Maplewood Career Center Board of Education
April 16, 2026
Meeting attendees
Randy Griffith, superintendent
Michelle Seckman, treasurer
Roger Boltz, Field Local, President
Heather Hakin, Waterloo Local
Mary Kaley, Southeast Local
Jay Kelsey, Rootstown Local
Mandy Minnick, Windham Exempted Village
Kelly Rich, Streetsboro City
Joan Seman, Ravenna
Mike Wisniewski, Ravenna
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5 p.m. with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a moment of silence and the roll call. Board Member Patricia Brett was absent.
Featured Program
The featured program for the meeting was a walk-through of the Applied Engineering and Machining lab, which has been led by Mark Hamilton for the past 14 years. Hamilton shared with the assembled council members that 24 students out of 25 enrolled in the two-year program were graduating this year. In the previous year, 19 of the 25 Applied Machining class graduates secured positions within the industry. Hamilton closed his presentation by thanking the board for providing the needed resources that have contributed to the success of the program.
Approval and Acceptance of Minutes
The Board reassembled in the board room, where the minutes and agenda for the April 16 meeting were unanimously approved. Meeting minutes from the Policy Committee Meeting held March 19, along with the meeting minutes for the March 19 regular meeting, were unanimously approved.
Reports and Questions
Kaley, legislative liaison, provided an update that the Ohio legislature typically passes a capital budget bill in the second year of the general assembly. Occasionally, the legislature will delay introducing or decline to introduce a capital budget bill if there are state fiscal concerns. Leaders of the 136th General Assembly have indicated that the bill will occur. This budget bill, unlike the operating budget, is usually a speedy and simple process. State agencies will submit capital project requests and communities can also submit projects to their state senator or representative. The legislature will then compile the requests and introduce a bill that indicates agency project funding and community project funding. The creation of the state’s six-year Capital Improvements Plan is developed simultaneously with the capital budget. Ohio public schools can receive community project funding. A community project must meet certain criteria to be considered for funding, but the main source of capital budget funds for public schools comes from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission.
Seman, student achievement liaison, reviewed results from a research project conducted in the Chicago public school system to identify core drivers for student academic success. Chronic student absenteeism was identified as the biggest detriment to overall student academic success, followed by the student’s home environment. Areas that were identified where schools can have a significant influence on student academic success were the creation of a safe and welcoming school environment free from bullying and violence, as well as the need for schools to encourage students to succeed in their studies. Further future studies will be conducted on this topic.
Griffith reported that the Maplewood Area Joint Vocational School District earned five stars overall on the 2024-2025 Career Technical Planning District Report Card. This recognizes the excellence in the district in creating a learning environment where students can grow and thrive academically and personally. Following the conclusion of the board meeting, National Honor Society inductions would be taking place at 6 p.m. and the Senior Awards Ceremony would take place on May 27 at the Kent State MAC Center.
Treasurer’s Recommendation
All items submitted were approved as submitted.
Employment of Staff and Personnel Items
Contingent upon proper certification/licensure, clear criminal background checks, receipt of transcripts and verification of years of service, it was recommended that the following individuals be employed for a limited one-year teacher’s contract: Benjamin Swope and Theresa Combs, mathematics instructors; Shelby Kaminski, intervention specialist; McKenna Gessford and Tyler McClellan, guidance counselors; and Wendy Paul-Mikulski, substitute guidance counselor.
Resignations were accepted from Seckman, Jill DeRamo, Brian McCombs, Ted Slankard and Jennifer Smith.
New Business
The first reading was done, as was the review of policies.
Other Recommendations
The student handbook for the 2026-2027 school year was approved, as was the recognition of May 4-8, 2026, as Staff Appreciation Week. Fees were approved for review for the 2026-2027 school year. Also approved was an overnight field trip for SkillsUSA students and advisors to attend the SkillsUSA competition in Columbus, Ohio May 5-6, 2026.
Unfinished Business
None, with the meeting adjourned for executive session.