Monday, March 4, 2013
Final release of state of Ohio Report Cards for 2011-12 confirms that Solon students are achieving at the highest levels in Northeast Ohio.
Final release of state of Ohio Report Cards for 2011-12 confirms that Solon students are achieving at the highest levels in Northeast Ohio. With a Performance Index Score of 111.2, the Solon Schools had the top achievement score among public school districts in Northeast Ohio and the third highest in the state. Solon also received the state’s "Excellent with Distinction" rating. State report card data is typically released in August each year, but was delayed this year due to a statewide audit of attendance reporting in Ohio school districts. The audit findings were reported in late February and the Ohio Department of Education subsequently released the final report card data. Solon students and staff celebrated the preliminary Report Card…
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Solon Schools officials say the deal is a win for teachers, administration and taxpayers.
The Solon Board of Education and the Solon Education Association have come to terms on a new deal to renegotiate the final year of the current three-year labor contract and also agreed on a new three-year deal through 2017. Solon Schools officials say the deal is a win for teachers, administration and taxpayers. The agreement, approved Monday by the school board, provides teaching staff with raises in three of the next four years, and one year of pay freezes. Both sides of the deal had committed to one more year of pay freezes. At the same time, employees will pay more for health coverage, a major cost savings for the school district. The deal also results in a five-year financial forecast for the district without the need for a tax levy…
Thursday, December 20, 2012
School officials have proposed a series of steps to improve security at Solon school buildings in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Newtown, Conn.
After a Tuesday meeting between Solon Schools leaders and Police Chief Chris Viland, Solon Superintendent Joe Regano has told parents they will immediately begin planning and implementing changes to the schools security procedures. The changes come in the wake of the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. The changes include: Regano says all changes, as they are implemented, will be discussed during regular public school board meetings. He writes in a letter to parents: The Board and I are taking what we believe is responsible action to get us started in making necessary changes just as you expect. Although we are moving quickly to get started, we are not abandoning the thoughtful and deliberative process we so …
Monday, December 17, 2012
The Solon Board of Education, the district's administrative team and Police Chief Chris Viland will meet in executive session Tuesday to review all emergency and safety plans.
In the wake of the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., Solon Schools leaders and the police chief will meet Tuesday to review all safety plans and discuss any recommended changes. The Solon Board of Education, the district's administrative team and Police Chief Chris Viland will meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday in private executive session to review all of their emergency plans, said Superintendent Joe Regano in a letter to parents. Regano said the district will share with parents all the information it can on Wednesday. Regano's full letter is below: Like you, we spent much of this weekend reflecting on the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut. We share your concerns about ensuring that our school buildings are as safe as they …
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
The Solon School board appointed an interim principal at Parkside Elementary to replace the late Martha Keeney.
An assistant principal at Solon High School has been appointed to serve as interim principal at Parkside Elementary after the death of Martha Keeney. Erica Kosiorek was appointed to that role at Monday's Solon School Board meeting. "I know she’ll do an outstanding job," said Superintendent Joe Regano, who informed the staff at Parkside on Monday that Kosiorek would be taking over. "I think it's going to be an excellent fit." Kosiorek will be at Parkside full time after winter break, and will use the time until then to prepare herself, Regano said. The school board also approved a supplemental contract for Patricia Petrie for administrative assistant duties at Parkside. Regano said Petrie has done an outstanding job helping out at Parkside …
Friday, April 6, 2012
Superintendent Joe Regano said that's the largest number of teachers to ever take advantage of the retire/rehire program.
Twenty-two Solon teachers, many of the district's best and brightest, will retire at the end of the school year. But they'll be back next year too, since these teachers plan to take advantage of Solon's retire/rehire program. District officials praise the program as a win for the schools, the taxpayers and the teachers. "This has been an extremely important part of our financial expenditure puzzle," said Superintendent Joe Regano. "We've been able to move higher salaries out and move newer salaries in." The retire/rehire program allows teachers to receive their state retirement incentive while also receiving their full salaries from the school district. That means Solon will then hire new teachers, who will be paid much lower salaries. And…
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Solon Superintendent Joe Regano and the school board responded to the tragedy in Chardon.
In the wake of Monday's shooting at Chardon High School, Solon School officials said the tragedy underscores the importance of reporting threats and suspicious behavior. The Solon School Board talked about the shooting Monday, offering condolences to the Chardon community and discussing Solon's preparations. After news of the shooting broke, Solon Police immediately sent officers to the schools. Students were informed about what had taken place and a letter was e-mailed to parents. Superintendent Joe Regano said the school districts' close relationship with the Solon Police and the Fire Department helps them stay as prepared as possible for an emergency. "I don't know what else our safety departments can do to make us as safe as possible…
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
The school board will revisit the need to restructure the school district's facilities in the event of meeting low enrollment triggers or financial troubles
Despite enrollment declines, Solon Schools officials and a community strategic planning team have decided the district does not need to close a school next year. But in its report, that strategy team -- made up of more than 60 school officials, parents and interested community members -- said the district should revisit the discussion if enrollment declines reach a certain level or if the district is beset by financial troubles. In the future, the school system will re-open discussions of reconfiguring the district and possibly closing a school in these circumstances: Superintendent Joe Regano said the recommendation gives district officials the chance to "step back" and gather more data on enrollment numbers. Kindergarten registration …
Friday, January 6, 2012
A group of Solon graduates seeking to honor the former Solon High School principal E. James Kotora will formally ask the school board on Monday to rename the high school auditorium after Kotora.
A group of Solon High grads who want to honor the late E. James Kotora will formally ask the Solon School Board Monday to rename the auditorium after the popular principal. The effort to honor Kotora, who died in 2011, began in August as a social media campaign on Facebook to rename Inwood Drive as Kotora Way. That effort hit some roadblocks because the street is owned by the city, which in turn asked the Kotora supporters to talk to the school board. School officials have said that they don't have authority to rename the city-owned street. But officials, including Superintendent Joe Regano, have worked to come up with renaming the high school auditorium, a space that was important to Kotora, as a compromise. Mike Cook, a leader of the …
Monday, October 31, 2011
Rep. Marlene Anielski presented awards to Solon school leaders during Friday's football game for receiving "Excellent" ratings on the state report cards.
Ohio Rep. Marlene Anielski visited Stewart Field Friday to honor Solon Schools for continued excellence. During Friday's football game against Strongsville, Anielski presented commendations for all seven Solon schools recognizing them for their "Excellent" rating on the Ohio Report Cards. Anielski presented the awards to Superintendent Joe Regano and school board members Julie Glavin, Marilyn Thomas, Dorothy Seibert and Margo Morrow. Read More About the School Report Cards:
jon
10:15 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Unfortunately it is my understanding that those of us who are not included in this pay increase will be subject to increased health care costs. So the support teams pay more for health care, but at the same time do not receive any type of pay increase. We also don't get paid for the days we are not in school (winter/spring break, inservice days, religious holidays). Ten days off for winter break … more ›