Dear Community,

 

On May 29, 2015, 373 students graduated from North Royalton High School in a memorable commencement at the State Theater.  One only had to hear the tremendous speeches by two of our outstanding students, Lisa Twarog and Christine Margevicius, to know that our students are not only special people, but that they have all the tools to be successful in whatever they chose to do in life.  We wish the Class of 2015 the best of luck!

I would also like to wish everyone a relaxing summer. While we are busy planning for the start of the 2015-16 school year on August 19, summer is also a time for us to reflect on the past while we make those plans. I am confident that the new school year will be a rewarding year for our students and staff.  Yes, there will be challenges to face, but I know with the passion and commitment of our students, parents, staff, administration and the entire North Royalton community, we will overcome anything that comes our way and continue to inspire and empower learners.

We have a great deal to be proud of at North Royalton City Schools and I hope that you take a moment to read this newsletter and stay informed of what is happening around our schools and with the Board of Education.  I also encourage you to visit our newly designed website at www.northroyaltonsd.org

I welcome your thoughts and comments.  Please call me at  440-582-9030   or email me at  greg.gurka@northroyaltonsd.org.

 

Greg Gurka,  Superintendent
North Royalton City Schools

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Table 1 compares our monthly operating receipts to the prior year actual for the first ten months of our fiscal year (July 2014 through May 2015).  It further estimates our collection through our fiscal year end.  You will notice two large collection points in our fiscal year which are July and February.  These two months are considerably higher than the others due to real estate collection which represents over 70% of our revenues.

 

 

  

Table 2 compares our monthly operating expenditures to the prior year actual for the first ten months of our fiscal year (July 2014 through May 2015).  It further estimates our expenditures through our fiscal year end.  You will notice a consistent expenditure pattern throughout our fiscal year due to salaries and wages evenly distributed throughout our fiscal year.

 


 

Table 3 illustrates the current actual cumulative monthly operating revenues and expenditures for the first ten months of our fiscal year (July 2014 through May 2015).  It further estimates our cumulative revenues and expenditures through our fiscal year end.  You will notice a gradual increase in both revenues and expenditures as we approach our fiscal year end where revenues and expenditures eventually meet.

 

 

Table 4 illustrates our fiscal year to date operating expenditures by category for the first ten months of our fiscal year (July 2014 through May 2015).  Salary and Wages represent approximately 61%, Fringe Benefits 23%, Purchased Services 11%, Materials Supplies & Textbooks 3% and the combination of Capital Outlay and Operational Fees 2%.

 

  

LINKS to DISTRICT FINANCIALS:

Click here for the North Royalton City School District 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

 

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North Royalton Board of Education Approves Hiring of New Principal of Albion Elementary 

At its June 8 meeting, the North Royalton Board of Education approved the hiring of Vincent Ketterer as principal of Albion Elementary. 

Ketterer, of Strongsville, has been a principal at Copopa Elementary School in the Columbia Local School District since 2004.  He began his career teaching second and sixth grade before moving into administration in 2003. 

Gurka said Ketterer's eleven years as an elementary principal "give him the knowledge and experience to be successful anywhere." During his tenure with
CLSD he has helped the building become focused on literacy and worked hard to implement new programs and ideas, as well as raising funds to make them happen. Gurka also praised his communication skills and ability to build positive relationships with his staff.

"He has demonstrated the ability to have difficult conversations with staff and handle them in an honest and compassionate manner. He has a calm, easy going personality making him approachable and well-liked by students, parents, staff and administration," Gurka said. "His style allows for shared leadership and collaboration when it comes to solving building issues or increasing student achievement."
 

Gurka believes Ketterer's communication skills, personality, and ability to form positive working relationships with shareholders will help him make a smooth transition to his new role at Albion.
 

Ketterer will meet staff and get to know the building before scheduling a few social events this summer to introduce himself to the students and staff at Albion. He and his wife, Suzi, have three children, Myles, 
Ben and Ava. 

