Collective Bargaining Agreement Approved with Cardinal Education Association
Cardinal Board of Education – March 11, 2026
Meeting Details: The Cardinal Board of Education met in Regular Session at the Cardinal Board of Education Office, 15982 E. High St., Middlefield, 44062 at 6:30 pm. The agenda is available online here. Click on the meeting tab in the upper right hand corner and then on the date of the meeting. This meeting is in person only with no livestream or video.
Board Attendance: President Linda Smallwood, Vice President Barb Rayburn, and Members Anita Marlowe, Ruth Natali, and Edna Phile.
Staff Attendance: Superintendent Jack Cunningham and Treasurer Daniel L. Wilson.
1. Opening Items The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll call was taken.
2. Presentations:
Huskie Happenings: Observer Note: Additional Information is available through a link on the Agenda.
-
Lockdown: Superintendent Cunningham spoke about the recent lockdown and complimented the students and staff for their behavior during it. He stated that the building was secured quickly, and it was an opportunity to review and practice procedures. He stated that they took the opportunity afterward to debrief with staff, teams, and some students. Mrs. Rayburn asked if there were things identified during the debriefing, and President Smallwood stated that the kids and the staff followed the plan and that the most important thing was that the students were always safe. Mr. Cunningham stated that there were some challenges, as the elementary school principal was out for the day, and the associate principal was doing a tour with a group in another part of the building, but it was nice to see the reaction time, and that they could move through and get things done without panicking. Mrs. Smallwood stated that, other than the emotional toll that it took, it was a good drill. Ms. Natali asked, “This is more of a parent question than a board question, but I’m going to ask. When you are going through the lockdown stuff, because that wasn’t a thing when I was in school, when you’re going through that, at the high school, not at the elementary, because I get that, but when you’re going through that, are you explaining to the kids why you’re doing what you’re doing?” Mr. Cunningham asked if she meant during a scheduled drill, and she said, “Yes, let’s go with that.” He said that usually elementary students are told that it is a drill, but high school students are not told until afterward. Ms. Natali stated, “From the high schooler perspective, there is confusion as to why you’re doing certain things, so I think it might be good to maybe explain to the kids that these are the things we do to keep you safe.” Mr. Cunningham stated that those were probably good questions, but they would probably be better answered in a conversation between the two of them, as he did not want to give out information publicly about strategies. Ms. Natali stated that it was incredibly nerve wracking, and she couldn't imagine being in that building. She stated that she didn't know if there was any kind of better communication that could be had in the moment to keep the panic down, and that maybe it wasn’t, maybe it didn't seem that way. After a pause, Ms. Marlowe asked if the caller had been identified. Mr. Cunningham said that, as far as he knew, no, and he had not had any communication from anybody since that day about followup, although he knew they were looking at numbers, people, and they were doing other things. Ms. Marlowe asked, “And they are?” Mr. Cunningham responded, “Sheriffs, Middlefield Police, the FBI, detectives.”
-
Mr. Cunningham gave a shout-out to a Cardinal Jr./Sr. High School student who was featured on a recent episode of New Day Cleveland, while working at Two & Company in Chagrin Falls. (see agenda for details)
-
Mr. Cunningham announced that four students participated in the D7 Middle School Honor Band at Mentor High School on Friday, Feb. 27. (see agenda for details)
-
Mr. Cunningham announced that 4th and 5th graders competed in the Greater Cleveland Council of Teachers of Mathematics (GCCTM) Problem Solving Tournament on Feb. 21 in Garrettsville. (see agenda for details)
-
Mr. Cunningham congratulated a student who finished as 1st runner up at the Tri-County Spelling Bee. (See agenda for details and four file attachments)
3. Hearing of the Public
none
4. Discussion Item(s)
none
5. Superintendent’s Report - Personnel Items (see agenda for details)
-
Retirement, effective 7-1-26, 1 person
-
FMLA, (Family and Medical Leave Act) 6 weeks, 1 person
-
Rescind supplemental Middle School Track, 1 person
Mr. Cunningham explained that the person would be taking another supplemental position.
Supplemental Athletics, 2 people
All Items APPROVED 5-0
6. Superintendent’s Report - Additional Items
A. Agreement between Cardinal Local School District and Epicenter ABA Therapy (for a student who needs a different placement for the remainder of the year)
APPROVED 5-0
B. Collective Bargaining Agreement with Cardinal Education Association (3 year agreement)
Mrs. Marlowe stated that it was wonderful working with Mr. Cunningham and Eva Bratnick, and thanked him. Mr. Cunningham stated that it was a collaborative effort, and that it was one of the best experiences he has been through at Cardinal, and that he appreciated the collaboration between CEA (Cardinal Education Association) and their representative and the two board members that served.
