Nordonia School Board Candidates

There are three open positions on the Nordonia Hills City Schools Board of Education with five candidates vying for a seat. Tim Ellis, Matt Kearney, Joseph Kopec, Jason L. Tidmore Sr. and Amy Vajdich are all newcomers with the three board members with expiring terms not seeking re-election.

All board members serve four-year terms and are paid $125 per meeting. A board member may not make more than $5,000 per year of service, which is 40 meetings a year at the current rate. Group health and life insurance are offered to board members, but they bear 100% of the cost.

Following are questions posed to the candidates by the Sagamore Voice magazine. Their responses were limited to 225 words. Below are their unedited answers. ∞

1. What makes you a viable candidate for the board of education?

Ellis: As a lifelong area resident and a parent with three children in the district I have had the opportunity to work with school staff, teachers and administrators as both a parent and a local police officer. I have been in attendance and spoken at school board meetings for many years, working with fellow parents, administrators and board members to effect positive change in the district.

Kearney: I am the best candidate because of my years of legal experience and civic engagement background. I am 2008 graduate of Nordonia and resident of Sagamore Hills with my wife and children. This year I attended board and PTSA meetings to understand issues facing the district. My priorities include ensuring a strong financial future for the district so it may continue to maintain its level of excellence, monitor curriculum changes; and increase opportunities for special education/mental health programs. With every decision made, the children in the district will remain my #1 priority. Securing a great education for all children in the district, including my own, motivates me in the process.

Kopec: I am a viable candidate for the Nordonia School Board because of my experience from being a successful business owner for over 20 years and an involved parent of four children. I have the hands on experience of working hard while being financially sound in my fiscal decisions. I have the desire to contribute to making decisions for the kids in our district to enable them to have access to a mentally, socially and physically healthy education. I withdrew my four kids from Nordonia last year because I recognized their need to have as normal of a childhood as possible and I believe there is no reason that all the kids in our community shouldn’t have the same opportunity in Nordonia.

Tidmore: As a parent and practitioner, I have made a commitment to use my experience and expertise to ensure the success of public education and the students it serves. Over the past 15 years I have upheld that commitment by facilitating the collaboration of community partners that work together to help eliminate academic and non-academic barriers that inhibits students from succeeding in school. I have participated in leadership cohorts designed to learn how to lead schools towards successful learning outcomes and sustain academic growth. I currently served as president of the newly organized Diversity Equity and Inclusion Council which has worked collaboratively with the Nordonia Hills School District to ensure every student in our school district can thrive both socially and academically without barriers presented by prejudice and discrimination.

Vajdich: My professional career has been dedicated to education. I have teaching experience with grades Pre-K through eighth grade. My master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and teacher leadership endorsement would make me a valuable resource in advocating for what our students need most and what we can do to achieve it. My service as a teachers’ association representative and delegate have also given me insight into what other area public schools are doing regionally and statewide.  

• How will you address COVID-related issues during the school year?

Ellis: I would address COVID-19 related issues by using local data to drive decision making. I would work with the board to communicate directly with the community, ensuring that parents understand exactly what decisions are being made, why they are being made and what specific data is being used to make them. While the district has a responsibility to provide a safe learning environment for all students I would respect a parent’s right to make medical decisions that are in the best interest of their own children.

Kearney: The safety of our students and educators is of great importance to me. I would address COVID-related issues collaboratively with the board, educators, administration, and community. I would suggest an overall review of the district’s current COVID policy. Even though I do not oppose masks, I believe the decision to mask students ultimately rests with the parents. I would continue to encourage the community to share input with the board in shaping the policy.

Kopec: I will address the COVID-19 situation in our schools by reaching out to the local schools who have remained open and without masks for guidance on how they have been able to do so successfully.

Tidmore: As a member of the board, my job will be to approve/suggest policies that will ensure the best possible safety measures for students and staff while also considering the best possible scenario that will allow our scholars to remain engaged in-person, with the least amount of inconvenience for all stakeholders.

Vajdich: Protecting our children and community from COVID is essential. We must do all we can to slow the spread of the virus if we want to continue to keep children in school. For a school board, following the recommendations from the CDC, as well as state and local health officials is the best way to continue to be safe and responsible. This includes wearing a mask indoors, vaccinating those who are eligible, and safe distancing when possible. 

• How do you plan to engage with school families affected by school board decisions?

Ellis: Members of the community are currently not allowed to ask questions and receive answers at each board meeting. If elected I would prioritize a change board policy in order to give residents of the community the right to address the board and superintendent, ask questions and receive answers in public at every meeting. Increased communication from the school board to the residents is a vital element in building a stronger district.

Kearney: I will work vigorously to ensure barriers are removed between the board and families so students may continue to thrive in Nordonia. My approach would ensure that all students are provided with equal access to the educational opportunities in the district.

Kopec: I plan to engage with both school families and all community members affected by school board decisions by encouraging a policy change that allows for open question and answer at all board meetings and will encourage my fellow board members to respond to the attendees in public. I also plan on being easily accessible through both e-mail and phone to hear the concerns in our community.  

Tidmore: On Sept.27, I attended our district’s monthly board meeting. During the open forum portion of the meeting, after hearing both sides of what parents thought about mask mandates and SEL Curriculum choice, a parent made a statement that I thought was well said and timely “There are intelligent people on both sides of the argument.” (Answer cut due to exceeding word limit).

Vajdich: The Nordonia Schools have always done a great job with informing school families and obtaining feedback through meetings, surveys, email and other local publications. Since being a good listener is such an important part of a school board member’s role, I can also engage with the community by reaching out to a variety of parent-led groups such as PTA, Band and Athletic Boosters, and the Nordonia Diversity and Equity Committee. ∞