Politics & Government

School Board Quick Takes: Board Approves Nine Retirements

The retirements include eight teachers and a reading specialist

A handful of teachers are slated to retire this year, including a couple we've featured on North Canton Patch (Laura Luikart and Sue Oryszak). 

The North Canton City Schools Board of Education met Wednesday night in the Hoover High Media Center and approved the following resignations for retirement:

  • Nancy Fogle
  • Diana Jencks
  • Marilyn "Kim" Kobzowicz
  • Laura Luikart
  • Susan Oryszak
  • Debra Russell
  • Margaret Stewart
  • Claudia Swanson
  • Adele Berardi

Superintendent Michael Gallina said the teachers' years working in North Canton total 238.

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Curriculum Director Peggy Savage said a majority of those teachers will be internally replaced.

"Surprisingly, with the combination of the unification of the buildings (the Unified Elementary Design) and the student population, in the end we're only going to have to replace two people, which is pretty amazing," she said.

Find out what's happening in North Cantonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Board members expressed their gratitude to those who are planning to retire from North Canton City Schools this year.

"There are some outstanding educators, as I make my way through this list," board member Betty Fulton said. "I've taught with six of them and they're phenomenal. We're going to miss them."

In other business:

  • A few students of Sue Oryszak presented their e-portfolios to the board. Oryszak, a second grade teacher at Orchard Hill Elementary, said she got the idea from Walsh University students and decided to help her students set up online profiles that are only accessible to those with a password. The portfolios include writings and videos and can be updated after the student moves on from Oryszak’s class.
  • Principal Tony Pallija reported that the school’s Bring Your Own Devices pilot program was doing well overall, with some expected hurdles. “To see the kids studying in study hall and reading these e-books — it’s worth the whole battle,” he said.
  • The board granted permission to teachers Scott Colles and Ben Janchar to attend the PLTW Biomedical Curriculum Revision workshop in Indianapolis and for Charles Collier to attend the 2012 AP Reading in Louisville, KY. The board also granted permission to Angela Smith to attend the Daily Five Literacy Instructor workshop in Ann Arbor, MI.
  • The board discussed the Everyday Mathematics Common Core State Standards Edition textbooks for kindergarten through fifth grade classes that would be used for the 2012-2013 school year. The board tabled the item, at the suggestion of board member Chris Thomas, and scheduled a special meeting for 6 p.m. Wednesday for discussion. Thomas said if the math classes are doubled for those grades, it's unclear what other classes will suffer because of it.
  • Gallina said the district will roll out a website for the within the next two weeks. It will be accessible from the district's homepage and will aim to keep parents and community members up to date with important information regarding the plan, which goes into effect for the 2012-2013 school year.
  • The next board of education regular meeting is set for 6 p.m. March 21.

Other news from Wednesday night's board meeting:


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