FINANCIALS:

Click here for the North Royalton City Schools' five-year forecast.

Interested in reading more?  District financial information such as our annual financial reports, forecasts, tax rates, etc., can be found by  clicking here.

Biagio Sidoti, Treasurer
North Royalton City Schools
biagio.sidoti@northroyaltonsd.org




Breakfast and Lunch Pricing Changes For New School Year

At the July Board of Education meeting, pricing for the breakfast and lunch programs was slightly increased.  

Pricing for the 2018-19 school year:

Elementary Breakfast: $2.00 Lunch: $3.25
Middle School Breakfast: $2.00 Lunch: $3.50
High School Breakfast: $2.00/$2.25
Lunch: $3.50/$3.75
Milk
$.50
 

Free and Reduced Eligibility Notice
Free and Reduced breakfast and lunches can be applied for at any time during the year. Eligibility entitles your child to both breakfast and lunch. All menu items qualify for a meal. This includes pizza, salad bar, all sandwiches, hot entrees, fruit, vegetable and milk. 

Applications can be found under GateWay on the District's website. Log on with your child's student ID. Download the form and print. Submit the form to the school's Food Service Department. Please be sure and fill in all fields, including the signature at the bottom. 

If your child is currently eligible for the free or reduced program, the application must be filled out and submitted every year, no later than the end of September, so service is not interrupted.

For questions, please contact the Food Service Director Mary Ellen Feigi at 440-582-9041 or maryellen.feigi@northroyaltonsd.org.


Alternate Transportation Reminder

Dear Parents,
 
Please remember that if you would like your child to be picked up and dropped off at a location other than his/her home, you need to fill out an Alternate Transportation Form.
  
Alternate location must be in the same attendance area as your residence, unless going to an approved day care center: Beginner's World, Enrichment Center, Imagination Station and YMCA at Valley Vista for students attending all elementary buildings and North Royalton Middle School. 

DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, please email, fax or mail the completed form directly to the Transportation Office.

During the school year, this form must be filled out and returned to the child's school of attendance. 

Alternate stops and days must be consistent for each week of the school year.

Please be advised, forms MUST be received by  July 20, 2018, to be effective the first day of the school year.  Forms received after  July 20, 2018, will be effective ten (10) business days after the start of the school year.  

Forms should be faxed, emailed or mailed to:

Transportation Department
Phone (440) 582-9051  Fax (440) 582-9138

Click here  for the PDF version of the form.

If you have any questions regarding this procedure, please call the Transportation Department at (440) 582-9051. T
hank you in advance for your cooperation. 





________________________________________


News from Cuyahoga Valley Career Center
 
 Click here to read th "News Flash" Update from Cuyahoga Valley Career Center, featuring all the outstanding work and accomplishments of the North Royalton High School students who attend CVCC. 
 
Congratulations, students!  #NRInspireGreat
   
 
 



_________________________________________

Be sure to visit #NRInspireGreat as well as our  
district Facebook page
for pictures and stories from all of our 
buildings.
 

Other Useful Links for you . . .  

to read the district's Quality Profile. 

to read the latest edition of the The Bear Way

2017-18 School Calendar

2018-19 School Calendar

2019-20 School Calendar
 
Click here
for the NR Board of Education meeting minutes and agendas.  Click here for meeting dates for 2018.