Welcome to GCSSA's monthly eNews Communication featuring what you may have missed last month, and what's coming up in the near future. We hope you can take some time to read through the information provided to stay informed of insights and updates that have an impact on your district. As always, we appreciate your involvement and support!

What's to come ...

"School-Based Health Centers" on January 8 (rescheduled)

Date: Thursday, January 8, 2026

Location: Virtual (ZOOM)

Program Begins: 9:30 am

GCSSA, in partnership with the ESC of Northeast Ohio, will host a rescheduled session on the value and impact of school-based health centers. The session will feature presenters Joe Spiccia, Former Superintendent of Wickliffe City Schools, and Julie Ramos, Director of Strategic Innovation for Wickliffe City Schools.

Click to register for the event on January 8

"Transforming Learning: Building Coherence in Complex Times" on January 22

Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026

Location: Virtual (ZOOM)

Program Begins: 9:30 am

GCSSA, in partnership with Cleveland State University’s Center for Educational Leadership, welcomes internationally recognized expert Joanne Quinn. Quinn is the co-author, along with Michael Fullan, of the influential book "Coherence: The Right Drivers in Action for Schools, Districts, and Systems."

 🖊️ To register, e-mail Teri Hedrick at thedrick@osconline.org.

"Connecting Schools, Communities, and Generations: A Follow-Up with Perna"

Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Location: Lorain County ESC (1885 Lake Ave, Elyria)

Program Begins: 8:30 am

Building on the success of the October in-service, GCSSA, as part of its recent efforts to expand collaboration and partnership with other ESCs, will join the Lorain County ESC to host follow-up sessions of “Generational Differences: Know Your Why” on February 3, 2026. 

Mark Perna will lead the sessions, as he did with great success this fall, continuing the conversation around purpose, motivation, and bridging generational gaps. Attendees are encouraged to engage their Business Advisory Councils (BACs) in the afternoon session (1-3 pm) to deepen the dialogue with community and workforce partners.

Schedule:

8:30 am - Noon

District and Building-Level Administration

Designed for superintendents, principals, assistant principals, directors, and other leaders.


1-3 am

Community and Workforce Partners

Designed for employers, chambers, workforce and education boards, and civic leaders.

 🖊️ To register, e-mail Teri Hedrick at thedrick@osconline.org.

Recent Events & Updates ...

Record Participation Highlights Success of Redesigned GCSSA Salary Survey

Streamlined completion, expanded access, and member support drove higher engagement and reinforced the value of participating to gain exclusive salary and benefits data.

The release of this year’s GCSSA Salary Survey marked a turning point for district leaders across Ohio, reflecting renewed confidence in the process and responsiveness to member feedback. Participation rose to a record 49 districts, a notable increase from the 28 that participated in previous years. This growth signaled a shared commitment to strengthening compensation planning across the state.

A key factor in this success was the redesigned survey itself. Created with efficiency and ease of use in mind, the updated format reduced completion time to less than one hour, roughly half the time required in the past. For busy administrators, this streamlined approach removed a major barrier and made participation far more manageable.

Accessibility also improved in meaningful ways. Members can now grant access to additional district staff, allowing finance, human resources, and other key personnel to collaborate directly within the tool. This change improved accuracy and made the survey more useful for internal planning, budgeting, and negotiations.

To help members fully understand and apply the data, two Zoom sessions were held to walk participants through the results and answer questions. These sessions also emphasized the importance of participation, encouraging districts to take part next year so they can access this valuable and exclusive information.

Overall, this year’s GCSSA Salary Survey reflects steady progress. By simplifying the process, expanding functionality, and supporting members through guided discussions, the survey has become a trusted resource that promotes collaboration, transparency, and informed leadership across Ohio’s school districts.

Districts are encouraged to plan now to participate next year and ensure continued access to this essential data!