MEDINA – The Medina School Board voted at its Feb. 21 meeting to approve a one-year extension to the labor contract for support staff and further discussed the city’s proposal to expand the Medina Community Recreation Center which is on district property.

The approximately 300-member OAPSE membership, which includes custodians, drivers and aides, previously voted to roll over its contract, which will continue to include a 2 percent annual raise. It will expire June 30, 2018. Superintendent Aaron Sable said the district is still in negotiations with the newly-formed school psychologist union, which consists of eight members.

“We’re starting from scratch,” he said, adding he previously thought the contract would be ready for a vote by this meeting.

Rec center project

Board Member Tom Cahalan said he wished to discuss the proposal from the city to expand the rec center by nearly 5,000 square feet to include freestanding exercise space for Crossfit-style classes.

While the city will be paying for the entire cost of over $600,000 using rec center carryover funds, the district also owns the building and pays for expenses like cleaning and building maintenance.

Some concerns include upkeep of the current facility; Board Member Ron Ross said he would like to see some specific issues addressed before starting on an expansion.

Board Member Rob Skidmore said he would like to have some guarantee students would be using the new area whether as part of a class or after-school activity. Students currently use the field house and competition pool.

Legislative comments

Medina resident Doug Trojack spoke during public comment to encourage the board to formally oppose to a proposed new rule that would require teachers to complete a work experience project with a business as a condition of renewing their licenses.

“They’re taxed enough with requirements,” he said.

Sable said he has spoken about the issue with local state legislators at a recent meeting and believes the state’s rationale for this is misguided.

“We at Medina City Schools already have strong relationship with our business community,” he said. “I strongly believe this should be a local decision.”

Resident Mark Kuhar said he was also in opposition to proposed U.S. House Bill 610, which would allow the use of federal funds to distribute vouchers to eligible parents permitting them to send their child to private schools.

Sable said the district last year joined the Alliance for High Quality Education, a lobbying group consisting of a few dozen districts statewide, and will be participating in the group’s efforts to address proposed legislation on the state and federal level.