The July 22, 2026 regular meeting packet is largely focused on preparing the district for the 2026-2027 school year. Rather than introducing a single major capital project, the packet concentrates on employment actions, operating contracts, technology renewals, administrative policies, school calendars, community education programming, and routine financial approvals that enable district operations before students return to school.
Several significant governance items appear before the Board. These include adoption of new exempt and certificated administrative personnel handbooks, approval of a memorandum of understanding with the Chagrin Falls Education Association, revisions to the 2026-2027 school calendar, approval of the proposed 2027-2028 calendar, Resolution #26-018, and multiple personnel recommendations affecting teachers, substitutes, administrators, and supplemental positions. These actions establish employment expectations, compensation practices, and operational schedules for the coming academic year.
Technology and instructional services are another major theme. The district is considering contracts with Instructure, Liminex (GoGuardian/Pear Deck Learning), Innovative Solutions Group, and the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio. Together these agreements support transcript services, classroom technology, digital instructional tools, specialized services for students with hearing or visual impairments, and food service sanitation and safety programs.
Community education also receives considerable attention. The packet requests approval for staff compensation associated with summer programs and sports camps, while separately seeking authorization for an extensive slate of fall enrichment programs ranging from chess and coding to theater, etiquette, driver education, arts, and hobby workshops. Many instructor payments are based on participant registration levels rather than fixed salaries.
Major Discussion and Action Items
Personnel handbook updates
One of the most consequential policy matters is adoption of revised handbooks governing exempt staff and certificated administrators. The proposed documents establish compensation practices, insurance contributions, retirement provisions, leave policies, vacation benefits, severance eligibility, tuition reimbursement, professional development, and other employment terms. The handbooks also identify which positions are covered and establish effective dates beginning in late July or early August 2026. These documents become the operational framework for many non-union employees.
Labor agreement and employment recommendations
The superintendent recommends approval of a memorandum of understanding between the Board of Education and the Chagrin Falls Education Association. While the packet excerpt does not provide the complete negotiated language, Board approval would formally recognize agreed employment provisions. Additional recommendations include certified personnel contracts, substitute appointments, supplemental contracts, mentor teacher stipends, additional work hours, resignations, community education compensation, and district leadership assignments.
School calendar decisions
Board members are asked to amend the 2026-2027 school calendar while also adopting the proposed 2027-2028 calendar. The proposed calendar identifies professional development days, holidays, records days, spring break, first student attendance dates, kindergarten and preschool start dates, and the final instructional days. Families, employees, transportation planning, extracurricular scheduling, and community organizations all rely upon these dates well before the school year begins.
Technology and instructional service contracts
Several contracts modernize or continue instructional technology services. The GoGuardian/Pear Deck agreement provides approximately 1,650 licenses for classroom instructional and assessment tools beginning August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027. A separate Instructure agreement supports transcript processing services for current students and alumni using transaction-based pricing. These agreements support classroom instruction, student records, and digital learning infrastructure.
The packet requests Board approval for numerous community education offerings during Fall 2026. Programs include etiquette instruction, chess, elementary and intermediate cheer, coding, musical theater, cross-stitch, hobby workshops, jewelry making, holiday crafts, fashion programs, dodgeball, driver education, SAT/ACT preparation, Snapology LEGO programming, and additional enrichment opportunities. District staff compensation will generally be based upon registrations and program expenses.
Student support service agreements
Contracts with the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio provide specialized services for students with hearing impairments and visual impairments during the 2026-2027 school year. The agreements establish hourly billing rates for audiology, hearing-impaired instruction, orientation and mobility training, braille support, rehabilitation specialists, and related services as required for eligible students.
Operational and sanitation services
The district also proposes renewing its sanitation and food service support program through Innovative Solutions Group. The agreement combines training, documentation, inventory management, OSHA-related support, food safety instruction, and dish machine service for district cafeterias. The program is intended to standardize sanitation procedures across school buildings while supporting regulatory compliance.
Financial Matters
The packet contains several financial recommendations intended to support routine district operations before the academic year begins.
The Board is asked to approve monthly financial reports together with a Then and Now Certificate, providing routine fiscal oversight.
The proposed GoGuardian/Pear Deck Learning agreement totals $9,685.50 for approximately 1,650 licenses covering August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027. The agreement also contains automatic renewal provisions unless terminated under specified notice requirements.
The Innovative Solutions Group sanitation agreement costs $790 per month during the school year or $7,003.35 through a discounted annual payment option. Services include sanitation supplies, training, reporting, inventory management, and dish machine maintenance.
Educational Service Center agreements establish hourly service rates including $160 per hour for audiology services, $150 per hour for hearing-impaired teachers, $127 per hour for visually impaired instructional services, $35 per hour for braillist services, $19 per hour for braillist aides, and $60 per hour for rehabilitation specialists. Actual expenditures will depend upon student needs.
