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Menlo Park Academy Governing Board

Minutes

Board Meeting

Regular Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday February 19, 2026 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 February 19th, 2026 at 2149 W. 53rd St., 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, Teri Harrison, Tiffany Randle, Twana Rogers

Directors Absent

None

Guests Present

Adam Schira, Adonai Henderson, Allison Lentz, Amber Tripphahn (remote), Brittan Berry (remote), CL (remote), Caitlin Gessner, Caitlin Gessner, Corie Rivera (remote), Deborah Zeffren, Doug Thompson, Doug Thompson (remote), Elaine Beeghly, Jessica Esway, Joanna Hilden (remote), Joanna Hilden (remote), Jodell Ward (remote), Joel Black, Kaitlyn Salvo, Karen Sacco, Kelly Baughman, Kelly Baughman (remote), Kelly Daugherty (remote), Liana Wiemels (remote), Michelle Hudak (remote), Nadia Kauntz, Natasha Didytch (remote), Nicole D'Amico (remote), Regan Parker, Shannon Tagliarina, Stephanie Teaford, Stephanie Teaford

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 Feb 19, 2026 at 6:00 PM.

C.

Legal Update

Stephanie Teaford (legal counsel) shared an update on current union negotiations. Contract largely done. 

D.

Public Comments

  1. Karen Sacco shared her thoughts on the current union negotiations.
  2. Adonai Henderson shared his thoughts on current union negotiations.
  3. Shannon Tagliarina shared her thoughts on current union negotiations.
  4. Joel Black shared his thoughts on current union negotiations.

II. Sponsor Report

A.

Sponsor Report

Highlights - Adam Schira is holding public meetings and public records training on April 18th. 

New kindergarten eligibility rule.

III. Financial Report

A.

Report

Sam Sherwood made a motion to Motion to acknowledge receipt of January 2026 financials.
Jeffrey Sugalski seconded the motion.

Comment (Tiffany Randle) - audit and finance committee is meeting next week. Getting through December finances so may be a bit for the team to look at. 

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

IV. Education Report

A.

Education Report

Jessica Esway discussed summer camps and courses and overnight trips. Highlighted intersession, SEL series and Trivia in Bloom.

 

V. Admissions Report

A.

Admissions Report

Jessica Esway highlighted second round of Pre-K drops. Two tours and info sessions well attended. Wait listing for 3 out of 4 floors for next year.

 

Sam Sherwood gave thanks to the admissions teams.

Tiffany Randle made comment.

VI. Operations Report

A.

Operations Report

Deborah Zeffern highlighted building interruptions due to tranformer blowing. Phase 1 of outdoor recreational coming up. New hires coming up. Insurance coming up. Major highlight on NSLP program. Feedback from students on lunch is overwhelmingly positive. Trivia in Bloom coming up on March 7th. Over 40 hours on volunteer hours. 

 

Twana Rogers asked about transformer issue. Also congratulated on lunch program.

 

VII. Board Committees

A.

Audit & Finance

Jeff Sugalski highlighted numbers looking good, review next month. December financials look good.

B.

Development

Development did not meet on 11th but will meet 25th. Meeting monthly second Tuesday. Deborah and Lisa's team hit the ground running. Slightly over 46,000 left to meet goal. Trivia in bloom on March 7th. Decor by Katie, same set up and food. 

 

Tiffany Randle discussed list of items for board to review for next meeting.

C.

Enrollment Committee

Highlights - Kinderarten enrollment and reenrollment numbers. Retention looks good.

D.

Program Excellence

Sam sherwood highlights - Program excellence committee met in February. Onboarding for Elaine. Outlining milestones in process. Another meeting in 5 days to review milestones. Additional member to be added. 

 

 

VIII. New Hires

A.

New Hires

Teri Harrison made a motion to Motion to hire Hannah Downey as the front office coordinator at a rate of $20/hour with a start date of 2/23.
Jeffrey Sugalski seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Teri Harrison made a motion to motion to hire Bryant Hood as the facilities manager for a rate of $48,000 annually with a start date of 2/25.
Twana Rogers seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

IX. Resolutions for Consideration: Academic

A.

Camp Contract

Jeffrey Sugalski made a motion to motion for Jessica Esway to authorize the agreement with Camp Nuhop as presented.
Sam Sherwood seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

Trip Procedure

Jeffrey Sugalski made a motion to motion to update the field trip procedures as presented.
Teri Harrison seconded the motion.

Discussion - last year we changed to 50-50 with families and we are swapping it back to 60-40.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

C.

3D Printer Donation

Teri Harrison made a motion to Motion to accept the donation of a 3D printer.
Twana Rogers seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

D.

Student Assessment and Academic Prevention/Intervention Services Policy

Twana Rogers made a motion to Motion to acknowledge the annual review of the student assessment and academic/intervention services policy as presented.
Jeffrey Sugalski seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

X. Resolutions for Consideration: Admissions

A.

CRM

Sam Sherwood made a motion to Motion to authorize Jessica Esway to sign the agreement with finalsite as presented.
Jeffrey Sugalski seconded the motion.

Friendly amendment: provided that it functions and connects with our SIS

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

XI. Resolutions for Consideration: Operations

A.

Health and Safety Policy Annual Review

Jeffrey Sugalski made a motion to Motion to acknowledge the review for policies 401, 402, 402.1 403, 403.1, 403.2, 422, 423 as presented.
Teri Harrison seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

Campus Master Plan Phase 1 - Design & Implementation Contract

Jeffrey Sugalski made a motion to Motion for Deborah Zeffren to sign the agreement with Behnke as presented for campus outdoor play and pha.
Teri Harrison seconded the motion.

Friendly amendment - costs not to exceed $48,000

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

C.

Student Safety Software - Renewal

Sam Sherwood made a motion to motion for Deborah Zeffren to sign the contract with Blocksi as presetned.
Jeffrey Sugalski seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

D.

Student Dismissal Software - Renewal

Teri Harrison made a motion to motion for Deborah Zeffren to sign the agreement with PikMyKid as presetned.
Sam Sherwood seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

E.

Budget - 3 Year Forecast

Jeffrey Sugalski made a motion to motion to approve the 3 year forecast as presented.
Teri Harrison seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

XII. Old Business

A.

Old Business

XIII. New Business

A.

Parma PAGE Program - Memo of Support for Staff & Families

Tiffany Randle sent a message in support of gifted education to the parma board of education. She urges families to reach out in support of an all gifted program.

B.

New Business

FYI (Sam Sherwood) - Signage for the building - reached out to a few different places. One company in Cleveland got back to him about feasibility, budget, etc. They are busy for the next few months so they are not able to take a discovery type of session. If that’s something we want to explore, he was going to do a followup meeting to see what we could do. Also discussed brand recognition too

Question (Tiffany Randle) - Do we have an update on water tower painting? Deborah Zeffren says early spring. Deborah Zeffren will reach out to him.

XIV. Executive Session

A.

Executive Session

XV. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

Sam Sherwood made a motion to Motion to elect Vipin Shankar as a board member.
Twana Rogers seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Twana Rogers

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.