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Menlo Park Academy Governing Board

Minutes

Board Meeting

Regular Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday October 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Location

Menlo Park Academy

2149 West 53rd St.

Cleveland, OH 44102

The regular meeting of MPA’s governing board will be held on October 16, 2025 at Menlo Park Academy, 2149 W. 53rd Street, Cleveland, OH 44102. Meeting dates and times are posted in several places in building as well as online. We will endeavor to enable virtual attendance, when possible, at this meeting link – https://meet.google.com/bqx-niry-mqu. 

Directors Present

Jeffrey Sugalski, Sam Sherwood, Tiffany Randle, Twana Rogers

Directors Absent

Teri Harrison

Guests Present

Deborah Zeffren

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Tiffany Randle called a meeting of the board of directors of Menlo Park Academy Governing Board to order on Thursday Oct 16, 2025 at 6:03 PM.

C.

Public Comments

II. Sponsor Report

A.

Sponsor Report

A. Lentz discussed the Annual Performance Report that was given to the school leaders. Highlights strengths and areas of improvement. A. Lentz reported on the monthly visit and the discussions that are written and sent to the board after the visit. 

 

A. Lentz discussed the 11.6 goals and let the board know that the board is on track. 

 

T. Randle spoke about the sponsor contract and told the board that the board would be reviewing it at the working board meeting. 

III. Financial Report

A.

Report

Jeffrey Sugalski made a motion to accept the financial report.
Sam Sherwood seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

IV. Education Report

A.

Education Report

E. Beeghly gave the highlights of the Educational report. She highlighted the field trips and the OST testing. E. Beeghly also highlighted the House program. She spoke specifically about the badges that the students will be earning. The items will be a mix of SEL and PBIS. 

V. Admissions Report

A.

Admissions Report

T. Randle reviewed the Admissions Report. 

VI. Operations Report

A.

Operations Report

T. Randle presented the Operations Report. 

 

Highlights are the in the report. Specific highlights are the following: 

 

1) Water Tower Update

2)Lockdown event

3) NSLP program

4) Behnke Update- Play area update

 

B.

Water Tower Update

T. Randle discussed the attached report. The highlights were the restoration base to the water tower that is expected to be covered by the grant. 

VII. Board Committees

A.

Audit & Finance

J. Sugalski reported that the finance committee met. He mentioned that they reviewed the September finances. 

B.

Development

T. Rogers let the board know that the committee did not meet. She highlighted that the Read-A-Thon exceeded the goal. 

C.

Enrollment Committee

S. Sherwood spoke about the committee and how they meet weekly. The focus is the enrollment season and a possible CRM. 

D.

Program Excellence

S. Sherwood said that the committee is starting up. 

VIII. Resolutions for Consideration: Academic

A.

Contract

Jeffrey Sugalski made a motion to Jessica Esway to sign the agreement with the ESC of North East Ohio for RESA services in the amount of $6,000.
Twana Rogers seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

Special Education Policies & Procedures FY26

Twana Rogers made a motion to adopt the Special Education Policies & Procedures FY26 as presented.
Jeffrey Sugalski seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

C.

Attendance Commitment

Sam Sherwood made a motion to Jessica Esway to sign the agreement to Stay In The Game, which is an attendance program as presented.
Jeffrey Sugalski seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

D.

Contract

Jeffrey Sugalski made a motion to Authorize to sign Music Juniors International sign, not more than $1,000.
Sam Sherwood seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

E.

Overnight Stipend

Sam Sherwood made a motion to approve stipend for Caleb Evans and Adonai Henderson in the amount of $200 for Camp Nuhop.
Jeffrey Sugalski seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

F.

Proposal

Jeffrey Sugalski made a motion to pay Natasha Dyditch a stipend of $300 per session ( 2 sessions)for Mock Trial.
Sam Sherwood seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

IX. Resolutions for Consideration: Operations

A.

Winter Benefit Contract

Twana Rogers made a motion to for Deborah Zeffren to execute the agreement with benefit auction services as presented.
Jeffrey Sugalski seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

X. Resolutions for Consideration: Admissions

A.

Testing Stipend

Jeffrey Sugalski made a motion to approve testing stipends for Kimberley Overton and Caleb Evans for testing date of 9/23/25 in the amount of $100 per staff member.
Sam Sherwood seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

XI. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:52 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Deborah Zeffren
Documents used during the meeting
None

MISSION STATEMENT: Menlo Park Academy is a public school that develops the potential of gifted children through an exemplary program of rewarding experiences that nurtures the whole child.