APPROVED 5-0
C. Field Trips
Honors Government Class to Berkshire HS for the “Courtroom in the Classroom” 3-11-26
APPROVED 5-0
D. Transportation Services (see agenda for list)
Use of a district school bus for All Around Children Daycare field trips at no cost to the district.
Mr. Cunningham said that they have been doing these summer trips for several years, and that the daycare pays the district.
APPROVED 5-0
E. Jr. / Sr. High Kitchen Equipment
Recommendation from the Facilities Committee for purchase of kitchen equipment (a multi-vendor purchase) for the Jr./Sr. High:
Double stacked oven, commercial refrigerator/cooler
Needed for consolidating lunch periods from 3 to 2; project cost to be under $25,000.
APPROVED 5-0
F. Auburn Career Center - Added services/program
Mr. Cunningham had a handout for the board members, and he explained that this is a program for students with special needs which until now has been outsourced to Berkshire School District. Auburn Career Center will pay for half of the cost. He handed the job description for a Job Training and Transition Coordinator to the board, and asked the board to approve the job description.
APPROVED 5-0
7. Treasurer’s Report
A. Minutes for the February 11th regular meeting
APPROVED 5-0
B. Minutes from the February 25th work session regular meeting
APPROVED 5-0
Minutes when approved are available for review by clicking on the meeting in the Agenda.
C. Resolution; Authorization
Resolution 2026-0301
Authorizing filing of complaint against the valuation of real property for tax year 2025 against permanent parcel number 18-089200
Mr. Wilson stated that this is a property that has a current assessed value by the auditor of $2,624,500. A recent ARMS link has a sale price of $6,200,786. He is asking that the sale price be recognized as the value of the property. If they are successful, it would provide an additional $37,000 in revenue, assuming property taxes are involved.
Ms. Phile asked if this was just asking the county for that price. Mrs. Smallwood said that it was, and they have an attorney to handle it for the district. Mr. Wilson said yes, that it used to be that at the organizational meeting the board authorized him to file to the extent permitted, but when they are filing this type of appeal, the law was changed a year ago to require board action on each individual filing. Reviewer Note: The County Board of Revision hears appeals regarding property valuation.
APPROVED 5-0
D. Resolution; Tax Rate
Resolution 2026-0302
Tax Rate Resolution (see Agenda)
Mr. Wilson stated that he attended the County Budget Commission’s School Budget Hearings, and he was successful in explaining their data. Reviewer Note: The LWVG Observer Report on Cardinal’s Budget Hearing is available here. He said that the Budget Commission is maintaining all current tax rates that are being levied and they (the board) are required to pass a resolution to accept their actions.
APPROVED 5-0
E. Financial Reports for the month of February 2026
(see Agenda for file attachments)
Mr. Wilson apologized for being a little slow in getting the financial statements out to the board. He explained that there was a challenge reconciling the bank statements. He said there was a little glitch between some payroll transactions that were posted, but they were able to resolve it. He stated that they continue to track the budget. With 67% of the year complete, they have received 70% of their revenue, and 65% of their expenditures have been made. He said they are “tracking to budget for the year.”
APPROVED 5-0
Mr. Wilson stated that he had provided the board with some comments about the annual financial audit report for fiscal year 2024-2025. He stated that they should have received an email from the Auditor with the final audit report. He said that they had a clean audit, with two management letter comments. One dealt with four federal funds that they were asked to restate on the financial statements, and the other dealt with a deficit in the ACE (Academy) fund. He explained that they have had several agreements with them, and they were confident that they would receive full payment by the end of this fiscal year. Reviewer Note: ACE Academy is a charter school that is housed within the Cardinal High School and utilizes some staff from Cardinal. See Geauga Maple Leaf articles from September 10, 2025 and October 10, 2025 for more information.
8. Legislative Update
Ms. Marlowe stated that there are various bills that are working their way through, but nothing has been approved.
9. Auburn Career Center Update
Mrs. Rayburn stated that the new treasurer is Jason Crowe. He is a new treasurer, but is well known by area superintendents.
10. Hearing of the Public - Non agenda Items
None
11. Executive Session
Mrs. Smallwood stated that they would adjourn to executive session for the consideration of compensation of an employee. She stated that they would have no action following the Executive Session.
APPROVED 5-0
Meeting was adjourned to executive session at 6:59 p.m.
Next meetings: March 25, 2026 - Regular Session/Work Session at 6:30 pm; April 8, 2026 - Regular Meeting, at 6:30 pm at Board Offices, 15982 E. High Street, Middlefield, OH
More information here: https://cardinalschools.org/board-members/
Observer: Dorrie Keough
Editor: Sarah McGlone
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Submitted: March 18, 2025
The League of Women Voters of Geauga is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. They do not support or oppose individual candidates or parties. Learn more about the LWVG at www.lwvgeauga.org.