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Congratulations to the 

North Royalton High School Class of 2015

 

 

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North Royalton Family Has Wish Granted for Son

by Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana


 


 

North Royalton residents Jocelyn and Charles Stella are the parents of four children. Their oldest child, Charlie, is 5 ½ years old and suffers from numerous acquired disorders, such as Spastic Quadriparesis Cerebral Palsy, Refractory Epilepsy, Secondary Dystonia, Dysphagia and Cortical Vision Impairment.  Last summer, the Stella family reached out to the local chapter of Make-a-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana with a special request of installing an inclusive play area on the grounds of Royal View Elementary by the current playground.  At first, a "playground cruiser" was the only piece of equipment to be added to the current school playground.  However, after a year of additional planning, a complete inclusive playground will be installed at the elementary school thanks to Make-A-Wish, North Royalton City Schools, and Snider Recreation.


When Make-a-Wish received the Stella family's letter and began to do research, they knew that the one piece of playground equipment was not enough to fulfill Charlie's one true wish.  With the help of Snider Recreation and North Royalton City Schools, Jocelyn and Charles Stella were told this past May during a surprise announcement that Make-A-Wish was going to grant Charlie's most heartfelt wish.  "Now, not only Charlie, but other children who have disabilities in the community, will have the opportunity to interact and enjoy the whole playground at Royal View Elementary with other children," said Lisa White, Wish Program Manager for Make-A-Wish Northeast Ohio Region. 

 

"This is our dream for our son and for our community.  What a wonderful addition this playground will be," said Jocelyn.  "We now have a place to go with Charlie right in the community that we live."

 

Working along with Snider Recreation, North Royalton City School's maintenance department will work on the installation beginning in June.  The goal is for the playground to open by the beginning of the 2015-16 school year.  "I want to thank the Stella Family and the Make-A-Wish for their generous donation to our school facility," said Greg Gurka, superintendent of North Royalton City Schools.  "This donation will allow all of our students and all of the children in our community, whether special needs or typical peers, to play and learn together."


For the complete story, click here.

 

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Board of Education Adopts District's Three-Year Strategic Plan  


At the June 8 Board of Education meeting, the district's new three-year strategic plan was adopted.  A presentation, led by Director of Curriculum and Instruction Melissa Vojta, along with several staff members, highlighted the key areas of the plan that will direct the initiatives of the district throughout the next three years.  The district's mission to "inspire and empower learners" remains.

"So much has been accomplished and improved upon over the last five

years. More importantly, levels of consistency with program delivery and

communication in key areas have become a part of how we do business in

our 'Royalton Way,'" said Vojta.  "There are always areas of need that either

continue to need TLC, or simply to remain an area of focus we don't want

to lose sight of. Additionally, our world in education continues to rapidly

change, particularly in the area of instructional technology, and our

curriculum and facilities must be equipped to handle the change. It's natural

then that some of the action steps in the completed plan would retire, to be

replaced with new initiatives that are more current and relevant to the

needs of our students today."

Early on in the school year, Superintendent Greg Gurka approached the District Leadership Team (DLT) for input on how to proceed with creating an updated strategic plan. Many of the members of this team were part of the original retreat group that established the vision, mission, and goals. "As we reviewed, reflected, and shared thoughts on these areas, it was apparent that none of what we believed then has changed, and more importantly, those guiding principles in the areas of Community Engagement, Student Achievement, Communications, Facilities, Financial, and Collaboration, are what have set the course for the successes we have seen, and would like to continue to see in the future." DLT members were dispersed among each of the goal groups to lead the charge for revision. Each group reflected on the former action steps to determine if they continue to be needed or if adjustments were necessary based on current need and vision for the district.

 

We thank the members of each goal committee who took the time to meet, review the action steps, and set the district on a positive path for the future of our students.

 
To view the plan, click here


 

Other Useful Links for you . . .  

 

Click here

to read the April 2015 Community Update on Facilities, Finances, and Community Engagement Taskforce

 

to read the North Royalton City School District's Quality Profile.

to read the Spring 2015 North Royalton "Bear Way" magazine.

Click here
to watch the latest "Bear Time" with the Superintendent video.  
 
Click here
for the NR Board of Education meeting minutes and agendas.  Click here for meeting dates for 2015.

for a snapshot of our Ohio Department of Education Local Report Card.