Community education compensation includes numerous instructor payments. Examples include $3,000 for a two-session soccer program coordinator, $1,500 for girls basketball instruction, $1,200 football coaching payments, and additional compensation scaled according to camper registrations.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
The Board is considering Resolution #26-018 regarding transportation impracticality, allowing payment-in-lieu of transportation where statutory criteria are met and direct transportation is determined to be impractical. The supporting resolution references required considerations including travel distance, costs, scheduling impacts, available alternatives, and comparable services.
Governance actions also include approval of revised personnel handbooks, adoption of school calendars, the education association memorandum of understanding, and routine Board procedural actions such as agenda adoption, consent agenda approval, financial approvals, and executive session if needed.
The Treasurer presents monthly financial information for Board review.
The packet includes extensive documentation supporting community education programming, instructional technology agreements, sanitation services, and specialized student service contracts so Board members understand the scope of proposed operational agreements before taking action.
Supporting materials also identify recommended grade-level representatives, department leadership assignments, and district leadership team recommendations associated with supplemental compensation.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
Personnel actions span resignations, certified and classified contracts, substitute appointments, mentor teacher stipends, supplemental and co-curricular contracts, community education staffing, and additional work hours.
The proposed exempt and administrative handbooks include benefit structures such as insurance contributions, leave policies, retirement provisions, tuition reimbursement for administrators of up to $2,500 annually (maximum $5,000 over two years), cellphone reimbursements, incentive compensation opportunities, and retirement recognition provisions for eligible employees.
Leadership recommendations identify grade-level representatives and department chairs supporting instructional leadership throughout the district.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
Although the packet does not present a major construction initiative, it includes several operational improvements.
Technology investments continue digital classroom and assessment platforms.
Food service operations receive updated sanitation, compliance, and equipment support.
Student support services are expanded through specialized Educational Service Center agreements.
Administrative planning continues through approval of future school calendars and operational handbooks that guide district management throughout the upcoming school year.
The agenda includes two public participation opportunities consistent with Board policy.
The first public participation period is limited to agenda items.
A second public participation period later in the meeting allows comments on non-agenda matters.
The packet also announces the next regular Board meeting following this meeting, providing another opportunity for public attendance and participation.
Students and families will experience the most immediate impacts through updated school calendars, continued instructional technology, expanded community education programming, and specialized educational support services.
Employees are affected by revised personnel handbooks, employment agreements, supplemental assignments, compensation recommendations, and negotiated labor matters.
Taxpayers benefit from Board oversight of recurring operating contracts, financial reporting, and annual service agreements before expenditures are made.
Community organizations and residents may benefit from expanded enrichment programming available beyond the regular instructional day and from continued district operational planning before the new school year begins.
- How do the revised personnel handbooks differ from previous versions?
- What changes are included in the memorandum of understanding with the teachers' association?
- Why was the 2026-2027 school calendar amended?
- What factors influenced development of the proposed 2027-2028 calendar?
- How will GoGuardian and Pear Deck tools be used by students and teachers?
- What safeguards exist regarding student privacy when using instructional technology platforms?
- How many students are expected to receive services through the Educational Service Center agreements?
- What participation levels are anticipated for Fall 2026 community education programs?
- How will the sanitation program improve operational efficiency or food safety?
- Are any of the approved contracts replacing existing vendors or expanding current services?
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps
- July 22, 2026: Regular Board meeting scheduled for consideration of the packet recommendations.
- August 1, 2026: Beginning of the GoGuardian/Pear Deck contract period.
- 2026-2027 School Year: Proposed personnel handbook provisions become effective according to their stated implementation dates.
- Fall 2026: Community education programs begin following Board approval and participant registration.
- 2027-2028 School Year: Newly proposed academic calendar would guide future district operations if adopted.
- 2026-2027 School Year: Specialized Educational Service Center contracts provide hearing and vision services throughout the school year.
Key Takeaways
- The meeting focuses primarily on preparing for the 2026-2027 school year.
- New personnel handbooks are among the most significant policy actions.
- The Board will consider a memorandum of understanding with the teachers' association.
- School calendar revisions are proposed for both the current and following academic years.
- A $9,685.50 GoGuardian/Pear Deck technology agreement is recommended.
- Community education programming will expand with numerous fall offerings.
- Specialized hearing and vision services continue through Educational Service Center agreements.
- Food service sanitation and training services would continue under Innovative Solutions Group.
- Personnel recommendations include contracts, substitutes, stipends, and supplemental assignments.
- Financial reports and routine fiscal approvals remain part of the Board's oversight responsibilities.
Official Sources
About the Public Body
- Name: Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School District
- Organization type: school-district
- Government body: school-boards
- Location: Chagrin Falls, ohio
- County: Cuyahoga County
- Provider: boarddocs
Keywords
Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School District, Regular Meeting, Board of Education, July 22 2026, BoardDocs, superintendent recommendations, treasurer recommendations, personnel handbook, administrative handbook, education association, memorandum of understanding, school calendar, 2027-2028 calendar, GoGuardian, Pear Deck, Liminex, Instructure, transcript services, Community Education, Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio, hearing impairment services, visual impairment services, Innovative Solutions Group, sanitation program, mentor teacher stipend, supplemental contracts, monthly financial reports, Resolution 26-018, public participation
